Death Of A Hussy Another great Hamish Macbeth mystery in the Scottish highlands. He gets to show how intelligent he is about deduction and solving crimes and being a good policeman. When a very unlikeable character dies he goes hot to work and you almost cheer she is gone. One lady likes him and another he isn't sure if he wants to pursue. Too many names that don't stand out but it is only 200 pages and you get through it quite quickly. The inheritance factor is a little askew so you have to overlook the discrepancies.
car fire murder Maggie "the Hussy" summons four, financially distraught, ex-lovers to her home to invite a marriage proposal. She informs them she has a weak heart and intends to leave her substantial wealth to whoever she marries. How can there not be a murder, but why is she the victim? Hamish has to put up with a new superior in this plot, but he still is the one who solves the case.
Hamish 5 Obese vamp thins *** "Death of a Hussy" (H5) by M.C. Beaton. Apart from a lesson against smoking, foibles cause fun. Scottish Highland constable Hamish Macbeth recognizes trouble when obese English bully 40ish Maggie takes up her wilted cancer-recuperating niece Alison, appoints the girl beneficiary, writes lewd memoirs, and announces her 'dicky heart'. The millionaire resculpts her slender self, invites 4 true ex-loves, confirmed now impecunious by investigators, offers them wealth for marriage, and settles on them equal portions if the girl dies after her. But inside, the manipulative extortionist's former warm charm has frozen hard and unlikeable. To find a double murderer and vanished manuscript, Hamish, like Miss Marple, tiptoes carefully, untangling motivations of others: clingy car-mad Alison (reminds me of a previous wimpy waffler), ambitious envious police, a militant motherly housekeeper. When he sees through the weak heir's excuses, he seems to understand much human nature. His future with his former crush bodes well when bankruptcy threatens the manor.
on (car) fire! Poor Maggie died in a fire in the little Renault her niece loved so. Or did she?
Hamish's comparisons of the psyche of one detective (nemises Blair) and another (newcomer Donati - an italian highlander) were spot on. Also, his manipulations of weaker willed personalities tickled me. I hate to see anyone putting up with idiocy.
The usual sorting thru clues and analysis of character were as entertaining as always. the sorting out in the end made me laugh. looking forward to the next one.