This series set in the Highlands of Scotland seems destined to go on forever, or at least as long as Beaton remains alive to pen them. Hopefully that will be a long time, because the series has never lost its charm, and remains a fun read in Death of a Nurse.

Hamish is minus Dick in this one, who has retired to open up a bakery with the beautiful Anka, whom Dick met in another Macbeth outing. Hamish cannot imagine anything more is going on between the gorgeous Anka and the awkward Dick, but he’s been wrong before. His new helper Charlie is bigger and taller than Hamish, but a bit clumsy at times. He’s an amiable bloke and Hamish likes him.

Hamish can’t help but notice the new nurse, Gloria Dainty. She dresses like a "fantasy" nurse, and soon Hamish's mind is on flights of fancy. As is usually the case to anyone who shows up on Hamish’s wee patch, however, she’s quickly murdered.

With Blair momentarily out of the picture after being bitten in the behind by a dog he was berating, Fiona, known as Iron Knickers according to Jimmy, is running the case. She appears to have a lot of clout, and dislikes the bane of Hamish’s existence, Blair. She does, however, take a shine to Charlie. Soon, she's arranged to work the case with Hamish and Charlie.

It turns out Fiona is married to a very prominent judge, however, but Hamish doesn’t discover it soon enough to prevent the predatory Fiona from taking advantage of Charlie. This leads to some devious but fun shenanigans from Blair, as he tries to get the goods on her from the sidelines as she investigates the case.

As usual, Hamish does most of the real crime solving. His knack for solving murders, in fact, kicks in just in the nick of time! Priscilla's father, the Colonel, has taken an inexplicable shine to Charlie and is involved in this one, which creates a great deal of fun. Elspeth also makes a brief but fun appearance in this Hamish outing, and there are some good moments surrounding an old woman with the second sight, and a wheelchair bound rich sod and his family.

Another murder occurs before Hamish figures it all out, and things in Lochdubh return to normal — which is to say hilariously quirky. A really fun and enjoyable later entry in this long-running series. ( )

Macbeth and the Conniving Caregiver
Review of the Hachette audiobook edition released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (2016)

Death of a Nurse finds Hamish having to solve another mystery when a caregiver nurse to a local cantankerous senior is murdered. As usual things are not as they seem. This outing also continues the subplot of Hamish's most recently constable Charlie Carter who has settled himself into the Lochdubh community. Detective Chief Inspector Blair is up to his old tricks and there is a somewhat shocking resolution to the wildcat Sonsie subplot.

I'm now into the final few of the 34* Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series set in the Scottish Highlands centered around the fictional village of Lochdubh. I wish I could slow down my reading & listening in order to make them last longer, but they are so irresistible that they have become my go-to default read during this continuing lockdown (Ontario, Canada where I live is currently still in a stay-at-home order situation until possibly June, 2021). Fortunately the library is operating efficiently with their holds system and their curbside pickup. They also provide the opportunity of online audiobook loans via Overdrive.

*No. 34 Death of a Love (2021?) has yet to be released due to delays following M.C. Beaton's (aka Marion Chesney's) passing in late 2019. ( )

Quick read! Quite the page turner! More twists than I usually expect with Hamish Macbeth. Graeme Malcolm is a fine narrator. I was not annoyed by repetition of stock phrases this time. Either there was enough space between my last Hamish book or there weren't as many of MC Beaton's typical sentences. Really enjoyed it. ( )

Another cozy mystery on PlayAway wonderfully read by Graeme Malcolm. I'll be hunting down more of these titles. ( )

M C Beaton pens a funny and an enjoyable mystery that centers on greed and hunger for money. A pretty nurse cares for a cantankerous, old, and wealthy man in the Scottish Highlands, and of course Hamish Macbeth makes a date with this nurse, Gloria Dainty. Gloria leaves Hamish waiting at the restaurant, and several days later, Gloria’s body appears. M C Beaton leads the reader into the tale of drugs, cheating, and hatred as more people die. In this brief story, M C Beaton, still delivers wonderful characters and the harsh weather of Scotland and the stoicism of the Scottish people. Hamish Macbeth shows an intelligent man not intent on stepping on other people to advance his career. Hamish loves his life and wants no glory or promotion for his amazing skills. ( )