Book Review: Death of a Bore

Reviewed By: Catherine Thompson - RAM

Death of a Bore     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
M. C. Beaton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Police Procedural
Series: Hamish MacBeth # 21
Mysterious Press; $34.95 hardcover; 248 pages

When John Heppel, a writer visiting Lochdubh, proposes a writing group, no one is more surprised by the turn-out than Constable Hamish Macbeth. Most of the village, it seems, are budding authors. But after Heppel bores his audience to tears with his long-winded boasting, insults their efforts at writing, and shreds their self-confidence, the budding authors become budding murderers. Then someone kills Heppel. It’s up to Macbeth and his trusty dog Lugs to find the culprit and clear the villagers of suspicion.

It’s always a treat for me to read the latest Hamish Macbeth novel. Death of a Bore lacks the malicious sarcasm that Beaton’s Agatha Raisin books have. I find, too, that the Macbeth books are simply better written. Just recently, I read and reviewed The Deadly Dance, and in comparing that with Death of a Bore, I was almost amazed at the difference in structure.

Of course, the plot is straightforward enough, and there isn’t a great deal of character development, but this is a cosy: character development and complicated plots are surplus to requirements. Even so, we get a look into Macbeth’s Highland soul.

Catherine Thompson - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Catherine Thompson - RAM