Death of a Chimney Sweep

M. C. Beaton

Feb 2011 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing

About this eBook

Travel to the Scotland Highlands with this classic Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery from the author of the Agatha Raisin series.

Death of a Chimney Sweep: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery

In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens. Once again, it's up to Hamish to discover who's responsible for the dirty deed--and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes.

Ratings and reviews

I really enjoy a good mystery that keeps me on the edge of my seat and I had high hopes for M.C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth character to keep me entertained. That just didn’t happen. While I must admit that I have not read the previous installments in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series, I felt that it could be enjoyed as a standalone novel. "Death of a Chimney Sweep" (February 2011) seemed to lack in pace and plot. I wanted to be engulfed in a murder mystery but found myself dreading picking the book back up once I had set it down. The mystery was more of a murder spree that seemed an attempt to add plot twist. It just didn’t work. The story just fell flat, leaving a lot to be desired in the end. The characters are about the only good thing I can take from the story. Hamish is great and his personality is well-developed. The side characters play a large role and are quite entertaining as they are the only enjoyment I could take from the 247 pages. The story seemed to revolve more around the townspeople than the murder mystery and I found that odd. The lack of balance between the plot and characters didn’t allow for much growth or story intensity. This novel just didn’t work for me. Overall, Beaton seemed to throw this story together without much thought. I might try one of her earlier works to get a better feel for her writing style and Hamish.

Liked the story but not much humor

About the author

M. C. Beaton has won international acclaim for her New York Times bestselling Hamish Macbeth mysteries. The BBC has aired 24 episodes based on the series. Beaton is also the author of the bestselling Agatha Raisin series, which will air as an eight-episode dramatic series on Sky1, starring Ashley Jensen. She lives in the Cotswolds with her husband. For more information, you can visit MCBeaton.com.