Death of a Chimney Sweep by MC Beaton

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (February 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780446547390
ISBN-13: 978-0446547390
ASIN: 0446547395
Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 8.5 inches

I am an avid fan of author, MC Beaton. 'Death of a Chimney Sweep' is the twenty-sixth novel in her Hamish Macbeth series. I have read them all. So, with the recent publication of her latest novel, I couldn't wait to settle in on the sofa with my pot of tea and get reading!
What I discovered this time around, is that instead of one main character murdered off and Police Constable Hamish Macbeth running around the small sea faring highland town of Lochdubh to solve the murder; there are atleast four murders and just as many suspects!

So, if you are like me and love reading and trying to solve a good murder, pick up this novel and just try to follow along and keep score! MC Beaton throws in more twists and turns in almost every chapter. She sets the scene beautifully. If you ever wanted to escape to the Scottish Highlands, have yourself a read of 'Death of a Chimney Sweep' you won't be disappointed. It is a true British Cozy in every sense of the word!

BOOK SYNOPSIS
In 'Death of a Chimney Sweep' Police Constable Hamish Macbeth sets out to solve 'several' murders and clear the name of a friend. When Captain Henry Davenport’s body is found stuffed into his own chimney, his wife Milly calls Lochdubh’s police station. Hamish speeds to the nearby town of Prim, and discovers Milly Davenport weeping. Captain Davenport had told Milly he was going for a walk and to call the local chimney sweep, kindhearted Pete Ray, to clean the chimney that morning. When Pete’s body is found on the moor, Hamish has two murders on his hands, and a fragile and slightly crazed Milly to deal with.

With a rollicking round of strange characters: Superintendent Daviot, Hamish’s boss, Detective Jimmy Anderson, and nasty Detective Inspector Blair, Hamish’s nemesis, Hamish tries to solve his crime in spite of his superiors. Then there are the inimitable townspeople: Priscilla-Halburton Smythe, Hamish’s ex-fiancé, and the usual round of Lockdubh eccentrics. MC Beaton assures us of a myriad of crimes and romantic fumbles and tumbles through the grounds of the beautiful Scottish moors. Angela Brodie’s madcap novel with Hamish as the love slung adulterer brings him nothing but trouble. Angela and Dr. Brody are happily married and Hamish gets off the hook! Throw in Betty Close, Elspeth, Lugs, the brute of a dog and Sonsie the wild cat, and you have a mystery novel that resembles a tumbled skein of wool!

When widowed Milly falls for a fast talking, fast paced, funny reporter named Tam, the novel becomes intriguing and unputdownable with Hamish trundling across the moors and nearby towns as more murders pop up. He discovers that four men (Ferdinand Castle, Thomas Bromley, John Sanders and Charles Prosser) have been badly scammed by the con-artist Captain Davenport, and he follows Prosser directly to the murders.
Do make it a point to read the Epilogue because there is another murder albeit not a surprise but a wonderful death scene nonetheless!

Thank you for stopping by please feel free to leave any comments or questions!