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Book Reviews & Giveaway: Death of a Valentine

Ah, the small Scottish sea coastal town of Lockdubh! I have visited there many a time couched in a comfortable chair with a fire going, enjoying the adventures of M.C. Beaton’s eccentric Police Sergeant (newly appointed from Policeman) Hamish MacBeth. M.C. Beaton is a favorite author of mine – and I have held a long acquaintance with Hamish in the “Death of” series and Agatha Raisin series – these are two of the best loved detective series around!

For those of you first reading M.C. Beaton, you too will find her characters irresistible! Cranky, eccentric, total loners, Hamish and Agatha are both incorrigible!

“The Death of a Valentine” places us once again in the tiny, isolated Scottish village of Lockdubh. Hamish, all 6’5” with flaming red hair and a passion for Lugs his dog and Sonjia his feral cat, is the only policeman in town. His boss is Detective Blair, a nasty fellow indeed. And the top of the line is Inspector Daviot, who tries to deal with both Blair and MacBeth, who hate each other. Since he has now been promoted, Detective Daviot is sending Hamish a new policeman to serve under him, as Hamish has a very large area to patrol. Hamish, jealous of his privacy, and his town, is NOT happy. When Josie McSween sashays into his office, Hamish cannot believe Daviot sent a woman – and a moon-faced, I’m looking for a husband policewoman at that! Hamish is famous for his bachelorhood – and only wants to stay single. Josie’s ministrations to get Hamish in an uncompromised position is sometimes hilarious, sometimes pathetic, and sometimes downright evil. Her manipulative methods to get Hamish to marry her parallels the towns worst rash of murders in years – The Valentine Murders.

But to the present – back to Lockdubh. An ancient Scottish harvest festival called Lammas, the first day of August looms ahead. Lammas marks the start of autumn and the harvest season. The county loves its celebrations, and as Hamish and Josie walk to the fiar to provide patrol and to guard the Lammas Tiara made of thousands of diamonds, Hamish tells Josie to watch out for the Gypsies. Their games are not always fair. And then comes the crowning of the Lammas queen – the beautiful Annie Heming. Annie is the beauty of the town, with very strict parents and a very secret life. On her head rests the Lammas Tiara, the priceless gem belonging to the family of Lady Etherington. Hamish has to follow the float throughout the town to guard the Tiara after the crowning.

The tiara is stolen in what turns out to be a prank. Then Annie is blown up with a letter bomb. The chase is on to find out who killed Annie. Then a rash of other murders fall in and around Lockdubh. Hamish is forced to deal with Josie’s neediness, her lack os any skills as a policewoman, and keep on the trail of the murders.

Hamish has to find a lost lion, deal with the crazy folk of Lockdubh, evade Josie and solve the murders, and we fall in love with him and his contorted adventures.

How I love Hamish MacBeth and M.C. Beaton – give this a read. You will become the fan that I am – I have read every book that Ms. Beaton has written and always check the lists to see when a new one is out! Fantastic book, so glad I got to do the book review!

Ratings are based on a 5-star scale

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Presentation: 5
Overall: 5

Book Review by Broad “A” – Ava
Death of a Valentine (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries) is available from Amazon.com for $16.19 or from your local bookseller for $23.99.

Thank you to the Hachette Book Group for providing this title for our book review as well as this giveaway. We were in no way paid or compensated for our opinions.

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