Review & Giveaway: Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton

Pub. Date: January 2010
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 246pp
ISBN-13: 9780446547383
ISBN: 0446547387

"From the inside cover: Amazing news has spread across the Scottish countryside. The most famous of highland bachelors, police sargeant Hamish Macbeth, will be married at last. Everyone in the village of Lochdubh adores Josie McSween, Macbeth's newest constable and blushing bride-to-be.

While locals think Josie is quite a catch, Hanish ahs a case of prenuptial jitters. After all, if it weren't for the recent murder of a beautiful woman in a neighbouring village, there wouldn't be a wedding at all. For it was a mysterious Valentine's package- delivered to the victim before her death-that initially drew Hamish and Josie together on the investigation. As they work side by side, Hamish and Josie soon discover that the woman's list of admirers was endless, confirming Hamish's suspicions that can can be blind, dead ....and deadly."

My Thoughts: Another fun romp through the highlands with Hamish and his new constable as they pit wits against a murderer and sometimes even with police headquarters in Strathbane. Hamish is the most unambitious of policemen. He just wants to do his job and not be noticed. Heaven forbid that he should be promoted and moved out of his beloved village of Lochdubh.

As for being married, well, he tried being engaged. . . .several times. And that surely didn't work out! Women only want to change him and his home in the police station. Hamish has absolutely no interest in change. But now along comes Josie . . . Could she finally be the one to rope him into marriage ? To what will she resort to get him up the aisle?

If you've never read any of the Hamish Macbeth mysteries, you've been missing out. I think I have read all of them and they are always good for a light hearted cozy read. The highland setting makes a great backdrop for some quirky characters in the village. I love the scenery descriptions and some of the dialogue written in dialect. A lot of the characters appear frequently making each mystery like visiting with an old friend. Death of a Valentine is number 26 in the Hamish Macbeth series.

M.C. Beaton is also the author of the very popular Agatha Raisin series and is the pseudonym for Marion Chesney.

Hachette Book Group is allowing me to give away 5 copies of Death of a Valentine to:

Residents of US & Canada. No P.O. Boxes.
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Dead line is Feb 15th at 5 PM Good uck!

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Hachette Book Group. Thank you so much, Miriam.