Beth Fish Reads: Today's Read: Death of a Dentist by M. C. Beaton

09 July 2013

Today's Read: Death of a Dentist by M. C. Beaton

What's a small-town copper to do? Poor Hamish Macbeth has an abscessed tooth and the pain is killing him. But when he gets to the dentist's office, he discovers a real killing: the dentist is dead in his chair. Murder, a robbery, and some funny business with a young girl have Hamish stumped. How is he going to solve all those crimes when his tooth hurts so much he can barely think? Thank goodness a neighbor has taken pity on him and invited him home for tea:

The cats had followed Hamish from the bathroom. One began to affectionately sharpen its claws on his trouser leg and he resisted an impulse to knock it across the kitchen. Angela was very fond of her cats and Hamish was fond of Angela.

—Death of a Dentist by M. C. Beaton (Hachette Book Group / Grand Central Publishing, 1998, p. 19 [originally published 1997])

Quick Facts

Setting: The Scottish highlands, mostly in the town of Lochbudh
Circumstances: Hamish has a murder and a robbery to solve while dealing with the town's tart and illegal whisky distillers; a second murder sends his investigation into another direction
Characters: Hamish, the village constable; the regular cast of characters from the town; other police from the nearby town
Genre: as cozy of a mystery as you can get: comforting, fun, and great escape
Subplots: Hamish is missing Priscilla, his on-again, off-again girlfriend, and seems to be going through a change; he isn't quite as cheery and easygoing as usual, adding interest to the book
Miscellaneous: this is the 13th installment in the series; best read in order because of the development of the characters, but you could jump in anywhere if you wanted
Multimedia: the British television show based on the series is not worth your time: it has none of the charm of the books; do not miss the audiobooks read by the fantastic Davina Porter: her narration is fantastic

24 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks, 7/9/13, 7:26 AM: Well, I wish I had read this before yesterday, when I went to the dentist! :--) I love books set in Scotland. I definitely want to look for this one!
Yvonne, 7/9/13, 7:33 AM: Anything with cats has my attention! LOL But, this is an author I've been dying to read. Great teaser!

My TT post is here
bermudaonion, 7/9/13, 7:52 AM: I've read one of the books and thought it was okay. I'll have to try an audio.
Laurel-Rain Snow, 7/9/13, 8:16 AM: Another cozy to add to my list! Love the setting and sound of this one.

Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST
Kathy Martin, 7/9/13, 9:36 AM: I have never read anything by M. C. Beaton but this one sounds entertaining. My teasers this week are from Playing to Win by Jaci Burton and Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George. Happy reading!
Unknown, 7/9/13, 10:38 AM: Sounds like a comforting read

Thanks for stopping by!
Barbara, 7/9/13, 10:56 AM: I love Hamish but haven't read this series in a long time. Thanks for reminding me of him.
Tabitha (Pabkins), 7/9/13, 11:57 AM: I hope you enjoy it.
Alice Audrey, 7/9/13, 12:11 PM: The things we put up with for friendship.
Laura at Library of Clean Reads, 7/9/13, 12:25 PM: I don't usually read cozy mysteries but this one sounds fun!
Heather, 7/9/13, 12:34 PM: I've read the first two books in Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, but have not yet given this one a try. Good teaser! My teaser: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Unknown, 7/9/13, 12:35 PM: I like Beaton's books. They fascinate me! :D

Andrea K. @ Books and Bindings
Teaser Tuesdays
JoAnn, 7/9/13, 1:27 PM: M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin books are so enjoyable, now I need to meet Hamish Macbeth, too. Thanks for the audio recommendation.
Mei, 7/9/13, 4:47 PM: Hmmm, I usually get a fang to the thigh my my cat follows me to the bathroom.
Here's my Teaser Tuesday 3 Fun Redhead Books

Mei @ Diary of a Fair Weather Diver
Christine Rains, 7/9/13, 6:38 PM: What a great teaser! I'm developing a taste for cozy mysteries. I'll be adding this one to my TBR list.
Anonymous, 7/9/13, 7:59 PM: This sounds like a fun series. And he'd better not kick those cats!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Denise @ Life With No Plot
Anonymous, 7/9/13, 9:53 PM: I love, love, love this series! MC Beaton is one of my favorite mystery writers.
(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea, 7/9/13, 10:09 PM: Fun title -- Death of a Dentist -- wondering whether he name was Dr. Pain...LOL
Catherine @ Book Club Librarian, 7/10/13, 6:12 AM: I love M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series and have been meaning to start this series, too.

Thanks for visiting my blog.
Lisa @ Lost in Literature, 7/10/13, 6:24 AM: Hee hee... that's cute. Cats can definitely be annoying at times... but they're soo cute. :)
Daryl, 7/10/13, 9:12 AM: oooh .. gotta add this to the list, thanks
Ellie @ Ellie Reads All the Books, 7/10/13, 3:50 PM: I am not a big fan of cats, but I like your teaser :)
Susan, 7/10/13, 11:15 PM: I've read a couple in this series, and really enjoy them, so I've started to collect them. I have watched the tv series and really enjoyed it, too. I like both, the tv series and the books - the hardest part is Macbeth has red hair in the books, and is tall and gangly, and in the tv series he's short and intense and dark-haired! I'm glad to know the series keeps it charm this far along.
Lisa, 7/11/13, 7:39 PM: I just love Hamish - so glad there's a new book to read!