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    Death of a Chimney Sweep
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    Death of a Chimney Sweep
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    Death of a Chimney Sweep
    Audiobook5 hours

    Death of a Chimney Sweep

    Written by M. C. Beaton

    Narrated by Graeme Malcolm

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In the isolated villages in the north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the chimney sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until the day that 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. 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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBlackstone Audio
    Release dateFeb 25, 2011
    ISBN9780792759577
    Unavailable
    Death of a Chimney Sweep
    Author

    M. C. Beaton

    M. C. Beaton (1936-2019), the “Queen of Crime” (The Globe and Mail), was the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Agatha Raisin novels -- the basis for the hit show on Acorn TV and public television -- as well as the Hamish Macbeth series and the Edwardian Murder Mysteries featuring Lady Rose Summer. Born in Scotland, she started her career writing historical romances under several pseudonyms and her maiden name, Marion Chesney. In 2006, M.C. was the British guest of honor at Bouchercon.

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    Reviews for Death of a Chimney Sweep

    3.5/5

    166 ratings17 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Drim, a small village in Scotland, gets very few visitors. All of that changes, however, when Milly Davenport finds the body of her husband stuffed in their chimney. Constable Hamish Macbeth is on the case and he refuses to let it go even when his superiors want him to. As Macbeth quietly investigates, the bodies start piling up and Macbeth himself is in danger. Can he stop the killer before he too becomes a victim?While I've enjoyed all of M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth books, I'm not quite sure how I feel about "Death of a Chimney Sweep". Sure, a lot of the elements I liked were in this book - the Scottish setting, Hamish himself (who isn't quite as lazy as he and the villagers think he is), his love for his animals, his fights with Blair, the various residents of Lochdubh (the Currie sisters actually shine for a brief moment). All of this is familiar and enjoyable. But what I didn't like about this book is the incredible amount of violence - especially for cozy mystery. While the violence isn't graphically described the body count is very high in this book. I actually lost count of how many deaths there were but it had to be close to a dozen. One death in particular, towards the end of the book, was completely over the top even for a book filled with bizarre deaths. As for the mystery itself, the Hamish Macbeth books are never about trying to figure out whodunit, instead the culprit is identified pretty early on and readers sit back and watch Hamish outwit a killer."Death of a Chimney Sweep" has some good moments but isn't one of M.C. Beaton's best books in the series.
    • 5/5
      'Death of Chimney Sweep' by M.C. Beaton is a superb mystery. It is not too bloody, has well developed characters, surprises that I didn’t see coming and now I want to read more M.C. Beaton’s books.Drim, Scotland is the setting; a place where nothing ever happens except when it does it is a doozy. This is my first time reading a M.C. Beaton and I was really pleased about the pace of the story and the unique characters in this small town. I really felt like I was right there in a small town in Scotland hearing about the weird chain of events! There were the gossipers, the different kinds of police, competent and incompetent, those who saw things as black and white and others who saw the gentle shades of gray. There were also the conmen, conwomen, and the people conned. Greed is the key to this book.I don’t want to spoil this story for you, I just want to say that things seem simple at the beginning as time goes on they get more and more complicated. Making you laugh so hard that it brings tears to your eyes. There was one place in the book that I gasped at what one of characters did. In fact, I read it over three times! This book is not predictable. I think this book is a “dark cozy”. It is gruesome but the dark humor out shines the bad deaths that I thought it was grand!I recommend this book to all who love dark humor and some of the cozy fans like myself.
    • 4/5
      After having read a number of books in this series, my enjoyment of the series was reinvigorated by this volume. This is one of the best books I've read in the Hamish Macbeth series. The chimney sweep's death is actually marginal to the story. The real murder of note is that of a scheming former soldier. His multiple money-raising schemes appear to have cost him his life. The responsible party goes on the run, and Hamish goes on a rather exciting chase. This was an exciting mystery with a more interesting than usual bad guy. Hamish takes longer than usual to solve this case. I'm glad that Beaton decided to bring some new elements into this series. Hamish still has woman problems, but there are new elements to the crime that I appreciated.
    • 4/5
      Cozy mysteries are relatively a "new" genre - for ME. I tread with much caution into them, and M.C. Beaton's work has been my initiation into that world. And I must admit, I really did enjoy this book. I must admit that I tend to enjoy thrilling mystery novels, with fast-paced action and twists and turns, more - however, there is something to be said about Cozy Mysteries, and a special mention must be made of author Beaton's fabulous writing.I really liked the character of Sergeant Hamish Macbeth, an extremely interesting and intelligent officer, with a quirky sense of humor. I especially appreciate how he gets things done, even when all his higher-ups tend to doubt him, and even hinder his investigations. A new couple move to Lochbund, near the village of Drim. The husband is an ex-Captain of armed forces, who still feels entitled to the title of Captain and is obviously a controlling and obnoxious man. Milly, his wife, is a timid and meek housewife, tired of her husbands controlling ways. When the Captain appears dead one day, his dead body stuffed into his own chimney, Pete the chimney sweep appears to be the obvious culprit. However, Pete is found dead as well, appearing as if he encountered an accident on his escape with the Captain's wallet and silverware. But Hamish Macbeth smells foul play at work, and pretty soon uncovers clues that lead him to the real killer.This novel was fun to read, and I especially loved the author's character analysis. Another thing I really enjoyed - Hamish Macbeth's Scottish dialect. The way the author writes this character, it is easier to envision him, and really get an idea of who he is, and the language adds that extra dimension to his character. All in all, this is a charming novel, to boot.
    • 4/5
      I've been reading reviews about Beaton's Hamish Macbeth for a long time, but just now got around to reading one of this amusing series myself. There's a long list of titles to choose from but this one happened to catch my eye first.I'm of Scottish ancestry so anything set in Scotland is bound to please me but even more so if, like in this book, the characters are memorable. Macbeth, for instance, is a constable in a village. He has bright red hair, he's single, and he has a dog named Lugs and a wild cat named Sonsie. These two animals play together like two peas in a pod. The village and the police office are right on the ocean with high hills on the other side which is a beautiful setting for any type of novel.This story begins with the murder of a rich man whose body is shoved up the chimney in his own house, and the subsequent death by accident or murder of the chimney sweep who had been there that very day. The sweep was a beloved character in the area, and the widow of the first victim is soon friends with everyone too. Her husband had kept her isolated before.Hamish Macbeth is a sort of maverick when it comes to crime solving, so he's always in trouble with his superiors, but he solves the crimes which makes his bosses even more upset of course. He's sort of unlucky in love, but the people of his village appreciate him and his skills.Beaton is a witty writer. The jacket tells us that the BBC did a series of her stories, which I'm determined to find. She also writes a series starring Agatha Raisin and I want to try one of those as well. The Hamish Macbeth series is just the ticket for a summer day, or actually any time you want a light, amusing mystery with a very likeable hero.
    • 3/5
      Another adventure in this ongoing series set in Scotland, featuring the still unambitious, still bachelor, loner police constable Hamish MacBeth. The story itself is a good one, although the chimney sweep whose death provides the title, is absolutely gone from the story within the first thirty pages...unlike many previous Hamish MacBeth stories, murders aplenty are in this one, and our poor nameless chimney sweep simply gives M.C. Beaton a title for the book.This series is definitely in need of a shot in the arm. Either Hamish needs to get a wee bit of gumption and progress to something more in his life than walking his dog, or he needs definite love interest and relationship that is going someplace, or he needs to be murdered and put to rest. The stories are getting stale, formulaic and the cast of characters is not developing at all. They are the same old cardboard, cameo tea-tippling crew we've seen before. Nothing new. Nothing. I've been a big fan of this series, and found them fun and interesting. Now I'm afraid, I have to describe this one as brain candy for a boring beach day. Dare we hope perhaps that Beaton was just having a bad spell? Read earlier ones if you like, but skip this one.
    • 1/5
      Death Of A Chimney Sweep: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery is number 27 in the series.In most parts of Scotland, folks have their chimney's vacuumed, however, in some of the more isolated villages, they still use the chimney sweep. In Lochdubh, Pete Ray is that man and he is called upon to clean the chimney of Captain Henry Davenport and his wife Millie. However, before the job is done, Pete is dead and the culprit in the murder of Captain Davenport. Hamish Macbeth has seen his fair share of crime and his tactics are his own, much to the chagrin of his supervisors. He sets out to solve the mystery surrounding the Captain and learns of the hidden plots and double dealings that the Captain has been involved with and with no murder suspect in sight, and with his boss wishing to remove him from the case, Hamish is put to the test as time is ticking away and bodies continue to turn up.This was my first Hamish Macbeth mystery, I'd heard some great things, but I was not impressed with this book at all. I found the characters wooden, their dialogue atrocious and confusing and the story was the same old, same old. The flow of the story was seriously lacking as dialogue between the characters were not differentiated and most times you weren't sure who was talking and where in the setting of the story you were. I did like Millie and her sister-in-law Philomena, but they weren't enough to keep this reader interested. If you like the Hamish Macbeth series, then I'm sure you won't want to miss this one, however, I'd choose another title in this series if its your a first time reader, I wouldn't want you to be put off from a series of books I've only heard great things about. This was not one of them!
    • 3/5
      The umpteenth in the Hamish Macbeth series follows the same trajectory as the rest: murder in a small Scottish village, constable (Hamish) appears to bumble; his doltish superior (Blair) employs his usual strategy of ignoring Hamish's insights and gets foiled; women problems for Hamish; more murders; everything works out. End of story. An hour's diversion at best, but hard to pass up.
    • 4/5
      M.C. Beaton is the author of two very light hearted mystery series set in Scotland. Of the two, I enjoy the Hamish Macbeth tales just a tad bit more than Agatha Raisin, although they're both wonderful. Death of a Chimney Sweep is the 26th book in the Hamish series.Hamish is the local policeman in the isolated Scottish village of Lochdubh. (Which seems to have had more than it's fair share of dead bodies popping up over the years!)Chimney sweeps are still employed in this rural village, but someone did a job on the latest homeowner to employ Pete Ray. Captain Davenport is found quite dead, stuffed in his chimney. Hamish can't believe that local Pete Ray is capable of such a crime. And he's proven right when Pete's body is the next one found. So who is doing the killing - and why?The crimes, although interesting, aren't the draw for me in this series. It is the recurring characters. The town of Lochdubh is populated with more than a few eccentric characters. This quirkiness that draws me back time and time again. But Hamish is the best character of all. He has no desire to be promoted and leave his beloved pets (Sonsie - a feral cat and Lugs the dog) and his tiny live-in police station. In fact he does his best to make sure it doesn't happen, having let others take the credit for cases he has solved in the past. He has no respect for authority and his ongoing battle with nemesis Chief Inspector Blair is a source of constant conflict for Blair but a source of amusement for readers. Hamish's willingness to work outside the law a wee bit to take care of his villagers doesn't endear him to the powers that be. Women are drawn to the tall, lanky red haired bobby, but he always seems to mess up his romantic involvements.I have chosen to listen to the last few books in audio format. The reader, Graeme Malcolm, has a wonderfully expressive voice and a good thick brogue. He has solidified the image of Hamish for me.Hamish Macbeth also ran as a BBC television series in 1995-1997 starring Robert Carlyle. (Fun fact - M.C. Beaton is only one of the pseudonyms of prolific author Marion Chesney)
    • 4/5
      I'm always thrilled to get a new M.C. Beaton book, and especially a new Hamish Macbeth. This Scottish bobby is one of my favourite fictional characters and these books never disappoint. This one is a particularly "bloody" as no less that five or six people get killed by a psycopathic killer that is loose on Hamish's patch. I love the characters in these stories. Everyone, including Hamish, is so colourful and realistic! Kudos to M.C. Beaton for her wonderful storytelling and her black humour that manisfests itself repeatedly in these wonderful books.
    • 3/5
      When a dead body is found stuffed up a chimney in Drim, Hamish Macbeth senses that it is a much more complex crime than it appears. Not one of Beaton's better stories, but still pleasant and fun.
    • 3/5
      Pretty outlandish happenings what with fake passports and being saved by a pet wild cat, but I found this pretty amusing. Hamish uses spy skills in this episode, including makeup, and breaking and entering, and safe-cracking. The romantic entanglements are minimized, and even a bit distributed among the characters. Nessie and Jessie have a bit of an adventure as well as the seer! I stayed until 2am to finish this in one day.
    • 4/5
      "In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuumed-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 the day Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping on to 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, bu Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. And when Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, the mystery deepens. Once again, it's up to Hamish to discover who's resp-onsible for the dirty deeds -- and he much do it soon, before the murderer makes a clean getaway ..."~~ front flapAnother complicated plot, involving desperate criminals, their wives, and dangerous wildlife. Hamish comes out unscathed, of course, and manages to avoid having another inept policeman from Strathbane foisted on him.
    • 4/5
      AUTHOR: Beaton, M.C.TITLE: Death of a Chimney SweepDATE READ: 12/22/2015RATING: 4.5/B+GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS Mystery/2011/ Grand Central Publishing/ 247 pgs SERIES/STAND-ALONE: #27CHARACTERS AUTHOR: Hamish Macbeth/police constable TIME/PLACE present/ Lochdubbh-- Scottish highlandsFIRST LINES ."The village of Drim in the county of Sutherland at thenorthwest of Scotland was rarely visited by outsiders." COMMENTS: A local chimney sweep goes to clean a chimney of a retired Captain in the army … little did he know this would be his last job. The chimney needs to be cleaned out -- but there is more than soot in there, the dead body of the Captain is found and since the chimney sweep may know something he is next on the list… I thought this one had a little more violence than the others but it was fine for me. The villains were more evil and some of the deaths were a bit more graphic than usual. I always enjoy this series.
    • 4/5
      Hamish MacBeth makes me smile. This prolific little series is perfect for those times when you'd like a wee bit 'o laughter with your mystery. This does not mean that it's silly or fluffy. It is just fun. Hamish wants nothing more than peace and quiet. He never seems to find it, although the characters that shatter his peace and make him work are quirky and wonderfully fun. He has his work cut out for him but he usually prevails. His methods are not altogether by the book, but who cares as long as he gets the job done?Recommended!
    • 1/5
      Truly, this was a waste of time & paper.....

      The newcomer not only bullies his wife & shuns the townspeople, but has a secret life. He leaves his wife to go for a walk with orders to stay while the chimney sweep does his work, but his wife (being lonely) takes the opportunity to take a walk. When she returns she hears an annoying dripping sound coming from the fireplace, which turns out to be the blood of her dead husband who has been shoved up the flue. The sweep is found miles away dead as well.

      The police decide that the sweep was the guilty party and try to close the case, but Hamish finds a way to have forensics go over the evidence and finds that the sweep was not the murderer, but a second victim.

      The bully's sister comes to stay with the widow....she bullies the widow as well and begins to snoop in her brother's papers, where she finds a clue..... While in the midst of confronting one of the people her brother has bilked, she is murdered as well.....

      From there the body count rises.......

      Enter Elspeth on a news assignment.... Towards the end Priscilla makes a show up, but I never could figure out what the point was (except to reiterate the triangle).

      Hamish was not his usual self, he was terse & barking a good part of the time.... The murders kept multiplying until one got tired of them..... Actually there wasn't as much character or plot development as usual and so the book fell short.

      What a bore..........


    • 3/5
      The latest book in the Hamish Macbeth series. Hamish is a police constable in a backwater town in north Scotland. He's smart and capable and always solves the case but he doesn't want promotion so he always sabotages himself or manages to give credit to someone else. Although enjoyable, this story was pretty hard to believe. It was narrated by Graeme Malcolm (mentioned above). And it was only 4 CDs long.