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Death of a Prankster

Hamish MacBeth, Book 7

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Death of a Prankster

By: M. C. Beaton
Narrated by: David Monteath
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About this listen

Stabbed and stuffed in a closet.…

When police constable Hamish Macbeth receives the news that there has been a murder at Arrat House, home of the relentless practical joker Arthur Trent, he doesn’t race to the scene of the crime. After all, last time he was called to investigate a death at the isolated Scottish manor, the "victim" turned out to be Trent’s manservant covered in fake blood.

Thus prepared for another prank, Hamish arrives to find that Trent has been most decidedly murdered and for suspects there is a houseful of greedy relatives, all of whom are more than interested in the contents of the will than the crime at hand. And when the chief inspector arrives on the scene and his former flame, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, gets involved as well, Hamish quite clearly has his hands full.

©2008 MC Beaton (P)2013 Audible Ltd Modern Detectives Mystery Crime Fiction Suspense Amish

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All stars
Most relevant  
Another lovely story about the easy going Scottish policeman. Surprisingly addictive. Great psychological insights into human behaviour.

Easy listening

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loved all the books so far, but this one I only finished to find out the murderer. Everyone was horrible. Blair was more obnoxious than usual. All the family were unpleasant......even Hamish was less likeable. The dog and Precilla alone were as normal. 4 stars because narration as always is perfect.

not as enjoyable as usual

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Narrator is very good ,only one I'd listen to
David Monteith has the proper accent

Good stuff

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A nice story, not one of the better ones but pleasant enough. Hammish at his bumbling best, it wasn't, but the reader was good & authentic which helped with the flow.

Not the best one

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I understand the comments about the unpleasant cast of characters, but I thoroughly enjoyed a little laugh at them all. Didn’t guess the murderer and David Monteath fab as always.

Very enjoyable

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I am now on book 8 having just finished Death of a Prankster

This series is excellent and David Monteath narrates well - easy to listen to and just enough of a Scottish lilt to bring Hamish to life

This particular book has a very long run in before the murder and before we meet MacBeth - for a while I was worried that I had bought something out of series - but no - once Hamish arrived the experience was made complete

Enjoying this series

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This is good fun easy listen and relaxing.The earlier books in this series are far better than the later books which tend to repeat plot lines and include a lot of narration exposing a view of life based on the nasty Boris Johnson brand of Tory. This book does not include that and is all better for it.

Fun easy listen

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I only listen to this series because of the narration. I like to hear a Scots accent in my homesickness in England. The setting Sutherland is appealing too. The author forgot how Scots law differs in matters of inherited, rendering the plot ridiculous! Her background as an Express journalist is evident. Scots describe police officers as “polis” not “copper”!

Better narrated than written

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…can’t really save this disappointing clunker. Unpleasant characters are what you get in a murder mystery; after all, murder is, well…unpleasant. But these characters were not very well drawn or at all believable and the setting was somehow very dated. Hamish himself is a delight, as ever, and the other police, though unattractive, are properly drawn. I don’t myself much care for Priscilla, but that may be treasonous! I’m hoping this is just one dud in what, so far, has been an enjoyable series. Despite his inability to save the unsaveable, David Monteath is, as always, brilliant.

Even David Monteath…

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This is the first time I’ve felt like giving up on a Hamish Macbeth novel. The characters were nearly all deeply unpleasant, selfish and greedy. The nasty tricks perpetrated by the “Prankster” went way beyond anything that could be termed a prank. I”m only glad that this wasn’t the first I had listened to in this series as it would have put me off the rest.

Sorry to be so negative, but even the lovely voice and skilful narration of David Monteath could not redeem Death of a Prankster for me.

Least favourite of the series

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