M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore (UK 2022)

From the Publisher:
Not bored to death but murder most foul...
Celebrated author John Heppel is known in Lochdubh as a self-important bore, prone to belittling the scribblings of the locals in his creative writing class. So when he's found dead, his mouth oozing ink, it seems a fitting fate.

But for PC Hamish Macbeth the murder is more than a disruption to idyllic village life - especially when the media arrive, trailing in their wake DCI Heather Meikle, a maneater with a taste for bachelor police constables. Hamish must re-kindle an old flame to escape her clutches and pull out all the stops to find the killer...

PRAISE FOR M.C. BEATON:
'The detective novels of M.C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status' -- Anne Robinson, The Times
The books are a delight: clever, intricate, sardonic and amazingly true to the real Highlands' -- Kerry Greenwood
'It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh' -- New York Times

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781472124562 (September, 2022), 287 p., £9.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore (UK 2018)

From the Publisher:
NOT BORED TO DEATH BUT MURDER MOST FOUL...
Celebrated author John Heppel is known in Lochdubh as a self-important bore, prone to belittling the scribblings of the locals in his creative writing class. So when he's found dead, his mouth oozing ink, it seems a fitting fate.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781472124562 (November, 2018), 287 p., £8.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore (UK 2013)

From the Publisher:
A murderer who doesn't take criticism well?
Famous author John Heppel is a horrible, self-important man who cruelly belittles the scribblings of the locals who have signed up for his writing course. So when Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth finds Heppel murdered, his mouth filled with ink, it seems like a fitting fate. Suddenly, Hamish's idyllic life of walks with his dog followed by afternoon tea disappears as the media descend on the village - along with DCI Heather Meikle, a maneater with a taste for bachelor constables.

Desperate to escape her clutches, Hamish rekindles dangerous passions with journalist and former girlfriend Elspeth. And with Heather's hot breath on his neck he must draft a plan to capture a bad, mad killer - one crazy enough to strike again...

'The detective novels of M.C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status.' -- ANNE ROBINSON, The Times
'Offers humour, intrigue and local colour galore.' -- Kirkus Reviews

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781472105394 (May, 2013), 310 p., £7.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore (UK 2010)

But for PC Hamish Macbeth the murder is more than a disruption to idyllic village life - especially when the media arrive, trailing in their wake DCI Heather Meikle, a maneater with a taste for bachelor police constables. Hamish must rekindle an old flame to escape her clutches and pull out all the stops to find the killer.

'First rate... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' -- Booklist
'Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.' -- Publishers Weekly
'The detective novels of M.C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status.' -- Anne Robinson, The Times

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Robinson, ISBN: 1849010749 (February, 2010), 310 p., £6.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore (USA 2006 / 3rd printing)

From the Publisher:
THE INK IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD
Famous writer John Heppel is a bitter, self-important man who cruelly belittles the scribblings of the locals signed up for his writing course. So when Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth finds Heppel murdered, his mouth filled with ink, it seems like a fitting fate.

Suddenly, Macbeth's idyllic life of walks with his dog, Lugs, and afternoon tea disappears as the media descend on the village -- along with Detective Chief Inspector Heather Meikle, a man-eater with a taste for bachelor constables. Desperate to escape her clutches, Macbeth rekindles dangerous passions of auld lang syne with his former girlfriend Elspeth. Now with Heather's hot breath on his neck, he must draft a plan to capture a mad, mad killer-one crazy enough to strike again.

"OFFERS HUMOR, INTRIGUE, AND LOCAL COLOR GALORE." -- Kirkus Reviews
"MACBETH IS THE SORT OF CHARACTER WHO SLYLY GROWS ON YOU." -- Chicago Sun-Times

M.C. BEATON is the author of the Hamish Macbeth mystery series, as well as the acclaimed Agatha Raisin series.
Includes an excerpt from the author's Death of a Dreamer.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore. A Hamish Macbeth Mystery. Grand Central Publishing, ISBN: 0446617199 (January, 2006 - 3rd printing, no date given), 263 p., $6.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore (USA 2005)

From the Publisher:
Tucked away in Lochdubh, a remote village in the Scottish north, is a genius among investigators, Constable Hamish Macbeth. Every time he cracks a case, his superiors want to promote him and pack him off to the city. But content with solitude, a snug cottage, and a quiet lifestyle, he refuses to budge-even in chill midwinter, when boredom festers, darkness falls in midafternoon, and black deeds emerge...

The poster in Patel's general store announces: "Do you want to be a famous writer? Famous writer John Heppel will help you become one." Lanky, red-haired Hamish Macbeth thinks no one will sign up even though Heppel wrote for a popular TV soap opera. The canny Macbeth is wrong. The desire to be published burns as brightly among Scots as do their hopes of appearing on the telly. Over a dozen budding authors show up at the village hall-and once Heppel mocks their writing and butchers their dreams, every single one of them wants to kill the arrogant little man. Then someone does.

Worse, many of Macbeth's neighbors-even the spinster twins, Jessie and Nessie Currie-have motive, means, and opportunity. Worst of all, this high-profile crime brings the media and Macbeth's new boss, Detective Chief Inspector Heather Meikle, to Lochdubh. And to Macbeth's dismay, the whisky-drinking, man-eating Heather soon sets her cap for the bachelor constable himself.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. With his trusty dog, Lugs, tagging along, Macbeth must search for a way to exonerate his friends and uncover the real killer. Not entirely by coincidence, the path leads him to former girlfriend Elspeth Grant, now at a city newspaper. But romance for Macbeth sputters like a peat fire in the hearth: It will take a mighty blow to get it glowing. Instead, something unexpected will howl down the loch like a cold wind... leading Macbeth to danger and a surprising encounter, one that may change his life and batter his heart.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Bore. A Hamish Macbeth Mystery. The Mysterious Press / Warner Books, ISBN: 0892967889 (January, 2005), 248 p., $23.95.