Death of a Perfect Wife by M. C. Beaton

Format: Audiobook

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Blurb

Hamish Macbeth is savouring the delights of a Highland summer. But as fast as the rain rolls in from the loch, his happy life goes to hell in a handbasket.

The trouble begins when his beloved Priscilla Halburton-Smythe returns to Lochdubh with a new fiancé on her arm. His miseries multiply when clouds of midges descend on the town.

And then a paragon of housewife perfection named Trixie Thomas moves into Lochdubh with her cowed husband in tow. The newcomer quickly convinces the local ladies to embrace low-cholesterol meals, ban alcohol, and begin bird-watching.

Soon the town’s menfolk are up in arms and Macbeth must solve Lochdubh’s newest crime, the mysterious poisoning of the perfect wife.

My review

I picked this out of my elibrary listing, not knowing it was part of a series and book 4 of the series. Yet, it didn’t matter. The author wrote the book in a way that felt standalone. The characters, the setting, the era, all were complete and interesting.

I felt like reading something easy-going. By that, I don’t mean simple, I mean something that flows easily and doesn’t jerk the reader here, there and everywhere. The book is part of the Hamish Macbeth cosy mysteries and I enjoyed it immensely.

The setting felt old-fashioned and laid back. The people of the Scottish town had distinct personalities and traits that I could relate to and the mystery itself was well thought out and entertaining.

I will read more by this author.