Title: Death of a Bore (Hamish Macbeth, #21)
Author: M.C. Beaton
Rating: ★★★

This was my July 2018 Mystery Book Discussion group read at my local library.

John Heppel is a new guy in town, a published writer and newly-inducted screenwriter for a television series. He is the Gilderoy Lockhart of Lochdubh, Scotland: makeup-ready anytime production crews could be near and never one to pass by a chance to toot his own horn. After providing writing classes to the locals (who all somehow wish to be writers), he is mysteriously found dead…a supposed suicide. 

Hamish MacBeth is the local constable, redhead, and typical young male afraid of losing his bachelorship (not sure if that is a word?). 

MacBeth is one of those guys who goes with his gut even though it might get him into some trouble. And that is exactly what he does… convinced one of his beloved townsfolk isn’t the murderer, he sets his eyes on those of the production cast. But everyone seems to be lying…at least a little! After being provided with a “fake” screenplay, he is convinced that someone from the television crew is behind the murder, and possibly the murder of another woman. 

When Hamish’s ex-girlfriend and reporter shows up, things are bound to get more complicated. And of course, all of the ladies in town think it is time Hamish finds a wife. However, after a near death and the resolution of the murder, MacBeth misses his opportunity to tell Elspeth (his ex-girlfriend) how he really feels and instead, is left with the comfort of his new cat and dog (which he seems to care about more than anything). 

One big thing that bothered me was Hamish is so poor, but he’s cooking lamb chops for dinner. What?! Also, the ending was unnecessary. The cat brought no relevance to the story whatsoever. 

JULY 2018 MYSTERY BOOK DISCUSSION

Title: The Victoria Vanishes: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery (Bryant and May #6)
Author: Christopher Fowler
Rating: ★★★★

Arthur Bryant And John May (similar to Holmes and Watson) are senior detectives at the Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU), on their way to retirement. We find our two detectives on a new case: four woman (similarly aged) have been killed publicly in pubs.

During this investigation, the PCU is facing closing by headquarters due to the detectives straying from the beaten paths. Jack Renfield, former nemesis, has been promoted as their senior and is a strict law-abider, forcing the detectives to try to be on their best behavior.

After a shocking twist, the murderer is apprehended. The detectives are getting older, and with that, their health is deteriorating, which has caused some issues along the way. 

But seeing as you’re here too, tell me, how long would it take a man to build a Victorian pub from scratch and then dismantle it again? Could he do it in a single night?

One night while Bryant is walking home, he notices a middle-aged woman entering the Victoria Cross pub. Later, he finds out that the same lady was murdered. However, later going back to the scene of the crime, Victoria Cross no longer exists. Is it his memory issues or is there something more?

I thought this was a great read for those who are choosing to read the novel as a standalone. Never having read a Bryant and May novel in the past, I didn’t feel like I was missing out on much. It was easy to distinguish and get a feel for who the characters really were, which is definitely something I look for in a novel.

Who is behind all of the murders and what was the motive? What is the connection between the women?

MAY 2018 MYSTERY BOOK DISCUSSION