Book Review: Death of a Spy by M. C. Beaton with R W. Green (2024)

Synopsis: Ever since he first met James Bland, Sergeant Hamish Macbeth knew there was more to the American than he let on. So, when Bland joins the Lochdubh police force, officially as part of an exchange program but in reality, to get Macbeth's help tracking down a spy ring, he isn't surprised but also a bit reluctant. Unfortunately, the new mission also comes at a time when Lochdubh is being terrorized by a burglar and puts his fledgling relationship with Claire on the ropes.

Review: I came across Death of a Spy while returning some books to our library over the weekend and since I didn't have anything else immediately on my reading list, decided to check it out. I haven't been a big fan of the Hamish Macbeth books published since M. C. Beaton's death but was willing to give this one a fair chance. In the end, my opinion of it, like the others, was mixed.

The whole James Bland/spy ring thing is something I've never been able to get on board with. My biggest problem with it is there isn't any real mystery. They already knew who the bad guys were, and it was just a matter of finding them. And while the way they caught those spies was admittedly clever, there were parts that plan that did cross the thin line between humorous and a bit too silly.

The burglar story, frankly, was the better story and was more of a throwback to the mysteries that got me hooked on the series to begin with. While not a murder mystery, there was a lot to like about it, especially how there were plenty of witnesses who saw what the burglar looked like, including an easily recognizable spider tattoo on his neck but he still managed to stay hidden in a town with very few hiding places. Even the most likely suspects, the crew brought in to fix a bridge right around the time the burglaries started, were ruled out relatively early.

In fact, had that been the main story and the spy parts were cut out, I think it would have been a solid book, though maybe a dead body would have spiced it up just a little bit too.

I will say this much about the book though; I did like the ending. As I've mentioned before, I thought the newer books did Hamish an injustice by having him fall in love only to reveal she was a criminal and kill her off a book later. I'm hoping Claire, who seems perfect for him, won't meet a similar fate if the series continues past this book. In fact, I am becoming invested in that relationship just enough to give another book a try if/when it is published.

Final Opinion: I think the series dug itself into a bit of a hole with the James Bland storyline and if it continues, can only hope he's no longer part of it. As a standalone book, my point about the burglaries still stands but I'll give it a passing grade.

My Grade: C+

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Here are some reviews of other Hamish Macbeth mysteries:

Book Review: Death of an Honest Man by M. C. Beaton (2018)

Book Review: Death of a Chimney Sweep by M. C. Beaton (2011)

Book Review: Death of a Liar by M. C. Beaton (2015)