Death of a Scriptwriter, M. C. Beaton
Death of a Scriptwriter, M. C. Beaton
2 Rating(s)
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Death of a Scriptwriter

Author: M. C. Beaton

Narrator: Shaun Grindell

Unabridged: 6 hr 38 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/11/2020


Synopsis

With the lovely Priscilla Halburton-Smythe away in London, Hamish Macbeth, the constable of the small Scottish town of Lochdubh, pines for company during the long Scottish winter.He gets his wish—and more—when a troupe of flashy, urbane filmmakers clamors into the nearby town of Drim. Before long, bedlam erupts around their make-believe mystery—and culminates in the sudden appearance of one very real corpse.The initial suspect in the killing is one Patricia Martyn-Broyd, the aging mystery writer who is furious that her musty old cozies are getting a risqué face-lift in their television reincarnation. Yet, going behind the scenes, Macbeth soon finds a town full of locals bitten by the movie bug and a cast of quarreling show business types, all harboring their own secrets, lies, and hidden agendasAnd as the culprit strikes again, Macbeth must quickly find the right killer—or script the wrong finale to a show gone murderously awry.

About M. C. Beaton

M. C. Beaton has won international acclaim for her New York Times bestselling Hamish Macbeth mysteries. The BBC has aired 24 episodes based on the series. Beaton is also the author of the bestselling Agatha Raisin series, which will air as an eight-episode dramatic series on Sky1, starring Ashley Jensen. She lives in the Cotswolds with her husband. For more information, you can visit MCBeaton.com.

About Shaun Grindell

Born and raised in Southampton, England, Shaun Grindell is an accomplished actor who trained at the Calland School of Speech and Drama and the Lee Strasberg Actors Institute in London. As an audiobook narrator, he has narrated many titles in different genres. Among his most notable works are the Hamish Macbeth mysteries by M. C. Beaton. Shaun also garnered an AudioFile Earphones Award for his reading of The Roving Party by Rohan Wilson.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Bobby on May 28, 2021

Death of a Scriptwriter proved a very nice surprise even for a Hamish Macbeth fan such as myself. I've come to relish time spent in the Highlands with the quirky villagers of Lochdubh. I was a late-comer to this fun mystery series, and ended up reading them in quite haphazard fashion, completely out......more

Goodreads review by Ivonne on June 30, 2014

The titular character of Death of a Screenwriter, the 14th Hamish Macbeth mystery, is Jamie Gallagher, a boozy, incompetent whose ego is only exceeded by the dreadfulness of his prose. To no one’s surprise — especially not his fellow co-workers — Jamie ends up with his head bashed on Constable Hamis......more

Goodreads review by ~☆~Autumn on June 04, 2024

This was quickly read. Poor Hamish as he has a bad time in this one.......more

Goodreads review by Filip on September 23, 2024

That was quite nice. I mean, listen Priscilla, I like you, but stories without you and the relationship drama are just better. We had a nice cast of suspects her, multiple murders, some cheeky critique of how some stories are warped into something unrecognizable when adapted for TV... the ending and......more

Goodreads review by Grey853 on April 10, 2012

Patricia Martyn-Broyd is an aging mystery writer with most of her books out-of-print. When a studio calls and wants to make a TV series based on her most successful novel, she's thrilled. Having fired her agent, she handles the deal herself. Unfortunately, she discovers too late that instead of havi......more


Quotes

“Beaton’s affectionate wit remains dry and delightful.” Publishers Weekly

“His superiors consider Macbeth too lightweight to handle such a high-profile case, but not surprisingly, it’s his detecting acumen that allows the case to be solved.” Booklist (starred review)

“The mystery…has provided more than the usual number of suspects and subplots…[And] wicked characterizations of both the locals and the inhabitants of TV-land are hilarious and very occasionally thought-provoking.” Amazon.com

“MacBeth…keeps a low profile until a second killing sets him quietly on the true murderer’s track…Hamish’s sleuthing skill is vindicated by results, but his love-life remains depressingly nonexistent…Still, Hamish’s amiable persona manages to keep it all together.” Kirkus Reviews


Awards

  • Mystery Guild