Death of a Green-Eyed Monster

I've never read a Hamish Macbeth novel before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Although MC Beaton's name is writ large on the front of the book, she sadly passed away in 2019, and this story has been written by RW Green, a journalist who was a long-time friend of Beaton. However, we are told all the ideas for scenes, characters and stories came from Marion Beaton, and she also edited his work. There are apparently more books still to come.

The new constable in Lochdubh is the gorgeous Dorothy McIver - she seems perfect, although no one in Lochdubh expects her to stay for long. She even likes Sergeant Macbeth, who is tongue-tied and work-shy but chivalrous. It isn't long before they are engaged, even though the village needs a sergeant who can get on with his job rather than one who is constantly swooning over his pretty young constable. But oddly, Dorothy doesn’t seem to have anyone she wants to invite to their wedding.

When there's a shocking shooting at the petrol station Hamish has to call in the big boys from the city to investigate. The murder victim is tied up with gangs and drugs in Glasgow, and the investigating officers are soon on the case alongside Hamish and question the various visitors to the area staying at the nearby hotel.

Hamish tracks down persons of interest himself, all the way to east Scotland, and uncovers more than he bargained for, all while he prepares for his wedding, but tragedy lurks along the way.

Death of a Green-eyed Monster isn’t a long book, but it doesn't start to romp along until the later parts. It had the feel of something written for TV - all action scenes and less internal description. I don't know if this was Beaton's traditional style, but I found it – and Hamish’s relationship with Dorothy – rather flat. Hamish's pets play a nice starring role throughout, thankfully.