Monday, February 28, 2011

DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 GIVEAWAY ENDED
DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP
BY M. C. BEATON

ABOUT THE BOOK:
In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder.

About Author

M.C. Beaton lives in the Cotswolds with her husband. In addition to the Hamish Macbeth series, she writes the Agatha Raisin mystery series.

Audio and Video


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
M.C. Beaton is the author of 12 mysteries first published by Ivy, and now Bantam Books, featuring Hamish Macbeth (the local bobby in the sleepy Scottish Highland village of Lochdubh) and his eccentric neighbors. Macbeth is a quiet, artfully lazy man who often wonders why no one else "understands the happiness and contentment of the truly unambitious man." Hamish's peaceful life is disrupted throughout the series, however, as he is faced with murders in his orderly town. The victim is almost always some meddlesome outsider who seems to have invited his or her own demise. Macbeth solves the murders in his easygoing Highland style.

Beaton's Hamish Macbeth is now featured in a television series in England. It has been written and produced by the same people who produced Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse. The title character is played by Robert Carlyle, who has played in the the feature films Trainspotting, Priest and Riff Raff.
   
Beaton also writes a mystery series featuring retired London public-relations executive Agatha Raisin. In the first book, AGATHA RAISIN AND THE QUICHE OF DEATH, Agatha has sold her public-relations firm and retired to the picturesque Cotswold village of Carsely. Blunt and pushy, Agatha makes a mess out of her first aggressive attempts to fit into village life. Determined to gain acceptance among the villagers, the undomestic Agatha cheats in the local bake-off by entering a store-bought quiche. Her secret is revealed when the judge dies -- poisoned by her quiche. Agatha hopes to save face by finding his murderer -- and thus becomes the local village sleuth. Her adventures continue in AGATHA RAISIN AND THE VICIOUS VET.

M.C. Beaton also writes under the name of the regency romance author, Marion Chesney. She lives in a Cotswold village
with her husband.

MY REVIEW:
M. C. Beaton brings her multitude of fans to Loch Dubh, back to the Highlands of Scotland in her latest Hamish Macbeth Mystery, DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP.  Ah, but for those who don’t know Beaton’s clever, cozy type mysteries, don’t start singing “Chim chim-in-ey” and looking for Mary Poppins just yet. DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP is about a closed case, according to local authorities, that Police Constable Hamish Macbeth decides needs to be reopened.

Hamish Macbeth thinks that solving the murder of con artist/retired Army Captain, Henry Davenport, was just too easily solved. Henry Davenport had too many enemies and Macbeth thinks the wrong suspect was given credit for the horrible murder.

Davenport was found stuffed in his chimney, and chimney sweep Pete Ray was the last person seen working around the house, according to authorities so naturally, Ray, the local chimney sweep, is accused. Case closed…until as Macbeth points out, Ray was found dead soon after of a supposed motorbike accident. Followed by more murders, and a close call even for Hamish making a serial killer on his radar for sure, the typical Beaton mystery winds round for the reader. Leaving clues to make you think one thing and then another, DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP keeps your attention as one tries to figure out the “who done it”. Showing just how greed can make some people do anything, this is Beaton at her best. 


GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO BRIANNE AND THE GOOD FOLKS AT
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE 3 COPIES
OF DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP TO GIVE AWAY
 
--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK THAT I CAN FOLLOW

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT THE AUTHOR WHEN YOU VISIT "AGATHA RAISIN'S" WEBSITE HERE SINCE M. C. BEATON HAS NO OFFICIAL WEBSITE

 +1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN GAIN MORE ENTRIES BY COMMENTING EACH ONE SEPARATELY

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, MARCH 21
GOOD LUCK! 

113 comments:

PoCoKat said...

Huge fan of this series and MC Beaton books so would love to win.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

PoCoKat said...

I follow on GFC

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

PoCoKat said...

M.C. Beaton is actually Marion Chesney who is known primarily for the more than 100 historical romance novels she has published under her own name

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

Karen B said...

Another series I haven't read but have on TBR list.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

After she had written over 100 Regency romances and "getting fed up with 1811 to 1820," she began writing detectives stories.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

"FB Fan February Bonus Entry".
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

I follow you on Facebook.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

Email subscriber.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

GFC follower as Karen B.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

debbie said...

This is one of my favorite series. I would love to see how hamish solves the crimes.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I learned that a course at a fishing school, inspired her to write hamish macbeth.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Harvee said...

I love that Beaton's has written 12 Macbeth books in the series.

harvee44 at yahoo.com

Harvee said...

I am a follower on Google Friends Connect.

harvee44 at yahoo.com

Harvee said...

I also enjoy Beaton's Agatha Raisin series and am amazed she has time to also write another series, under a different name, which I have not read as yet.

harvee44 at yahoo.com

Steve Capell said...

I have read a number of reviews of this book and they are all positive and being that this is a genre that I love to read I am hooked! Now I wonder how Hamish solves the crimes.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/42222540701188097

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Haven't read this author but love a good mystery series and have read good reviews on this.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Love that though she knew no typing or shorthand that she rose to the level of fashion editor and then to the crime beat. Awesome!

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I follow via GFC-
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I follow via email-
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Jolee said...

Good ole' Hamish...thinking the case was too easily solved and therefore, it must be wrong. Kind of typical. Love this series. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

fan on fb joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

follow on gfc joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

Love on the website that her husband Harry is her best friend. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

traveler said...

This series is great and this new one would be enjoyable. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Her multi-talented ability to write romance and mystery. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

chey said...

I want to find out how Hamish solves this mystery!

chey127 at hotmail dot ocm

chey said...

I follow by gfc.
chey127 at hotmail dot ocm

chey said...

I subscribe by rss.
chey127 at hotmail dot ocm

mamabunny13 said...

Inside of a chimney is such a strange place to find a dead body. That's what made me want to read this book.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

petite said...

I would like to read this unique book which soiunds great. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am a follower. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Her career sounds interesting and her writing amazing. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

mamabunny13 said...

tweet http://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/42268570327072768

mamabunny13 said...

I find it interesting that she has been published under 5 different pseudonyms besides her real name.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I follow via gfc
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

follow on twitter @mamabunny13
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

follow via networked blogs
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

follow via reader
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

like you on fb-mamabunny shelor
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Carol N Wong said...

Somehow I missed this series in my favorite genre! Love that there are quirky characters and that it is set in Scotland. Want to read this book!!!

Carol N Wong said...

I tweete :

Carolee888 is my Twitter name.
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/ Giveaway of ' Death of a Chimney Sweep'.

Carol N Wong said...

The athor seems very thrifty, the last purchase that she made was a plaid jacket at at thrift store.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow this blog with an e-mail subscription.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow this blog with Google Friends Connect.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow this blog with Networked Blogs.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow this blog with an RSS feed on my IGoogle page.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow this blog with Twitter.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Sandra K321 said...

I haven't read a good mystery lately so I would especially enjoy this one that takes place in Scotland.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandra K321 said...

I follow you via Google Friend Connect.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I like the fact that this was a closed case that Hamish wants to re-open. I can't remember that happening in other books with Hamish and I think I've read them all.

suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I like that the author admits that she is a lousy housekeeper ---s so am I so I guess we have that in common..

suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I am an email subscriber.

suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Cindy W. said...

I am just a huge fan of mysteries and good cover art draws me in. Love the cover of Death of a Chimney Sweep! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I follow your blog via GFC.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I am an email subscriber.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

holdenj said...

I have enjoyed Agatha Raisin over the years--I'm sure Hamish would become well-loved as well.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I'm a GFC follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I have heard SO much about MC Beaton, and seeing as I love the "Mystery/Thriller" genre, and love detective novels - I'd love to win this.

What I especially like about the synopsis is that this is a re-opened case. Reading about that made me think of "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham, which happens to be one of the books I absolutely love!

Thanks for hosting this giveaway! :D

Email: Enamoredsoul@gmail.com

~Enamored Soul~ said...

Oh, I visited the "Agatha Raisin" website - and me, oh my! There are way too many interesting things about author MC Beaton to choose merely one interesting thing!

1) I love how she wrote under so many Pseudonyms - although I'd love to ask her why it was that she chose to write under so many different names, and not her own.

2) I also, especially, love how after having lost their jobs, her husband and she worked at a greasy spoon as a waitress and dishwasher. It is heart-warming, and especially relatable, that this author found no job beneath her -- makes you respect her not just as an author, but also as a person!

3) "In a nutshell my philosophy is...Stop projecting. Tomorrow's a mystery. This is not a rehearsal. I'm on stage now." is MC Beaton's philosophy - what more needs to be said about this woman! I love it! :D

Email: Enamoredsoul@gmail.com

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I'm a GFC follower! :)

Email: Enamoredsoul@gmail.com

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I'm a confirmed email subscriber! :)

Email: Enamoredsoul@gmail.com

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I follow you on Twitter! :)

Twitter handle: @inluvwithbookz

Email: Enamoredsoul@gmail.com

Laura H. said...

I like stories set in quaint, Scottish villages and the interaction between the locals. Everyone knows everyone which makes the murder mystery even more personal.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Tweeted giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHendo3/status/42432394556473344

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

From the website I learned that M. C. Beaton is a pseudonym for Marion Chesney.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Already follow via e-mail.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Already follow via GFC (Bornajhawk).

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Already follow via Networked Blogs (Laura G. Henderson).

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Already follow via Twitter @MamaHendo3.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Already FB fan (Laura G. Henderson).

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

February FB fan bonus entry (Laura G. Henderson).

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

justpeachy36 said...

There are several reasons I want to read this one. I have a few others in the series and like it very much being the main reason.

Please enter me in the giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

Agatha Raisin is a very interesting character too.. I would love to read some of Beaton's other books as well. I wish she had a website.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Linda Kish said...

I love a good mystery.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an Email subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

There are currently 21 Agatha Raisin books.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Carol N Wong said...

Please pass over me for this one, just found out that I won it from C. Mash!
Thank you.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

bison61 said...

wow-Davenport was found stuffed in his chimney, sounds like a great mystery book

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

rubynreba said...

I love mysteries and she is a great author.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Her worst habit is procastination
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I follow on GFC
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Email subscriber
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

facebook friend
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Charleydog said...

I want to win this book because I love the stories written by MC Beaton. She reminds me of Miss Marple.

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I want to read it because it is set in Scotland.

susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

Agatha Raisins worst habit is procrastination. I wonder how she meets her writing deadlines.

susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I follow by gfc,

susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I subscribe by email.

susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I Like you on FB as Susan Clarke T.

susanbillietaylor [at] gmail [dot] com

moonsword said...

I love that Hamish is willing to stick up for the humble chimney sweep. I've never read any of this series so I'd love to win this one. Thanks!

mamabunny13 said...

I subscribe by email
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

409cope said...

I find it interesting that this book is a mystery based in Scotland.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

409cope said...

I found it interesting that Marion has written over 100 historical romances.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

409cope said...

I follow through google friend.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

409cope said...

I am an email subscriber.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

409cope said...

I subscribe through rss google feed.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

MRWriter said...

I've heard about this series featuring Hamish before but haven't started in yet. This would be a great start.

AlexDean03(at)yahoo.com

MRWriter said...

Marion Chesney has published under her own name and under several pseudonyms: Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, and Charlotte Ward. But M.C. Beaton is the pseudonym she reserves for her mystery novels.

AlexDean03(at)yahoo.com

Lilk13 said...

I follow you on GFC as lilk13

kkappleby at msn dot com

Karen

http://thebookendsreviews.com

Lilk13 said...

I follow you on Networked Blogs as Karen Appleby

Karen

http://thebookendsreviews.com

Lilk13 said...

I like you on facebook as Karen Appleby.

Karen

http://thebookendsreviews.com

Lilk13 said...

I'm an email subscriber with email kkappleby at msn dot com

Karen

http://thebookendsreviews.com

Lilk13 said...

I like you on facebook as Karen Appleby.

Karen

kkappleby at msn dot com

http://thebookendsreviews.com

Forgot the email on the other one.

Lilk13 said...

I follow you on twitter as @lilk13.

Karen

kkappleby at msn dot com

http://thebookendsreviews.com

Lilk13 said...

After reading about the book and the author I was excited that I had recently purchased one of MC Beaton's books "A Spoonful of Poison" an Agatha Raisin Mystery. I would be honored to win "Death of a Chimney Sweep and get into the Hamish Macbeth mysteries.

Karen

kkappleby at msn dot com

http://thebookendsreviews.com

Lilk13 said...

I really enjoyed her Q & A and how she answered the questions.

Karen

kkappleby at msn dot com

http://thebookendsreviews.com

Lilk13 said...

I just posted this giveaway on my new blog. It is my first real post at http://thebookendsreviews.com and you can us this link to view it.

http://thebookendsreviews.com/m-c-beatons-death-of-a-chimney-sweep-giveaway.html

Karen

kkappleby at msn dot com

Lilk13 said...

Here is the link on twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/lilk13/status/48587387177156608

Karen

http://thebookendsreviews.com

kkappleby at msn dot com

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY