Hamish Macbeth is a fictional police officer who serves as his town's detective in a series of mystery novels created by M.C. Beaton (Marion Chesney).
Contents |
Character
Hamish Macbeth has a reputation for laziness; because he loves his native town of Lochdubh (meaning 'black lake' (loch) in Gaelic), he avoids promotion, occasionally even deliberately destroying attempts to give him recognition for his accomplishments.
Novels
- Death of a Gossip (1985)
- Death of a Cad (1986)
- Death of an Outsider (1988)
- Death of a Perfect Wife (1989)
- Death of a Hussy (1991)
- Death of a Snob (1992 )
- Death of a Prankster (1992)
- Death of a Glutton (1993)
- Death of a Travelling Man (1993)
- Death of a Charming Man (1994)
- Death of a Nag (1995)
- Death of a Macho Man (1996)
- Death of a Dentist (1997)
- Death of a Scriptwriter (1998)
- Death of an Addict (1999)
- A Highland Christmas (1999)
- Death of a Dustman (2001)
- Death of a Celebrity (2002)
- Death of a Village (2003)
- Death of a Poison Pen (2004)
- Death of a Bore (2005)
- Death of a Dreamer (2006)
- Death of a Maid (2007)
- Death of a Gentle Lady (2008)
Adaptations
Hamish Macbeth was adapted into a BBC Scotland television series. The titular police officer was played by Robert Carlyle. It ran for three series between 1995 and 1997, with the first two series having six episodes and the third having eight. Aided by his dog, a West Highland Terrier named Wee Jock, Constable Macbeth kept the peace in his own way without undue reliance on the letter of the law, and with every intention of avoiding being promoted out of what was his ideal job. Running themes included the tensions caused by Hamish's attraction to both the local journalist Isobel Sutherland (Shirley Henderson) and the aristocratic Alex (Valerie Gogan); and the claimed supernatural powers of Hamish's friend and co-worker "TV" John McIver (Ralph Riach). The series had a slightly surreal quality to it, enhanced by the eerie celtic music of John Lunn. It was filmed on location in the village of Plockton, the town of Kyle of Lochalsh and the surrounding area. The series were released on DVD in the UK and the US in 2005 and 2006 with the exception of the first series episode West Coast Story. This was due to rights issues surrounding the episode's extensive use of excerpts from West Side Story. The third and final series was released in April 2006.
