Beaton: Death of an Outsider

Death of an Outsider is the third novel in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series by M. C. Beaton (a pseudonym of Marion Chesney). When constable Hamish is stationed temporarily in the dour highland village of Cnothan, he confronts a murder involving a widely disliked Englishman—whose body is bizarrely discovered among lobsters. Tasked with solving the crime in a community resistant to outsiders and overshadowed by a secretive detective chief inspector, Hamish uses his wit, charm, and dogged determination to unravel hidden motives and confront deep-seated animosities.

Key Features:

• Cozy Scottish whodunnit set in a close-knit, suspicious community 

• Distinctive premise with the victim discovered in a lobster tank 

• Combines dry humor, quirky characterizations, and atmospheric portrayal of rural Scotland 

• Features Hamish’s dog Towser and themes of outsider-observer dynamics