Reading order · 38 books · 1985 to 2026 · Set in the fictional Lochdubh, Scotland
Hamish Macbeth Books in Order
Hamish Macbeth is the police constable of Lochdubh, a village in the far north-west of the Scottish Highlands. Lazy by reputation and fond of poaching, he dodges promotion so that he can stay in his beloved village, and solves murders that his blustering superiors would rather pin on someone convenient.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Series facts
- Books
- 38
- Published
- 1985 to 2026
- First book
- Death of a Gossip
- Latest
- Death of a Groom (2026)
- Setting
- Set in the fictional Lochdubh, Scotland
The reading order
Every Hamish Macbeth book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
38 books · Set in the fictional Lochdubh, Scotland
- 1Death of a Gossip1985With Hamish MacbethA group of guests arrive at a fishing school in Lochdubh, including a sharp-tongued gossip columnist who makes enemies of everyone.Buy on Amazon
- 2Death of a Cad1987With Hamish MacbethPriscilla Halburton-Smythe brings her new fiancé home to her parents’ castle hotel near Lochdubh, and at the house party a cad who has insulted everyone is found shot.Buy on Amazon
- 3Death of an Outsider1988With Hamish MacbethExiled from Lochdubh to a dreary town, Hamish finds a hated local man dead in a lobster tank, and sets out to find who killed him.Buy on Amazon
- 4Death of a Perfect Wife1989With Hamish MacbethA newcomer who pushes the village towards healthier living is poisoned, and Hamish has a whole village of suspects.Buy on Amazon
- 5Death of a Hussy1990With Hamish MacbethA wealthy woman dies when her car catches fire, and her five penniless house guests all had motive and opportunity.Buy on Amazon
- 6Death of a Snob1991With Hamish MacbethThe owner of a health farm, frightened by a prediction of her death, offers Hamish a free stay to protect her, and the prophecy comes true.Buy on Amazon
- 7Death of a Prankster1992With Hamish MacbethA wealthy old man known for his practical jokes invites his family to his home near Lochdubh, announcing that he is dying, and is soon found murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 8Death of a Glutton1993With Hamish MacbethA matchmaking week at a Highland hotel turns sour when a greedy, unpleasant guest is found dead.Buy on Amazon
- 9Death of a Travelling Man1993With Hamish MacbethHamish is promoted to sergeant and given a constable to manage, while a new-age traveller in a battered bus parks in Lochdubh and makes himself unwelcome.Buy on Amazon
- 10Death of a Charming Man1994With Hamish MacbethA handsome newcomer stirs up rivalries among the women of a quiet village, and murder follows.Buy on Amazon
- 11Death of a Nag1995With Hamish MacbethHamish takes a holiday at a seaside bed and breakfast to recover from a broken engagement, and becomes the prime suspect in a murder.Buy on Amazon
- 12Death of a Macho Man1996With Hamish MacbethA local brawler who challenges Hamish to a fight is found shot, and rumours point to Hamish himself.Buy on Amazon
- 13Death of a Dentist1997With Hamish MacbethHamish Macbeth has a terrible toothache and goes to the dentist, only to find the dentist dead in his surgery.Buy on Amazon
- 14Death of a Scriptwriter1998With Hamish MacbethA film crew arrives in the village of Drim, and soon there is a real body on set.Buy on Amazon
- 15Death of an Addict1999With Hamish MacbethA recovering addict who came to the Highlands to hunt for a sea monster is found dead of an apparent overdose, and Hamish suspects foul play.Buy on Amazon
- 16Death of a Dustman2001With Hamish MacbethA drunken, bullying dustman becomes a tyrant once he is put in charge of recycling, and then his body turns up in a recycling bin.Buy on Amazon
- 17Death of a Celebrity2002With Hamish MacbethA television reporter who clashes with Hamish and threatens to expose local scandals is attacked.Buy on Amazon
- 18Death of a Village2003With Hamish MacbethA Highland fishing village is gripped by fear, and Hamish teams up with a journalist to find out why.Buy on Amazon
- 19Death of a Poison Pen2004With Hamish MacbethVillagers are receiving vicious anonymous letters, and then the postmistress is found dead.Buy on Amazon
- 20Death of a Bore2005With Hamish MacbethA tiresome writer is found dead in his cottage, and there is no shortage of suspects.Buy on Amazon
- 21Death of a Dreamer2006With Hamish MacbethA newcomer who believes a local artist is in love with her is poisoned after a fierce argument with him.Buy on Amazon
- 22Death of a Maid2007With Hamish MacbethA cleaner with a talent for blackmail, whose services Hamish won in a church raffle, is found murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 23Death of a Gentle Lady2008With Hamish MacbethThe much-loved Mrs Gentle dies in mysterious circumstances, and Hamish suspects she was not as gentle as she seemed.Buy on Amazon
- 24Death of a Witch2009With Hamish MacbethA newcomer who sells herbal remedies to the village men is attacked, her house burns down, and violence follows.Buy on Amazon
- 25Death of a Valentine2009With Hamish MacbethHamish and his new constable, Josie McSween, investigate the murder of a woman with countless admirers.Buy on Amazon
- 26Death of a Sweep2011With Hamish MacbethA body is found stuffed in a chimney, and the town blames the chimney sweep, until he too is found dead on the moors.Buy on Amazon
- 27Death of a Kingfisher2012With Hamish MacbethA struggling town rebrands its woods to attract tourists, and then a kingfisher is found hanged and violence follows.Buy on Amazon
- 28Death of Yesterday2013With Hamish MacbethA woman who cannot remember the previous evening is later found dead, and the only known witness is also dead.Buy on Amazon
- 29Death of a Policeman2014With Hamish MacbethWith police stations facing closure, a young officer is sent to spy on Hamish, and when he is found dead, Hamish is the suspect.Buy on Amazon
- 30Death of a Liar2015With Hamish MacbethA habitual liar keeps reporting attacks that Hamish doubts, and then she is found dead.Buy on Amazon
- 31Death of a Nurse2016With Hamish MacbethA private nurse fails to turn up for a dinner date with Hamish, and her body later washes up on a beach.Buy on Amazon
- 32Death of a Ghost2017With Hamish MacbethHamish and his constable spend a night at a haunted castle, where the constable finds a body that then vanishes.Buy on Amazon
- 33Death of an Honest Man2018With Hamish MacbethA blunt newcomer insults neighbours all over Hamish’s beat, and someone takes his honesty to a deadly extreme.Buy on Amazon
- 34Death of a Green-Eyed Monster2022With Hamish MacbethHamish’s hopes of a happy future with his new constable are threatened by a fresh murder.Buy on Amazon
- 35Death of a Traitor2023With Hamish MacbethA meddling village resident disappears, and Hamish learns that her past was more sinister than she let on.Buy on Amazon
- 36Death of a Spy2024With Hamish MacbethAn American exchange officer joins Hamish’s station as a Russian spy network is under investigation, while a burglar known as Spiderman plagues the area.Buy on Amazon
- 37Death of a Smuggler2025With Hamish MacbethA new constable arrives with a secret, a family seeks revenge on a missing man, and then a woman is found murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 38Death of a Groom2026With Hamish MacbethBuy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
The books can be read in any order, but Hamish’s long romance with Priscilla Halburton-Smythe and his later relationships run through the series, so publication order is best.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Hamish Macbeth | Priscilla Halburton-Smythe | Detective Chief Inspector Blair | Jimmy Anderson | Lugs and Sonsie | Elspeth Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Death of a Gossip | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 2 Death of a Cad | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 3 Death of an Outsider | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 4 Death of a Perfect Wife | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 5 Death of a Hussy | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 6 Death of a Snob | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 7 Death of a Prankster | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 8 Death of a Glutton | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 9 Death of a Travelling Man | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 10 Death of a Charming Man | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 11 Death of a Nag | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 12 Death of a Macho Man | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 13 Death of a Dentist | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 14 Death of a Scriptwriter | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 15 Death of an Addict | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 16 Death of a Dustman | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 17 Death of a Celebrity | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 18 Death of a Village | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 19 Death of a Poison Pen | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 20 Death of a Bore | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 21 Death of a Dreamer | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 22 Death of a Maid | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 23 Death of a Gentle Lady | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 24 Death of a Witch | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 25 Death of a Valentine | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 26 Death of a Sweep | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 27 Death of a Kingfisher | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 28 Death of Yesterday | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 29 Death of a Policeman | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 30 Death of a Liar | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 31 Death of a Nurse | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 32 Death of a Ghost | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 33 Death of an Honest Man | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 34 Death of a Green-Eyed Monster | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 35 Death of a Traitor | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 36 Death of a Spy | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 37 Death of a Smuggler | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 38 Death of a Groom | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Hamish Macbeth books
6 characters from M.C. Beaton’s chart, with the number of Hamish Macbeth books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Hamish MacbethPolice constable in the Highland village of Lochdubh | 38 | Death of a Gossip 1985 |
| Priscilla Halburton-SmytheLaird’s daughter and Hamish’s great love | 38 | Death of a Gossip 1985 |
| Detective Chief Inspector BlairHamish’s bullying superior | 38 | Death of a Gossip 1985 |
| Jimmy AndersonDetective and Hamish’s friend | 38 | Death of a Gossip 1985 |
| Lugs and SonsieHamish’s dog and wildcat | 13 | Death of a Sweep 2011 |
| Elspeth GrantJournalist and Hamish’s love interest | 10 | Death of a Dustman 2001 |