DEATH OF A GENTLE LADY

Poor Hamish Macbeth has so many battles to fight at one time. First, his beloved police station is, again, in danger of closing. Second, he's the only one suspicious of village newcomer Mrs. Gentle. Third, once more he's thinking about getting engaged. Narrator Graeme Malcolm is splendid; every character is distinctive with his skilled delivery. He's excellent in his portrayal of Macbeth's chief inspector's self-important rantings, the Russian prostitute and the policewoman who comes seeking her, and, of course, the horrible Mrs. Gentle. Hamish remains his bumbling, unassuming self as he solves a murder with the help of whiskey-soaked Jimmy Anderson. This is an outstanding installment in Beaton's delightful series, and Malcolm makes a sparkling story even better. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]