A Charming Highland Murder: Death of a Groom Delivers Cozy Perfection

I just finished Death of a Groom, the latest Hamish Macbeth mystery by Rod Green, and I’m still smiling through the snowy Highland vibes it left me with. As a longtime fan of the series, I was a little nervous about how it would feel after M.C. Beaton passed, but I can honestly say this 37th book captured the heart and charm of Lochdubh perfectly.

Set in freezing February with heavy snow blanketing the village, the story kicks off with a glamorous Valentine’s Day wedding at Tommel Castle Hotel. High-society guests descend on quiet Lochdubh, including two women from Hamish’s romantic past which immediately complicates his life in the most entertaining way. The bride is heiress Alannah Hamilton, marrying the suave Darius Palmerston, but the book cleverly plays with “two grooms”: the actual bridegroom and the quiet horse handler who looks after the carriage horses. That twist hooked me from the very first pages.

What follows is classic Hamish: village tensions rising, incidents in the local pub, and then a shocking murder in the hotel dining room right after the ceremony. The suspect list is long and juicy, full of wealthy relatives, insecure friends, and familiar faces. I especially loved the absence of the overbearing DCI Blair — it felt refreshing — and I was genuinely pleased to see Jimmy Anderson facing his alcohol issues with some real depth.

Rod Green has done a spectacular job stepping into Beaton’s shoes. The atmosphere, the humor, the Highland charm, and the cozy mystery elements are all there. My only tiny personal quirk is that I prefer the Currie sisters referred to as “the Currie Sisters” rather than “the Currie Twins,” but that’s just me being picky after so many books — it doesn’t spoil the fun at all.

This was such a delightful read. Warm, twisty, funny, and full of the characters I’ve come to care about like old friends. If you love traditional cozy mysteries with Scottish flavor, strong characters, and clever plotting, you’re going to adore this one.

 You can order a copy here.

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