“Death of a Witch,” by M. C. Beaton

FM's ratings:

1.      Premise 8

2.      Prose 7

3.      Plot 8

4.      Characters 8

5.      Overall 8

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Another very enjoyable read from this author.  The prose is simplistic but effective; just doesn’t display a lot of depth.  The rest is just good solid writing with characters that are fun to watch, though just a little too shallowly rendered.  The interplay between the characters is fascinating, especially the jealousies that spring up between Hamish and three potential “lady loves.”  And there is just the right amount of “noir” in the mix, with a darkness that contrasts interestingly with the lightness of the prose.  The “witch” may or may not have been a real practitioner of the dark arts; that is left largely unanswered – in itself a fine touch by the author.  But just as with the previous book I read in this series, the real draw for me is the setting: a small, typically uptight Scottish community set against a dramatic loch-and-mountains backdrop.  The descriptions of the area are concise but effective at evoking an atmospheric sense of place.  This extends to the local pubs, hotels, etc.  On top of all this, the humor is added as just the right amount of spice.  I have already begun another work by this author, finding her novels to contain just the right recipe for my usual light reading tastes!

Here’s the October line-up! 

“Pet Sematary,” by Stephen King [10-1]

“The Body in the Library” by Agatha Christie [10-8]

“Dead Reckoning,” by Charlaine Harris [10-15]

“Neverwhere,” by Neil Gaiman [10-22]

“The Haunting of Hill House,” by Shirley Jackson [10-29] 

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for next month, please do so.  Also, if you have already read one on our previous lists, you are invited to send your ratings and or comments for that book!)