Order of Book Series
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Hamish Macbeth Books in Order

Hamish Macbeth contains 41 books, published between 1985 and 2026. The first book is Death of a Gossip (1985) and the newest is Death of a Groom (2026). One more title is announced: Death of a High-Flyer (2027). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
41 + 1 announced
Published
1985–2026
Confirmed
42 of 42 titles
Pages on record
6,842 in 29 of 42 books
Reading time
114–171 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 6,842 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 29 of 42 titles with a page count on record.

See all 42 books in order Printable Hamish Macbeth checklistNext: Death of a High-Flyer (2027)

Hamish Macbeth is a police procedural mystery series set in Scotland, listed under Marion Chesney and named for its central character. The books use Lochdubh, an imaginary Scottish place, as a setting. The series contains 42 books, opening with Death of a Gossip (1985) and followed by Death of a Cad (1987) and Death of an Outsider (1988). Death of a Groom (2026) is the latest release, and Death of a High-Flyer is scheduled for 2027. Death of a Travelling Man (1993) carries an M.C. Beaton credit, while Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (2022) and Death of a Traitor (2023) credit M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green.

How many Hamish Macbeth books are there?

Hamish Macbeth has 41 published books, released between 1985 and 2026. One more, Death of a High-Flyer (2027), is announced.

Hamish Macbeth Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 42 Hamish Macbeth books in the order they were released, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of Death of a Cad by Marion Chesney, book 2 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1987)
  2. Cover of Death of a Hussy by Marion Chesney, book 5 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1990)
  3. Cover of Death of a Prankster by Marion Chesney, book 7 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1992)
  4. Cover of Death of a Glutton / Death of a Greedy Woman by Marion Chesney, book 8 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1993)
  5. Cover of Death of a Travelling Man by M.C. Beaton, book 9 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1993)
  6. Cover of Death of a Macho Man by Marion Chesney, book 12 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1996)
  7. Cover of Death of a Scriptwriter by Marion Chesney, book 14 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1998)
  8. Cover of Death of an Addict by Marion Chesney, book 15 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1999)
  9. Cover of A Highland Christmas by Marion Chesney, book 16 of the Hamish Macbeth series (1999)
  10. Cover of Death of a Dustman by Marion Chesney, book 17 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2001)
  11. Cover of Death of a Celebrity by Marion Chesney, book 18 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2002)
  12. Cover of Death of a Village by Marion Chesney, book 19 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2003)
  13. Cover of Death of a Poison Pen by Marion Chesney, book 20 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2004)
  14. Cover of Death of a Bore by Marion Chesney, book 21 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2005)
  15. Cover of Death of a Dreamer by Marion Chesney, book 22 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2006)
  16. Cover of Death of a Gentle Lady by Marion Chesney, book 24 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2008)
  17. Cover of Death of a Witch by Marion Chesney, book 25 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2009)
  18. Cover of Death of a Valentine by Marion Chesney, book 26 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2009)
  19. Cover of Death of a Chimney Sweep / Death of a Sweep by Marion Chesney, book 27 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2011)
  20. Cover of Death of a Kingfisher by Marion Chesney, book 28 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2012)
  21. Cover of Death of Yesterday by Marion Chesney, book 29 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2013)
  22. Cover of Death of a Policeman by Marion Chesney, book 30 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2014)
  23. Cover of Death of a Liar by Marion Chesney, book 31 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2015)
  24. Cover of Death of a Nurse by Marion Chesney, book 33 of the Hamish Macbeth series (2016)
  1. 1
    Death of a Gossip1985 · confirmed 3/4
    1985–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Death of a Cad1987 · 224 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1987224
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Death of an Outsider1988 · confirmed 3/4
    1988–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Death of a Perfect Wife1989 · 175 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1989175
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Death of a Hussy1990 · 151 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1990151
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Death of a Snob1992 · confirmed 3/4
    1992–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Death of a Prankster1992 · 176 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1992176
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Death of a Glutton / Death of a Greedy Woman1993 · 231 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1993231
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Death of a Travelling Man1993 · confirmed 3/4
    1993–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Death of a Charming Man1994 · confirmed 3/4
    1994–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Death of a Nag1995 · confirmed 3/4
    1995–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Death of a Macho Man1996 · 213 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1996213
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Death of a Dentist1997 · 228 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1997228
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    Death of a Scriptwriter1998 · 224 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1998224
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Death of an Addict1999 · 214 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1999214
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    A Highland Christmas1999 · 160 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1999160
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Death of a Dustman2001 · 226 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2001226
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Death of a Celebrity2002 · 274 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2002274
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Death of a Village2003 · 272 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2003272
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Death of a Poison Pen2004 · 248 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2004248
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Death of a Bore2005 · 272 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2005272
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Death of a Dreamer2006 · 288 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2006288
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Death of a Maid2007 · 245 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2007245
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Death of a Gentle Lady2008 · 256 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2008256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Death of a Witch2009 · 245 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2009245
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Death of a Valentine2009 · 246 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2009246
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Death of a Chimney Sweep / Death of a Sweep2011 · 247 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2011247
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Death of a Kingfisher2012 · 245 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2012245
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Death of Yesterday2013 · 263 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2013263
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Death of a Policeman2014 · 264 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2014264
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Hamish Macbeth Books in Chronological Order

By publication date, the Hamish Macbeth books run from Death of a Gossip (1985) to Death of a Groom (2026), the sequence in the table above. No separate story order is recorded for Hamish Macbeth in the book listings this catalogue merges, so publication order is the only order on record.

Do you have to read Hamish Macbeth books in order?

You should read the Hamish Macbeth books in publication order, the order of the numbered table above. The catalogue does not record whether each Hamish Macbeth book also stands alone.

What order should you read Hamish Macbeth books in?

Read them in publication order, starting with Death of a Gossip (1985), the earliest published title. After it come Death of a Cad (1987), Death of an Outsider (1988), Death of a Perfect Wife (1989) and Death of a Hussy (1990); the numbered table above continues from there.

What is the newest Hamish Macbeth book?

Death of a Groom (2026) is the newest Hamish Macbeth book released so far.

Is there a new Hamish Macbeth book coming?

Yes. Death of a High-Flyer (2027) is the next Hamish Macbeth book announced in the catalogue. A publication year announced this far ahead moves, so it is worth rechecking: every announced title dated after 2026 sits on the upcoming book releases page.

Printable Hamish Macbeth Books in Order Checklist

A printable checklist of all 42 books in publication order is on the Hamish Macbeth reading checklist, with a tick box beside each title.

Hamish Macbeth at a glance

Still running
Hamish Macbeth is still running. Death of a High-Flyer is announced for 2027.
Release pace
Hamish Macbeth books have appeared about one a year on average.
Length
6,842 pages across the 29 of 42 books with a recorded length, a median of 245 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Hamish Macbeth books, 12 of 42, were published in the 1990s.
Attribution
Of the 42 titles, 41 are credited to Marion Chesney, 3 to M.C. Beaton and 2 to R.W. Green.

What the Hamish Macbeth books are about

34 of the 42 Hamish Macbeth books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: police is tagged on 25 of 34. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.