Hamish Macbeth Mysteries

When society widow and gossip columnist Lady Jane Winters joined the fishing class, she wasted no time in ruffling the feathers-or was it the fins? -of those around her. Among the victims of her sharp tongue and unladylike manner was Lochdubh Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet not even Hamish thought someone would permanently silence Lady Jane's shrills-until her strangled body is fished out of the river. Now with the help of the lovely Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, Hamish must angle through the choppy waters of the tattler's life to find the murderer. But with a school of suspects who aren't ready to talk and dead women telling no tales, Hamish may be in over his head, for he knows that secrets are dangerous, knowledge is power, and killers usually do strike again. Includes the bonus story "Knock, Knock You're Dead"

When Priscilla Halburton-Smythe brings her London playwright fiance home to Lochdubh, everybody in town is delighted... except for love-smitten Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet his affairs of the heart will have to wait. Vile, boorish Captain Bartlett, one of the guests at Priscilla's engagement party, has just been found murdered-shot while on a grouse hunt. Now with many titled party guests as the prime suspects, each with a reason for snuffing out the despicable captain, Hamish must smooth ruffled feathers as he investigates the case. When the hidden culprit strikes again, Hamish will find himself trying to save Priscilla from a miserable marriage-and catch a killer before he flies the coop. |OneTwoThreeFourFiveSixSevenEightNineTenElevenTwelveThirteenFourteen

The third book in the much-loved Hamish Macbeth series from the author of the bestselling Agatha Raisin series The most hated man in the most dour town in Scotland is sleeping with the fishes, or-more accurately-has been dumped into a tank filled with crustaceans. All that remains of the murdered victim are his bones. But once the lobsters have been shipped off to Britain's best restaurants, the whole affair quickly lands on the plate of Constable Hamish Macbeth. Exiled to the dreary outpost of Cnothan, Macbeth sorely misses his beloved Lochdubh, but before he can head back home he has to contend with a detective chief inspector who wants the murder hushed up, a dark-haired lassie who is out to seduce him, and a killer who has made mincemeat of his last victim-and will no doubt strike again.

Hamish Macbeth, the laid-back constable of Lochdubh, Scotland, has a new Land Rover to drive and a Highland summer to savor, but as fast as rain rolls in from the loch, his happy life goes to hell in a handbasket. The trouble begins when his beloved Priscilla Halburton-Smythe returns from London-with a fiancé on her arm. His miseries multiply when clouds of midges, the diabolical Scottish mosquito, descend on the town. Then a paragon of housewifery named Trixie Thomas moves into Lochdubh with her lapdog husband in tow. The newcomer quickly convinces the local ladies to embrace low-cholesterol meals, ban tobacco, and begin bird-watching. Soon the town's fish-and-chips-loving men are up in arms. Now faced with the trials of his own soul, Macbeth must solve Lochdubh's newest crime: the mysterious poisoning of the perfect wife.

A classic title from M.C. Beaton's New York Times bestselling Hamish Macbeth series About the best that can be said of wealthy Maggie Baird is that inside her middle-aged body, there still beats the heart of a beautiful tart. So when her car catches fire with Maggie in it, there are five likely suspects right on the premises of her luxurious Highlands cottage. Lochdubh police constable Hamish Macbeth has to question Maggie's timid niece and four former lovers, one of whom Maggie had intended to pick for her husband. All five are equally poor-with ample motive and opportunity to monkey with Maggie's car. Now to find the killer, the astute lawman must apply his extraordinary insight into human nature. But when the evidence appears to point to the wrong person entirely, Hamish must dig down deep to stop the real murderer's escape.

A classic title from M.C. Beaton's New York Times bestselling Hamish Macbeth series Believing that someone is trying to murder her, gorgeous Jane Wetherby asks Hamish Macbeth to spend Christmas with her and an exclusive group of friends at her Scottish island health farm. With a cold in his head and no place to go for the holidays, Hamish accepts her invitation. He thinks the lady is a bit daft, but, arriving on the lonely isle of Eileencraig, he feels a prickle of foreboding. The locals are openly threatening; the other guests, especially a terrible snob named Heather Todd, are barely civil. So when Heather meets an untimely end, Hamish knows he doesn't have far to look for the culprit. The only snag in his investigation is that all the guests were in the house when Heather vanished. Now, as mysterious events abound on Eileencraig, Hamish must work through the holiday sniffles to find the killer-or else it will be a very miserable Christmas indeed.

A classic title from M.C. Beaton's New York Times bestselling Hamish Macbeth series about the death of a practical joker. Admittedly, there's a touch of black humor in the case. Rich, old practical joker Andrew Trent summons his kin to the remote Arrat House in the dead of winter for a deathbed farewell. They arrive to find him in perfect health and eager to torment them with a new bag of unfunny jokes. But this time the body that falls out of the closet is Andrew Trent's own. And nobody's laughing.Especially not Constable Hamish Macbeth, who is hard put to glean any information from Trent's unappealing nearest and dearest. And when the lanky constable's former flame Priscilla Halburton-Smythe inserts her beautiful self into the case, Hamish must muster all his native guile to carry him through. Fortunately, he has a few clever tricks up his own sleeve which enable this most endearing of crime fighters to get the best-and last-laugh.

A classic title from M. C. Beaton's New York Times bestselling Hamish Macbeth series. Peta Gore is the bane of her friend's otherwise successful life. Maria Worth has come to hate her old friend-a noisy, vulgar glutton. There is no other way to describe Peta. She doesn't just "have a good appetite"-she sucks and chomps and chews with relish. Not only are her table manners horrifying, but she has a habit of showing up at Maria's carefully planned singles' gatherings and spoiling everything by flirting with all the men. This time Maria is determined to keep her latest event a secret.The gathering is to be at Tommel Castle Hotel in the remote Scottish village of Lochdubh-the perfect setting for a particularly difficult group. Nothing can go wrong. Except that somehow Peta finds out about the gathering and shows up, thoroughly disgusting everyone. Guests and staff band together in mutual loathing. But does someone hate her enough to kill her? When she is found dead, an apple stuck unceremoniously in her mouth, Constable Hamish Macbeth is on the scene. With a castle full of odd suspects, the lazy, long-limbed constable has to put his wooing of the hotel proprietress, Priscilla, on hold to solve the case.

Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth's life is going to pot. He has-horrors!-been promoted, his new boss is a dunce, and a self-proclaimed traveler named Sean and his girlfriend have parked their rusty eyesore of a van in the middle of the village. Hamish smells trouble, and he's right, as usual. The doctor's drugs go missing. Money vanishes. Neighbors suddenly become un-neighborly. The tension only explodes after the itinerant Sean is found brutally beaten to death in his camper. Suspicion quickly falls on his girlfriend, but with nobody willing to talk, the canny Hamish faces the tough task of worming the facts out of the villagers. As he uncovers a bizarre story around the murdered traveler, Macbeth knows he must find the truth soon-before the killer gets away for good. Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth's new promotion means more money, but it also means that an eager beaver of a policeman has been thrust upon him, interfering with Hamish's easygoing way of life. Fans of the lazy Hamish will delight in seeing him pitted against a zealous young officer while solving a disturbing murder.

M. C. Beaton returns with another baffling case for Hamish Macbeth, the stubborn, red-haired, one-man police department of the Highland village of Lochdubh. Hamish Macbeth's unofficial engagement to the stunningly beautiful Priscilla Halburton-Smythe is reminding the constable of the old adage about answered prayers. His lovely fiancée has replaced his cozy wood stove with a modern electric one and is busy trying to "make a man of him." The only man Hamish wants to be is the one who wanders about the village with his dog Towser, gossiping, fishing, and deftly solving a crime or two. Deciding that this may be a good time for a little retreat, Hamish ambles over to the nearby backwater of Drim, ostensibly to check out a posh English chap who is causing a most unusual problem. Single, wealthy, and terribly attractive, newcomer Peter Hynd has thrown the middle-aged matrons of Drim into a flutter and put their men, dour Highlanders whose feelings run deep, on a slow burn. Hamish's instincts tell him this seemingly charming young man likes to stir up trouble, and it's not long before the seething emotions transform the sleepy village into a hotbed of threats, domestic rows, and violent murder. With Hamish's own relationship raising doubts about hearts and flowers, he's more than ready to do what he now must: investigate the darker side of love. "One of the warmest and quirkiest mystery series around…Beaton's tremendously likable policeman stars here in a tightly wrought tale, with a gem of an ending in which Hamish manages to be both dead right and dead wrong." "Offers is an intimate look at life in a small Scottish village, striking insights into human nature, carefully detailed, highly accurate descriptions of police work, splendid dry humor, and a story that's as satisfying as a cozy cup of tea."

Hamish Macbeth, constable in the small Scottish Highland town of Lochdubh, needs a holiday but ends up facing more problems-including a murder. Macbeth is feeling down after losing both his promotion and his girlfriend, the town beauty, Priscilla Halbourton-Smythe. A trip to a charming seaside inn with his dog Towser is meant to raise his sagging spirits. Instead, he arrives at lodging to find the ambiance chilling, the food inedible, and his fellow guests less than neighborly. There's an amorous spinster, two flirty girls, a retired military man, a secretive London family, and Bob Harris, who so nags his wife, Doris, that everyone wants to kill him. Then somebody does. Soon Macbeth is called upon to act-to dig into the past and deep into the heart to deliver something more daunting than merely the culprit: justice. "Beaton has fine-tuned her MacBeth series into something altogether winning. In this eleventh entry, her plot is top-notch, a few somber notes demonstrate her touch for understated compassion, and, as always, Hamish and his highland cohorts are lovingly rendered." "A standout. The plot is even better than usual…Hamish uses brains, intuition, and a keen understanding of human nature-as well as plenty of shoe leather-to ferret out the unlikely killer. A fine, well-told police procedural with plenty of human interest, Beaton's latest will appeal to a wide range of mystery fans."

If you haven't already fallen in love with this internationally acclaimed series by M. C. Beaton, then this cunningly crafted mystery will do the trick. Loaded with authentic Scots dialog vivid enough to make you smell the heather-scented air, Death of a Macho Man is Beaton at her best. Hamish Macbeth-Lochdubh's one-man police force-has suddenly become a prime murder suspect when a belligerent newcomer turns up dead. To save his career, Macbeth must delve into this Macho Man's unsavory past. Suddenly, suspects are everywhere: a salty fisherman, a reclusive romance writer, a respectable matron, a restauranteur's wife, and even Hamish's ex-fiancee Priscilla Halburton-Smythe and her newest boyfriend. Fast-paced and loaded with quirky characters, Death of a Macho Man enhances Beaton's glowing reputation. "[Beaton's] crisp, clever plots are sparkling nuggets about life, love, and happiness, about loyalty, kindness, and cruelty. Perhaps the best treasures of all, though, are Beaton's wonderfully dry wit and her unique hero, Hamish MacBeth…Naturally, Hamish can't rest while his razor-sharp intuition tells him the real killer is still to be revealed. An outstanding read from one of the real masters of mystery."

In Scotland, where thrift and a "nice set of dentures" are generally admired, dental surgeon Dr. Frederick Gilchrist's cheap rates and penchant for pulling teeth have gained him a clientele. However, wiser Highlanders, like Constable Hamish Macbeth, opt to steer clear of this reputed womanizer's all-too-busy hands. But a blinding toothache sends Hamish Macbeth 120 miles out of Lochdubh to the infamous dentist's door. Unfortunately for Hamish and Gilchrist, someone has canceled all the doctor's appointments-permanently. Since everyone is pleased that the dentist is deceased-patients, several harassed women, and even his wife-Macbeth faces one of the more biting challenges of his career. A toothache can drive a man mad, and Hamish, with a mouth full of throbbing pain, decides to go after the killer alone. "A cast of engaging locals with full-blown Highland accents." "Macbeth's efforts bustle charmingly along against the background of quirky Scots dialect and rustic pubs. And Beaton's tangled web of a mystery is tidily resolved to the satisfaction of the locals and, surely, for all the devoted fans of this winning series." "Using his innate knowledge of human nature, his keen intuition, and his superb investigative skills, he soon gets at the heart of the matter. A gem of a book, a gem of a plot, a gem of a hero-M. C. Beaton and Hamish MacBeth shine once again." "It's well nigh impossible not to fall for ace moocher Hamish, with his quick mind, deceptively simple manner, and accursed luck with the fairer sex."

With the lovely Priscilla Halburton-Smythe away in London, Hamish Macbeth, the constable of the small Scottish town of Lochdubh, pines for company during the long Scottish winter. He gets his wish-and more-when a troupe of flashy, urbane filmmakers clamors into the nearby town of Drim. Before long, bedlam erupts around their make-believe mystery-and culminates in the sudden appearance of one very real corpse. The initial suspect in the killing is one Patricia Martyn-Broyd, the aging mystery writer who is furious that her musty old cozies are getting a risqué face-lift in their television reincarnation. Yet, going behind the scenes, Macbeth soon finds a town full of locals bitten by the movie bug and a cast of quarreling show business types, all harboring their own secrets, lies, and hidden agendas And as the culprit strikes again, Macbeth must quickly find the right killer-or script the wrong finale to a show gone murderously awry. "Beaton's affectionate wit remains dry and delightful." "His superiors consider Macbeth too lightweight to handle such a high-profile case, but not surprisingly, it's his detecting acumen that allows the case to be solved." "The mystery…has provided more than the usual number of suspects and subplots…[And] wicked characterizations of both the locals and the inhabitants of TV-land are hilarious and very occasionally thought-provoking." "MacBeth…keeps a low profile until a second killing sets him quietly on the true murderer's track…Hamish's sleuthing skill is vindicated by results, but his love-life remains depressingly nonexistent…Still, Hamish's amiable persona manages to keep it all together."

With their engaging plots, mellow Scottish ambiance, and droll humor, the Hamish Macbeth mysteries always provide readers a bonnie time. The charming antics of their hopelessly unambitious and love-crossed hero have earned the series a dedicated following. Death of an Addict continues the Hamish Macbeth tradition of superb entertainment, with some fascinating twists. When a recovering addict dies while recuperating near Lochdubh, our red-headed hero suspects foul play. To complete his investigation, Constable Macbeth must leave his idyllic home and travel to Amsterdam to match wits with big-time drug dealers. Fans will enjoy seeing a new, tougher side of Macbeth as he dons smart suits and falls in love with his gorgeous superior officer.

When Fergus Macleod, Lochdubh's abusive, drunk dustman is put in charge of the local recycling center, Hamish Macbeth smells trouble. Sure enough, Fergus, imbued with his new powers, becomes a bullying tyrant. When his body is found stuffed in a recycling bin, no one is sorry-including his long-suffering family. But Macbeth is surprised to find that many of the despicable dustman's victims refuse to talk-and when violence strikes again, the lanky lawman must quickly unearth the culprit among a litter of suspects … before the killer makes a clean getaway!

In the dark, wintry highlands of Lochdubh, Scotland, where the local Calvinist element resists the secular trimmings of Christmas, the spirit of old Saint Nick is about as welcome as a flat tire on a deserted road. Nor is crime taking a holiday, as Constable Hamish Macbeth soon finds himself protecting an unhappy girl, unlocking the secrets of a frightened old woman, and retrieving some stolen holiday goods. Now the lanky lawman must use all his Highland charm and detective skills to make things right. And he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon toll and all Lochdubh will be forced to face another dreary winter without the comforting embrace of Yuletide cheer.

Lochdubh, a remote village reached only by a one-track lane, nestles serenely amid Scotland's hills … until well-known TV reporter Crystal French races into town in her bright BMW. And Constable Hamish Macbeth, dourly wed to duty instead of the fiancée who dumped him, promptly gives her a summons for reckless driving. Outraged, Crystal makes Macbeth's life a misery with a TV report on policing in the Highlands. When she also rakes up old local scandals for her new hit show, Macbeth notes that someone besides himself might be dead keen to stop her. Then someone does-with stealth and violence. Finding out who did it will lead the laconic Macbeth down roads he never envisioned, into a dark story of passion and vengeance - and perhaps a crisis of the heart all his own.

The aromas of wild thyme and Highland heather waft through Lochdubh, home to M. C. Beaton's eccentric policeman, Hamish Macbeth. Yet what the irascible constable smells in his latest case is the acrid scent of fear as an entire town is entrapped in something dark and deadly. Yet, as he deftly investigates the summer's high crimes and misdemeanors, he attracts the attention of his superiors. They feel a promotion and transfer will give him a larger playing field than Lochdubh, but that's the last thing Macbeth wants. Now the laconic lawman needs a clever way to quash the move without losing his job entirely.

When the townspeople of Lochdubh begin receiving poison-pen letters, no one takes them very seriously, even if they are full of wild accusations. But Hamish fears that they might lead to something deadly. His instincts prove correct when the town's postmistress is found hanging from a rope with a poison-pen letter at her feet. Though it appears to be a suicide, Hamish suspects something more sinister. Attempting to trace the letters, the last thing Hamish needs is any distractions, but soon Jenny Ogilvie arrives in Lochdubh determined to seduce him. Realizing that she is unable to take Hamish's mind off his case, Jenny decides to do a little investigating of her own. Hamish finds himself in a race to solve the mystery of the poison-pen letters before someone else dies, including one likely target-Jenny.

When John Heppel, a visiting writer to Lochdubh, first proposes forming a writers' circle, the idea is met with much enthusiasm from local residents. However, once the classes get underway, attendance quickly falters due to one undeniable fact: John Heppel is a long-winded, consummate bore. But is dullness a motive for murder? Hamish Macbeth wouldn't ordinarily think so, therefore when Heppel is found dead, Hamish begins looking for deeper meaning in the writer's stories, including a strange, unfinished soap opera script that seems to suggest a more sinister motive behind its author's unhappy ending. "Graeme Malcolm's cool, dry chameleon voice moves from one well-thought-out choice for a character to the next, giving not just their many different lilts but also their personalities, with the deftest of touches." "Once again M. C. Beaton has concocted an amusing brew of mystery and romance that will keep her fans turning the pages." "Well-plotted. Hamish's twentieth offers humor, intrigue, and local color galore." "Macbeth's stolid character serves as perfect counterpoint to both the scheming, sneering higher-ups in the police and his sometimes hysterical villagers…Delightful." "Beaton continues her well-loved Hamish Macbeth series with a crafty tale of murder in a small Scottish Highlands town…A smoothly plotted mystery."

Occasionally, the rugged landscape of Scotland attracts dreamers who move north, wrapped in fantasies of enjoying the simple life. They usually don't last, defeated by the climate or by inhospitable locals. But it looks as if Effie Garrand has come to stay. When local constable Hamish Macbeth calls on her, he is amazed to find the small woman still in residence after a particularly hideous winter. Unfortunately, Effie is also quite delusional, having convinced herself-and everyone else-that local artist Jock Fleming is in love with her and that they are engaged. After a huge fight with Jock, Effie is found in the mountains, dead from poisoning. Now, it's up to Hamish to find the dreamer's killer-before any more nightmares unfold. "Beaton's flawless twenty-first installment in her popular Hamish Macbeth series boasts amusing local color and singularly savvy sleuthing." "Graeme Malcolm gives a nuanced portrayal of diverse characters inhabiting or visiting a remote village in northern Scotland. Various characters stride across the canvas, and Malcolm essays them all, including a grumpy American, and Englishmen and women from down south…The voice and the setting are so compatible that one settles back and enjoys the story, scarcely noticing the narrator's expertise." "Part police procedural and part psychological thriller…Beaton, a Scot herself, excels at giving readers a taste of Highland life and creating a believable character in the lonely, brilliant, continually frustrated-in-love Macbeth. A treat." "Fans of Hamish will love this combination of mystery and romantic escapades."

Hamish Macbeth, constable in the remote Scottish highlands village of Lochdubh, loves his job amongst his mostly happy neighbors-until murder taints the town. Mrs. Gillespie is famous for being the best maid in the northwest of Sutherland. But to Hamish Macbeth, she is a malicious gossip who bangs around the furniture and clanks pots. When Hamish wins Mrs. Gillespie's services in a church raffle, he spends most of the day trying to avoid her. He doesn't understand how she managed to gain such a fine reputation. Then she is found dead, struck down violently by a metal bucket of water. Knowing Mrs. Gillespie's penchant for gossip, Hamish is sure she delighted in finding out her clients' secrets-which means that everyone whose home she cleaned is a suspect. "Macbeth…remains as charming a hero as ever in this funny, unpredictable read." "Born in Scotland, Malcolm…is comfortable with local accents. His reading of Macbeth's lines is suitably laid-back and soft-spoken; he sharpens his inflections to indicate the constable's annoyance. He portrays the women in lighter rather than higher tones and easily differentiates between British and Scottish speakers." "Macbeth's investigation uncovers, as usual, secrets seemingly worth defending with murder. As usual, Beaton delivers a delightfully old-fashioned, absorbing village mystery." "Hamish Macbeth rides to the rescue of the Highland village of Lochdubh, which once again has more than its share of homicides…The faithful won't mind that Hamish's amours this time take second place to his detecting skills."

Gentle by name, gentle by nature. Everyone in the sleepy Scottish town of Lochdubh adores elderly Mrs. Gentle-everyone but Hamish Macbeth, that is. Hamish thinks the gentle lady is quite sly and vicious, and the citizens of Lochdubh think he is overly cranky. Perhaps it's time for him to get married, they say. But who has time for marriage when there's a murder to be solved? When Mrs. Gentle dies under mysterious circumstances, the town is shocked and outraged. Chief Detective Inspector Blair suspects members of her family, but Hamish Macbeth thinks there's more to the story and begins investigating the truth behind this lady's gentle exterior. "Bursting with quaint village fun, murder, mystery, deception, endearing characters, and devious villains, makes Death of a Gentle Lady a wonderfully charming and gripping read." "Full of the author's trademark zest and wit… Beaton fans will be delighted." "Filled with Highlands scenery, sharp observation, and hairpin-turn plotting." "Hamish's twenty-third adventure is one of his best, with the usual charming details of Highland life and a crackerjack mystery to boot."

Returning from a disappointing foreign holiday, police constable Hamish Macbeth is worried. He learns that a newcomer, Catriona Beldame, is regarded as a witch and that various men have been seen visiting her. Hamish himself is charmed by her until he finds out that she has been supplying dangerous potions. At first the villagers won't listen to him, saying that the loveless Hamish has turned against all women. When Beldame is found murdered and her home set ablaze, he must clear his own name and then work to solve yet another murder to bring peace and quiet back to his beloved village. His investigations are complicated by a romance with a female forensic expert. Perhaps the Scottish Highlands' most stubborn bachelor will get married at last! "Malcolm's lovely, rich voice carries the story well, offering a narration that flows over listeners, seducing and readying us to experience the story. His accents are delicious, richly Scottish, round, broad, and just slightly lilting during the dialogue and a smoky deep British (or maybe Scottish lite) during narrative sections. So expert is he that changes in character voices are exquisitely deft, mixing like a conversation in a café into a lovely blend of people you want to spend more time with. This is the best kind of reading-one that opens the story, pulling us into the plot and then fading into the background, creating an enveloping and luxuriant aural experience." "Graeme Malcolm's brisk narration suits the pace of the novel…He gives Macbeth a low, occasionally gruff voice and a restrained manner that contrast nicely the constable's dry humor." "In bestseller Beaton's devilishly droll twenty-four mystery…could a serial killer be loose in sleepy Lochdubh? As usual, Beaton's crisp plotting and effervescent humor complement Macbeth's deft crime solving." "It's always a pleasure to return to Lochdubh, the picturesque village in the Scottish highlands." "Macbeth is the sort of charcter who slyly grows on you…as you realize that beneath his unassuming exterior, he's a whiz at cutting through all the hokum."

Amazing news has spread across the Scottish countryside. The most famous of highland bachelors, police sergeant Hamish Macbeth, will be married at last. Everyone in the village of Lochdubh adores Josie McSween, Macbeth's newest constable and blushing bride-to-be. While locals think Josie is quite a catch, Hamish has a case of prenuptial jitters. After all, if it weren't for the recent murder of a beautiful woman in a neighboring village, there wouldn't be a wedding at all. For it was a mysterious Valentine's Day package-delivered to the victim before her death-that initially drew Hamish and Josie together on the investigation. As they work side by side, Hamish and Josie soon discover that the woman's list of admirers was endless, confirming Hamish's suspicion that love can be blind, deaf, and deadly.

In the isolated villages in the north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the chimney sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands-until the day that Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens. It's up to Hamish to discover who is responsible for the dirty deed-and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes. "Cozy fans who value amusing characters over intricate plotting will be well satisfied." "The Scottish highlands that Beaton depicts with such skill are beautiful and sinister, a fitting backdrop to her Hamish Macbeth series and especially to this one, her twenty-sixth craggy-cozy…Great stuff, as usual." "Malcolm's reading makes it obvious the story takes place in Scotland. His authentic brogue is melodious, gentle, and clear as a bell." "Apart from the puzzle, Hamish's latest advances the career and love life of the clever, stubborn Scot."

When Scotland is hit by recession, police constable Hamish Macbeth notices that the Highland people are forced to come up with inventive ways to lure tourists to their sleepy towns. The quaint village of Braikie doesn't have much to offer, other than a place of rare beauty called Buchan's Wood, which was bequeathed to the town. The savvy local tourist director renames the woods "The Fairy Glen," and has brochures printed with a beautiful photograph of a kingfisher rising from a pond on the cover. It isn't long before coach tours begin to arrive. But just as the town's luck starts to turn, a kingfisher is found hanging from a branch in the woods with a noose around its neck. As a wave of vandalism threatens to ruin Braikie forever, the town turns to Hamish Macbeth. And when violence strikes again, the lawman's investigation quickly turns from animal cruelty to murder.

A wealthy laird's guests are trapped in his estate during a furious storm-but when the laird turns up dead, Scotland's amiable and quick-witted policeman, Hamish Macbeth, is on the case, in this delightful new short story in M. C. Beaton's New York Times bestselling series. When Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is sent to investigate reports that the wealthy new laird of the remote Naglar House has disappeared, northwest Scotland is hit by the worst storm in living memory. The road is washed away, phone lines are down, mobile reception is dead, and his police radio is out of order. He is trapped with the laird's high-class house guests. Then he discovers the laird's body. Forced to remain overnight at the house, Hamish interviews each of the guests and pieces together an alarming picture of clandestine infidelity, vicious jealousy, deadly revenge, lust, greed, and fear. It begins to look like all of the guests had good reason to want the laird dead, but which one of them actually did the deed?

Death of a GossipWhen society widow and gossip columnist Lady Jane Winters joined the fishing class, she wasted no time in ruffling the feathers-or was it the fins?-of those around her. Among the victims of her sharp tongue and unladylike manner was Lochdubh Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet not even Hamish thought someone would permanently silence Lady Jane's shrills-until her strangled body is fished out of the river. Now with the help of the lovely Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, Hamish must angle through the choppy waters of the tattler's life to find the murderer. But with a school of suspects who aren't ready to talk and dead women telling no tales, Hamish may be in over his head, for he knows that secrets are dangerous, knowledge is power, and killers usually do strike again.Death of a Cad: When Priscilla Halburton-Smythe brings her London playwright fiancé home to Lochdubh, everybody in town is delighted … except for love-smitten Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet his affairs of the heart will have to wait. Vile, boorish Captain Bartlett, one of the guests at Priscilla's engagement party, has just been found murdered-shot while on a grouse hunt. Now with many titled party guests as the prime suspects, each with a reason for snuffing out the despicable captain, Hamish must smooth ruffled feathers as he investigates the case. When the hidden culprit strikes again, Hamish will find himself trying to save Priscilla from a miserable marriage-and catch a killer before he flies the coop.