No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime' Mail on Sunday The 26th outing for the Highland's most famous PC: Hamish Macbeth In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when 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. Once again, it's up to Hamish to discover who's responsible for the dirty deed - and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes. Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series: '[A] beguiling blend of wry humour and sharp observations about rural life' Good Book Guide 'It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh' New York Times Book Review 'The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status' - Anne Robinson, The Times

'Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy' ASHLEY JENSEN 'No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime' MAIL ON SUNDAY Agatha and her assistant, Toni, are driving to their friend Bill Wong's wedding, thinking of nothing more than what the beautiful bride will be wearing when a terrified young man comes running down the country lane towards them wearing. . . nothing at all. The encounter leads them to become embroiled with a naturist group, a disappearing corpse, fantasy games, witchcraft, an ice cream empire, intrigue and murder. In the meantime, Agatha's hectic life swirls along at dizzying pace, her private detective agency as busy as ever and her private affairs in turmoil - old loves to contend with and a new suitor on the scene. Then she finds herself in deadly danger when she begins to close in on a suspected murderer and the sinister nature of the ice cream business leads her to a chilling conclusion. 'This mystery's got everything - a naturist group, witchcraft, murder and an ice cream empire' USA Today 'Author M.C. Beaton has once again changed up Agatha and made her bolder, more daring and the talk of the naturist colony' Just Reviews 'I feel the Agatha Raisin mysteries are in safe hands with R.W. Green. I will continue to purchase future installments as long as he remains at the helm. DEVIL'S DELIGHT delighted me with its nudists and witches'Gumshoe Review 'A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed' DAILY MAIL 'The detective novels of M C Beaton have reached cult status' THE TIMES 'A blend of Miss Marple's insight with the cunning of every murderer she ever revealed ... Cosy crime with a touch of bite' Belfast Telegraph 'Crime in the Cotswolds has never been livelier than in Agatha's fizzingly funny cases, and this one takes the biscuit' - Peterborough Telegraph Praise for M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries: 'Irresistible, unputdownable, a joy' Anne Robinson 'Full of perfectly pitched interest, intrigue, and charm' Lee Child 'Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she could be living my dream life' Entertainment Weekly 'M. C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' Publishers Weekly '[Agatha] is a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball . . . She's wonderful' St. Petersburg Times 'Few things in life are more satisfying than to discover a brand-new Agatha Raisin mystery' Tampa Tribune-Times 'Beaton has a winner in the irrepressible, romance-hungry Agatha' Chicago Sun-Times

Stabbed and stuffed in a closet... When police constable Hamish Macbeth receives the news that there has been a murder at Arrat House, home of the relentless practical joker Arthur Trent, he doesn't race to the scene of the crime. After all, last time he was called to investigate a death at the isolated Scottish manor, the 'victim' turned out to be Trent's manservant covered in fake blood. Thus prepared for another prank, Hamish arrives to find that Trent has been most decidedly murdered and for suspects there is a houseful of greedy relatives, all of whom are more than interested in the contents of the will rather than the crime at hand. And when the Chief Inspector arrives on the scene and his former flame, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, gets involved as well, Hamish quite clearly has his hands full.

Returning from holiday Hamish becomes unaccountably worried - it's as if he senses a dark cloud of evil hanging over Lochdubh. He soon learns that there is a newcomer to the village, a woman called Catriona Beldame, and that the villagers have decided she is a witch. At first Hamish is charmed by her, but is dismayed when he finds out she's been supplying dangerous potions to certain local people. No one seems willing to listen to his warnings and when she is found murdered, poor Hamish is the prime suspect. Obviously, he must solve the murder to clear his own name and bring contentment back to his beloved Lochdubh. Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series: 'First rate... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' Booklist 'It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh.' New York Times Book Review 'The detective novels of M. C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status.' Anne Robinson, The Times

Truth is stranger than fiction... Patricia Martyn-Broyd, now in her seventies, has retired to the Highlands. She hasn't written a word in years and her books are out of print. But now a television company is about to film her last detective story, featuring the aristocratic Scottish detective Lady Harriet Vare. Even though the snobbish Miss Martyn-Broyd doesn't care to mix with the locals, she can't help but share her excitement with local policeman Hamish Macbeth. Imagine her horror when Miss Martyn-Broyd discovers that the screenwriter is known for his violent and scurrilous scripts and that Lady Harriet Vare is to be portrayed as a pot-smoking hippy by the scene-stealing trollop Penelope Gates. But a contract is a contract, as Ms Martyn-Broyd quickly learns. And when she is accused of murdering both the scriptwriter and the leading lady, she turns to her one friend in Lochdubh, Hamish Macbeth, to help her. Praise for M.C. Beaton: 'The books are a delight: clever, intricate, sardonic and amazingly true to the real Highlands' Kerry Greenwood 'It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh' New York Times

'Explosive and engaging' - Booklist A featherbrained scheme to make cold, hard cash . . . PC Hamish Macbeth can't help but admire the resourcefulness of the Highlanders during the Recession - in tough times they have to lure tourists to their sleepy towns and the quaint village of Braikie has come up with a novel solution. It really doesn't have that much to offer apart from a place of rare beauty called Buchan's Wood, which the clued-up local tourist board director has rechristened 'The Fairy Glen' and has had brochures printed with a beautiful kingfisher rising from a lake 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 it is up to Hamish to get involved... and his investigation quickly turns from mistreatment of birds to murder... Praise for M C Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series: 'Once again M C Beaton has concocted an amusing brew of mystery and romance that will keep her fans turning the pages' Publishers Weekly 'It's always a pleasure to return to Loch Dubh' - New York Times Book Review

Also Available as an eBook

M. C. Beaton, "one of the real masters of mystery" (Booklist), has claimed the windswept highlands of Lochdubh, Scotland, as her territory. Wry wit is her specialty. And the cases of stubborn Scots cop Hamish Macbeth are her forte. All that and a wonderfully puzzling plot make her newest novel something mystery lovers can sink their teeth into when a dentist is murdered and Hamish, biting off more than he can chew, goes alone after the killer.

A toothache can drive a man mad—or to Dr. Frederick Gilchrist's dental surgery in the little village of Braikie. In a country where thrift and a "nice set of dentures" are admired, Dr. Gilchrist's cheap rates and penchant for pulling teeth had gained him a clientele. His use of "The Great Australian Trench" (letting the drill slide across as many teeth as possible to ensure a steady customer) and some unsavory womanizing made wiser Highlanders stay away from the dentist's second-floor office. But one chill autumn morning the whole side of Police Constable Hamish Macbeth's jaw was a burning mass of pain, and he was willing to see Gilchrist, or the devil himself, to stop it. Unfortunately someone came, saw, and poisoned Gilchrist first. It was Macbeth's dismal luck to find the body. He already had his hands full with a major theft case. And he had his mind on a date, the first since his broken engagement to Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. Now he sourly set out to turn his attention to finding a killer. Perhaps only in superstitious Scotland would Macbeth's inquiries include the local seer, who had inside information to share (from the spirits, naturally). Perhaps only Macbeth would see a clue in the earthy details of daily life—not to mention facing a fate just as earthy in its own way. And surely only M. C. Beaton could put together a case as lively as a hornpipe and as smooth a blend of motive, means, and opportunity as the finest aged whisky, Scotch of course.

A Featured Alternate of Mystery Guild

The first book in M.C. Beaton's charming Poor Relation series. What do you do if you are of noble stock, but impoverished, and living in London with a certain style to maintain? One has to work... but One's relatives will be appalled when One turns One's hand to trade - and opens a hotel, The Poor Relation, offering employment to others of the same social standing and in the same awkward situation. This is precisely what Mrs Fortescue decides upon and, together with friend Colonel Sandhurst, transforms her decrepit Bond Street home into a posh hotel, offering guests the pleasure of being waited upon by the nobility. So with the help of other down-and-out aristocrats they do just that - and London's newest, and most fashionable! - hotel is born... much to the dismay of the Duke of Rowcester, Lady Fortescue's nephew, who is convinced his aunt's foray into trade will denigrate the illustrious family name! 'Romance fans are in for a treat' - Booklist '[M. C. Beaton] is the best of the Regency writers' - Kirkus Reviews

'Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy' ASHLEY JENSEN 'No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime' MAIL ON SUNDAY Agatha and her assistant, Toni, are driving to their friend Bill Wong's wedding, thinking of nothing more than what the beautiful bride will be wearing when a terrified young man comes running down the country lane towards them wearing. . . nothing at all. The encounter leads them to become embroiled with a naturist group, a disappearing corpse, fantasy games, witchcraft, an ice cream empire, intrigue and murder. In the meantime, Agatha's hectic life swirls along at dizzying pace, her private detective agency as busy as ever and her private affairs in turmoil - old loves to contend with and a new suitor on the scene. Then she finds herself in deadly danger when she begins to close in on a suspected murderer and the sinister nature of the ice cream business leads her to a chilling conclusion. 'A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed' DAILY MAIL 'The detective novels of M C Beaton have reached cult status' THE TIMES Praise for M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries: 'Irresistible, unputdownable, a joy' Anne Robinson 'Full of perfectly pitched interest, intrigue, and charm' Lee Child 'Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she could be living my dream life' Entertainment Weekly 'M. C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' Publishers Weekly '[Agatha] is a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball . . . She's wonderful' St. Petersburg Times 'Few things in life are more satisfying than to discover a brand-new Agatha Raisin mystery' Tampa Tribune-Times 'Beaton has a winner in the irrepressible, romance-hungry Agatha' Chicago Sun-Times

Are drugs responsible for a sighting of Nessie's long lost relative? Recovering addict Tommy Jarret has just rented a chalet to check out reports of a sea monster near the village of Drim. But when he turns up dead, apparently from a drug overdose, Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth finds the lad's demise to be particularly fishy . . . and not of the local salmon variety. Deciding to go undercover, Hamish infiltrates the illicit drug trade in nearby Strathbane. But his scheme springs a leak when he's teamed up with a tough Glaswegian detective inspector named Olivia Chater, aka Concrete Knickers. For the lanky lawman investigating drugs and sea monsters it's time to sink or swim - and it would be equally dangerous to flounder . . . or fall in love. Praise for M.C. Beaton: 'The books are a delight: clever, intricate, sardonic and amazingly true to the real Highlands' Kerry Greenwood 'It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh' New York Times

Yuletide overindulgence on the poison front ...During the dark, grey days of early December Agatha is obsessed by two things - the looming festivities, and her ex, James Lacey. In order to drive the latter from her thoughts, Agatha concentrates on planning the perfect Christmas for her friends. Even the murder of a Mrs Tamworthy, poisoned with hemlock, does little to distract her and yet it should, as Mrs Tamworthy had written to Agatha, telling her that one of her family wanted to see her dead before the year was out. So slightly guiltily (and belatedly), Agatha sets out to solve the case before the 25th rolls around ...Praise for the Agatha Raisin series: 'M.C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' Publishers Weekly 'The detective novels of M.C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status' The Times 'Agatha Raisin is sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non PC. M.C. Beaton has created a new national treasure' Anne Robinson

Done, dusted . . . and dead! Armed with a bucket and mop, Mrs Gillespie brings misery into the quiet life of Hamish Macbeth when he wins her cleaning services in a church raffle; she is likely to do more snooping than hoovering. Yet Hamish has more upsetting issues to ponder - his former girlfriend, reporter Elspeth Grant, is back in Lochdubh for a holiday with her new boyfriend. Hamish feels an ill wind coming and sure enough, Mrs Gillespie is soon found dead under suspicious circumstances. And as he investigates the case, Elspeth's presence torments the red-haired bobby, making him resort to foolish antics instead of concentrating on the murder in hand. And what should really occupy Macbeth are the town's hidden secrets - ones that will force a killer to lash out in deadly, irrevocable acts . . . Praise for M.C. Beaton 'The detective novels of M. C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status' Anne Robinson, The Times 'The books are a delight: clever, intricate, sardonic and amazingly true to the real Highlands' Kerry Greenwood 'It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh' New York Times

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 . . .

No one in Lochdubh expects Dorothy to stay for long... She is, after all, entirely unsuitable. She's an uptown girl, used to a fancy lifestyle in the big city of Glasgow. She'll never fit in. And how is that work-shy rogue Hamish Macbeth supposed to get anything done when his new assistant is such a distraction? The village needs a police sergeant who can get on with his job, not one who's constantly swooning over his pretty young constable. Yet PC Dorothy McIver quickly shows how determined she is to win over the locals, and she certainly seems to bring out the best in Macbeth. Then comes a brutal murder and the pair find themselves plunged into a tangled web of conspiracy that acquires a sinister strand when the chilling shadow of Glasgow's underworld creeps to the Highlands and the peaceful village of Lochdubh. Through it all, the bond between Hamish and Dorothy grows ever stronger. Has Hamish Macbeth finally found the love of his life - and can he track down the murderer before any hope he has for a blissful future is destroyed? 'This Hamish Macbeth novel maintains Beaton's distinctive voice and includes the usual village eccentrics, loads of Scottish lore, and the light humor that Beaton fans have loved through the years. . . A definite purchase for all mystery collections' Starred Review, Library Journal 'Unmissable!' Peterborough Telegraph Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series: 'First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' Booklist 'It's always a treat to return to Lochdubh.' New York Times 'Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast ... Beaton catches the beauty of the area's natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour.' Library Journal 'Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.' Publishers Weekly

Agatha's former husband James is engaged to be married to a beautiful, young woman and Agatha has been kindly invited to the wedding. To take her mind off this, Agatha decides she has fallen for Sylvan, a Frenchman she met at James' engagement party. To distract her still further she decides upon a holiday and flies to Istanbul, where unfortunately she bumps into James and his fiancee not once but twice - convincing him she is stalking them. So when the bride is murdered on her wedding day, naturally Agatha is Suspect Number One - but then matters are turned on their head when the dead bride's mother engages Agatha to take on the case of her murdered daughter! And very soon Agatha's own life is in danger while she tries to solve the mystery of the corpse bride while fighting off (halfheartedly) the advances of a very attractive and determined Frenchman! Praise for the Agatha Raisin series: 'M. C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' Publishers Weekly 'The detective novels of M. C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status' The Times 'Agatha Raisin is sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non PC. M. C. Beaton has created a new national treasure...the stories zing along and are irresistible, unputdownable, a joy. If you buy one book a year, let it be this. Agatha Raisin is The Strongest Link' Anne Robinson 'Being a cranky, middle-aged female myself, I found Agatha charming!' Amazon customer review

Murder in Paradise... When Jane Wetherby offers PC Hamish Macbeth a holiday at her 'Happy Wanderer' health farm on the isle of Eileencraig, he is more than happy to accept. Unfortunately the visit doesn't prove to be the pampering experience he had been hoping for. Windswept Eileencraig is inhabited by hostile islanders, many of whom would be more than happy to be rid of the 'Happy Wanderer' and its proprietor. And the company at the health farm is hardly better. The volatile party includes an ex-husband, an illicit lover, and Morag Todd, an unadulterated snob who criticizes everybody and everything. So when Morag is found lying at the foot of a cliff with a broken neck, no one seems too broken up about the event - leaving it up to Hamish to solve the death of a snob.

Winter Parva, a traditional Cotswolds village next door to Carsely, has decided to throw a celebratory hog roast to mark the beginning of the winter holiday festivities and Agatha Raisin has arrived with friend and rival in the sleuthing business, Toni, to enjoy the merriment. But, as the spit pig is carried towards the bed of fiery charcoal, Agatha - and the rest of the village - realise that things aren't as they seem... Very quickly it transpires that the spit pig is in fact Gary Beech, a policeman not much loved in Winter Parva. And although Agatha has every intention of leaving the affair to the police, she rapidly changes her mind when she finds out Gary's ex-wife has hired Toni to investigate. Cantankerous and competitive as Agatha is, she has to now join the fray and try and solve the case herself! Praise for M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin series: 'I know I once vowed to read only Agatha Christie for a year but I cheated. My No. 1 mistress, M.C. Beaton and her Agatha Raisin whodunits. Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack a day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she may be living my dream life' Entertainment Weekly. 'Once again M. C. Beaton has concocted an amusing brew of mystery and romance that will keep her fans turning the pages' Publisher's Weekly. 'Pure entertainment' The Guardian.

Trouble is afoot in the remote Scottish fishing village of Stoyre, where the inhabitants are acting kind of... fishy. On a routine visit, Hamish Macbeth finds the pub empty, the church unexpectedly full, and the very air permeated with fear. Then an explosion levels a holiday cottage which the locals call 'an act of God'. Hamish has another theory, one that will make the national news. With the help of sharp-eyed journalist Elspeth Grant and Lugs (his dog) he begins to winkle out the truth. But Hamish's best laid plans soon go awry when an old friend dies, a scandalous rumour erupts, and someone close to his heart may be lost forever... Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series: The much-loved Hamish Macbeth series. beguiling blend of wry humour and sharp observations about rural life. - Good Book Guide. It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh. - New York Times Book Review. The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of o.utrageous black comedy, have reached cult status. - Anne Robinson, The Times

Sea, sand - and the slammer for Agatha! Agatha Raisin thinks she's in for a treat when her ex-husband James Lacey invites her on holiday but - horrors! - his idea of an idyllic break is the small, run-down resort of Burryhill-on-Sea. And from there on things go from bad to worse, so when a fellow guest in their hotel is found murdered, Agatha herself is chief suspect - and has to solve this case from a locked police cell! Praise for the Agatha Raisin series: 'Sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining . . . M. C. Beaton has created a national treasure' Anne Robinson ''M. C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' Publishers Weekly 'An enchanting series . . . M. C. Beaton has a foolproof plot for the village mystery' New York Times Book Review

No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime' Mail on Sunday Amazing news is spreading like wildfire across the Scottish countryside: the most famous of all Lochdubh, remotely nestling in the Highlands, is perfectly anonymous... until well-known TV reporter Crystal French races into town in her bright new BMW. And PC Hamish Macbeth, dourly wed to duty rather than the fiancee who dumped him, promptly gives her a ticket for reckless driving. Outraged, Crystal makes Macbeth's life a misery with a TV report on policing in the Highlands... but 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. And then someone does. Now, finding out who did away with the nosy reporter will lead the laconic Macbeth down roads he never envisioned... and perhaps a crisis of the heart all his own.