M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen (UK 2022)

From the Publisher:
A sudden outbreak of maliciousness strikes the town of Lochdubh in the form of a rash of poison pen letters. Things turn deadly when the local postmistress is found hanged in her room... with a vicious note beneath her dangling feet. Though his superiors call it suicide, PC Hamish Macbeth pronounces it murder. But Hamish is soon distracted by Jenny Ogilvie, a friend of his ex-fiancee, who arrives in Lochdubh to seduce him. And then he's ambushed by local reporter Elspeth Grant, who sets out to land the story - and Hamish - for herself.

Caught in the middle of this volatile case, Hamish faces dangerous romances... and a blackhearted culprit wielding a mighty - and lethal - pen.

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

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781472124555 (September, 2022), 287 p., £9.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen (UK 2018)

From the Publisher:
MURDEROUS MISSIVES...
A sudden outbreak of maliciousness strikes the town of Lochdubh in the form of poison pen letters. Things turn deadly when the local postmistress is found hanged in her room... with a vicious note beneath her dangling feet. Though his superiors call it suicide, PC Hamish Macbeth pronounces it murder. And then he's ambushed by local reporter Elspeth Grant, who sets out to land the story - and Hamish - for herself.

Caught in the middle of this volatile case. Hamish faces dangerous romance... and a blackhearted culprit wielding a mighty, and deadly, pen.

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

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781472124555 (August, 2018), 287 p., £8.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen (UK 2013)

From the Publisher:
Murderous missives...
A sudden outbreak of maliciousness strikes the town of Lochdubh in the form of poison pen letters. Things turn deadly when the local postmistress is found hanged in her room... with a vicious note beneath her dangling feet. Though his superiors call it suicide, PC Hamish Macbeth pronounces it murder. And then he's ambushed by local reporter Elspeth Grant, who sets out to land the story - and Hamish - for herself.

Caught in the middle of this volatile case. Hamish faces dangerous romance... and a blackhearted culprit wielding a mighty, and deadly, pen.

'First rate... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' -- Booklist
'Entertaining... [will] keep the fans turning the pages.' -- Publishers Weekly

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. C & R Crime / Little, Brown, ISBN: 9781472105387 (September, 2013), 287 p., £7.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen (UK 2009)

From the Publisher:
Who is behind a rash of murderous mailshots?
A nasty outbreak of malice has hit the town of Lochdubh in the form of poison pen letters. Then the local postmistress is found hanging in her room with a vicious note lying beneath her dangling feet - his superiors call it suicide, but PC Hamish Macbeth pronounces it murder. However, Hamish's attention is distracted by Jenny Ogilvie, a friend of his ex-fiancée, who arrives in Lochdubh intent on seducing him. To cap it all he's then ambushed by local reporter Elspeth Grant, who's keen to scoop the story - and Hamish - for herself.

'First rate... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' -- Booklist
'Entertaining... [will] keep the fans turning the pages.' -- Publishers Weekly

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Robinson, ISBN: 1849012776 (November, 2009), 311 p., £6.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen (USA 2005)

From the Publisher:
MURDEROUS MISSIVES
A sudden plague of maliciousness strikes the beautiful Highland town of Lochdubh in the form of a rash of poison pen letters. Things turn deadly when the local postmistress is found hanged in her room... with a vicious note beneath her dangling feet. Though his superiors call it an obvious suicide, Constable Hamish Macbeth pronounces it a murder-and sets off a media circus. But Hamish is soon distracted by Jenny Ogilvie, a friend of his ex-fiancée, who arrives in Lochdubh to seduce him. And he's ambushed by local reporter Elspeth Grant, who sets out to land the story -- and Macbeth -- for herself. Caught in the middle of this volatile case, the constable faces dangerous romances... and a black-hearted culprit wielding a mighty -- and lethal -- pen...

"FIRST-RATE... DEFT SOCIAL COMEDY AND WONDERFULLY REALIZED ATMOSPHERE." -- Booklist
"THIS SERIES IS PURE BLISS." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

M.C. BEATON is the author of the Hamish Macbeth mystery series, as well as the acclaimed Agatha Raisin series.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen. A Hamish Macbeth Mystery. Warner Books, ISBN: 0446614890 (January, 2005), 248 p., $6.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen (USA 2004)

From the Publisher:
Often underestimated and frequently unappreciated, Constable Hamish Macbeth loves his quiet life in the Highlands with his dog, cottage, and an unhurried cup of tea. Yet no copper in Scotland is faster when it comes to spotting a clue or a criminal. In this new adventure, Macbeth uncovers a vicious letter writer who uses the local post to spread seeds of gossip, fear... and murder.

DEATH OF A POISON PEN
Vacationer Jenny Ogilvie comes to Lochdubh with plans to seduce perennial bachelor Hamish Macbeth. Terribly jealous of Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, her snooty co-worker and Macbeth's former fiancée, the pretty and flirtatious Londoner arrives at the gale-swept loch expecting the craggy Highlander of her dreams. Instead she finds a tall, gangling, red-haired policeman too preoccupied to notice her overtures.

Indeed, Macbeth has more serious matters on his mind. The minister's wife has gotten an anonymous letter accusing her of an adulterous affair with none other than Macbeth himself. Things turn deadly when the postmistress from nearby Braikie is found hanged in her room... with a poison-pen letter beneath her dangling feet. Macbeth's superiors call it an obvious suicide, but the recalcitrant Macbeth pronounces it a murder-and promptly sets off a media circus.

While Jenny tries to impress him by playing amateur sleuth, local reporter Elspeth Grant sets out to land the story and Macbeth for herself. Surveying his bevy of women, the hapless constable must not lose sight of the dangers he faces. For the poison pen has unleashed a murderous fury that will imperil any nosy villager who ventures too near.

M.C. Beaton: Death of a Posion Pen. A Hamish Macbeth Mystery. The Mysterious Press / Warner Books, ISBN: 0892967889 (February, 2004), 244 p., $23.95.