M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict (UK 2018)

From the Publisher:
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

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781472124517 (May, 2018), 278 p., £8.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict (UK 2013)

From the Publisher:
Are drugs responsible for a sighting of Nessie's long-lost relative?
Recovering addict Tommy Jarret has just rented a chalet to check on reports of a sea monster near the village of Drim. But when he turns up dead, apparently from an overdose, Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth finds the lad's demise to be particularly fishy... and not of the local salmon variety. Deciding to pose undercover, Hamish infiltrates the illicit drug trade in nearby Strathbane. But his scheme springs a leak when Hamish is 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.

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. C & R Crime / Little, Brown, ISBN: 9781472105349 (September, 2013), 253 p., £7.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict (UK 2009)

From the Publisher:
It wasn't the sea monster that killed poor Tommy
Recovering addict Tommy Jarret has rented a chalet while he investigates reports of a sea monster near the village of Drim. Then he turns up dead, apparently from a drug overdose, and constable Hamish Macbeth finds the lad's demise particularly fishy.

Deciding to go undercover, Hamish infiltrates the local drug dealing trade. But his plan looks doomed to fail when he's teamed up with tough Glaswegian detective inspector, Olivia Chater, aka Concrete Knickers. For the Lochdubh lawman it would be equally dangerous to flounder... or fall in love.

'An enchanting series... M.C. Beaton has a foolproof plot for the village mystery.' New York Times Book Review
'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

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict. A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery. Robinson, ISBN: 1845299523 (July, 2009), 278 p., £6.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict (USA 2001)

From the Publisher:
LETHAL HALIBUTS
Recovering addict Tommy Jarret rented a chalet to check on reports of a sea monster near the dour village of Drim. But when he turns up dead, apparently of 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 pose undercover, Hamish infiltrates the illicit drug trade in nearby Strathbane. But his daft scheme springs a leak when Hamish is teamed with a tough Glasgow detective inspector named Olivia Chater, aka "concrete knickers." Now in a charade that puts the intractable Highlander in a designer suit among the sharks of the underworld, Hamish's craving for justice will be tempered by a dependence on Olivia. For the lanky lawman, it's time to sink or swim-and it would be equally dangerous to flounder... or fall in love.

"This series is pure bliss." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"An enchanting series... M.C. Beaton has a foolproof plot for the village mystery." -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

A Featured Alternate of The Mystery Guild
SPECIAL FOR THIS EDITION!
An Excerpt from M.C. Beaton's Newest Novel, Death of a Dustman

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict. A Hamish Macbeth Mystery. Mysterious Press / Warner Books, ISBN: 0446608289 (March, 2001), 214 p., $6.99.

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict (USA 1999)

From the Publisher:
Filled with the smoky scent of peat, the purple of heathered hills, and the mellow comfort of a single malt Glenfiddich, a Hamish Macbeth mystery is, as their author suggests, "a good read on a wet day, a book you give to friends when they're feeling down." Now the latest book in this long-running Scottish series finds the recalcitrant Lochdubh policeman suffering a love life as bleak as a Highland winter, and investigating two kinds of monsters: a mysterious loch denizen and a brutal drug kingpin...

DEATH OF AN ADDICT
In the far north, isolation drives some men to drink and shelters others from the temptations of modern life. The drink might explain the reports of a sea monster near the dour village of Drim. The latter led young, recovering addict Tommy Jarret to rent a chalet from a local crofter. Despite the fears of some Lochdubh citizens, Hamish Macbeth didn't believe the fresh-faced lad would go back to drugs willingly...even when Tommy was found dead, apparently of an overdose.

Suspecting the Loch Drim monster is a hoax, and unable to forget Tommy's death, Macbeth goes to Strathbane, a nearby town, to infiltrate the local heroin trade. It's a daft scheme-and perhaps the most courageous thing Macbeth has ever attempted. It may also be the last thing he ever does.

Strathbane's chief superintendent is thrilled with Hamish's plan, so thrilled, in fact, that he brings up a notorious detective inspector from Glasgow to run the operation. The copper in question is Olivia Chater-aka "concrete knickers." Beautiful but cold, the tough-talking Olivia will pose as Macbeth's wife.

Thus begins a charade that would push two stubborn personalities into a war of wills and put an intractable Highlander in an Armani suit among the circling sharks of the underworld. And in either chilling situation it would be fatal for the constable to show vulnerability. Or fall in love.

M.C. Beaton again gives readers a Highland fling of a mystery, filled with intriguing red herrings, authentic characters, and a place as unforgettable, and magical, as Brigadoon.

M.C. Beaton: Death of an Addict.The Mysterious Press / Warner Books, ISBN: 0892966750 (May, 1999), 215 p., $22.00.