M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas (UK 2022)

From the Publisher:
A DOUBLE HELPING OF HAMISH MACBETH FESTIVE TREATS
In dark, wintry Lochdubh, Christmas cheer is about as welcome as a flat tyre on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in town has always resisted what they view as secular frivolity, so for most folk there'll be no carols, feasting, gifts - or even whisky - on Christmas Day!

And for PC Hamish Macbeth there's no holiday from crime - he finds himself hunting for a missing cat belonging to a lonely spinster. Curt and unfriendly, the woman is convinced her pet has been stolen, but once behind her heavily bolted door, Hamish can spot her true problem - she lives in fear, though of who or what he cannot guess.

Then someone steals a Christmas tree and lights from the nearby village of Cnothan. Now the lanky policeman 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 be ringing out for Christmas Eve.

Also features the first UK publication of a Hamish Macbeth short story, Knock, Knock, You're Dead!

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: A Highland Christmas. A Hamish Macbeth Festive Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781472124951 (November, 2022), 145 p., £9.99.

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas (UK 2016)

Also features the first UK publication of a Hamish Macbeth short story, Knock, Knock, You're Dead!

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas. A Hamish Macbeth Festive Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781472124951 (October, 2016), 145 p., £7.99.

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas (UK 2013)

From the Publisher:
The spirit of Scrooge is alive and kicking in the Highland town of Lochdubh!
In dark, wintry Lochdubh, Christmas cheer is about as welcome as a flat tyre on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in town has always resisted what they view as the secular trimmings of the festive holidays, so for most of the townsfolk there's no carols, feasting, gifts - or even whisky - on Christmas Day!

When thieves make off with a Christmas tree and lights from a nearby village on the eve of Christmas it is up to Hamish to make things right. He must retrieve the stolen holiday goods - and quickly, for the church bells will soon be tolling and Lochdubh will be forced to face another dreary winter without the warm embrace of a Highland Christmas!

'First rate... deft social comedy and wonderfully realised 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

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas. A Hamish Macbeth Festive Mystery. C & R Crime / Little, Brown, ISBN: 9781472111173 (November, 2013), 166 p., £6.99.

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas (UK 2009)

From the Publisher:
Hamish's toughest case to date - to bring some festive cheer to a town long-dampened by the spirit of Scrooge
In dark, wintery Lochdubh, the spirit of Christmas Cheer is about as welcome as a flat tyre on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in town has always resisted what they view as the secular trimmings of the festive holidays, so for most of the townsfolk there's no carols, feasting, gifts - or even whisky on Christmas Day!

For PC Hamish Macbeth there's no holiday from crime, and he finds himself looking for a missing cat belonging to a lonely spinster. Confrontational and curt, the unfriendly woman is convinced her pet was stolen but looking into her eyes, behind her heavily-bolted door, Hamish can see her true problem - she lives in great fear, but of who or what he doesn't know.

Then some thieves make off with a Christmas tree and lights from the nearby village of Cnothan and Hamish must investigate. So on the eve of Christmas it is all up to Hamish to make things right: he has to unlock the secrets of a frightened old woman, retrieve some stolen holiday goods - and he had better do it all quickly, for the church bells will soon be tolling!

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas. A Hamish Macbeth Festive Mystery. Constable, ISBN: 9781845298906 (November, 2009), 164 p., £9.99.

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas (USA 2002)

From the Publisher:
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH M.C. BEATON, THE QUEEN OF THE COZY MYSTERY.
In the dark, wintry highlands of Lochdubh, Scotland, where the local Calvinist element resists the secular trimmings of Christmas, the spirit of Old St. 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 of Lochdubh will be forced to face another dreary winter without the comforting embrace of Yuletide cheer.

'[THE HAMISH MACBETH] SERIES IS PURE BLISS." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas. A Hamish Macbeth Mystery. Mysterious Press / Warner Books, ISBN: 0446609196 (November, 2002), 160 p., $4.99.

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas (USA 1999)

From the Publisher:
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH HAMISH MACBETH
M.C. Beaton is the queen of the cozy mystery with her series (called "pure bliss" by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) featuring irascible Police Constable Hamish Macbeth, who roams the windswept terrain of Lochdubh, Scotland, with an intuitive eye for trouble and clues. In his newest caper, the lanky lawman must use all his Highland charm and detective skills not only to solve some mysteries, but also to bring Yuletide cheer to a town long dampened by religious piety.

A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS
In the dark, wintry highlands of Lochdubh, Scotland, the spirit of Old St. Nick is about as welcome as a flat tire on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in Lochdubh has always resisted what they view as the secular trimmings of the holiday, so for most of the townspeople, there's no pudding, carols, banquets, gifts, or even whisky for Christmas.

Nor is crime taking a holiday, as Hamish soon finds himself looking for a missing cat belonging to a lonely spinster. Confrontational and curt, the unfriendly woman insists her pet was stolen. Looking into her eyes behind her heavily bolted door, Hamish can see her true problem-she lives in great fear... but what is she afraid of?

Then some thieves make off with a Christmas tree and lights in nearby Cnothan and Hamish must investigate. As if that isn't enough on his holiday plate, Hamish's romance of the new schoolteacher is going fine, until she mentions a perfect little girl whose family abhors Christmas... and whose behavior has recently become very imperfect.

Now it's up to Hamish to make things right. He has to protect an unhappy girl, unlock the secrets of a frightened old woman, and retrieve some stolen holiday goods. And he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon toll, and all of Lochdubh will be forced to face another dreary winter without the warm embrace of A Highland Christmas.

M.C. Beaton: A Highland Christmas. Mysterious Press / Warner Books, ISBN: 0892966998 (November, 1999), 129 p., $16.95.