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