A Highland Christmas
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4.3 • 109 Ratings
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
Celebrate the holidays with M. C. Beaton, the queen of cozy mysteries!
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.
Praise for A Highland Christmas
"Chock full of local color and sentimental cheer." - Booklist
"An inspirational treat for the holiday season." - Library Journal
"Fun throughout" - Publishers Weekly
"A charmingly illustrated Christmas fable sure to please." - Kirkus Reviews
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
From the always sunny Beaton comes this Christmas special of a book featuring policeman Hamish Macbeth (Death of an Addict, etc.) and two minor Yuletide mysteries. In the fishing village of Lochdubh, Christmas looms, but there are no decorations or Christmas trees as the conservative Calvinist population declines to decorate. The lanky and amiable Hamish is told to cover the beat of a neighboring town, Cnothan, as well, where someone has made off with not only the village Christmas lights but also the huge tree. Back in Lochdubh, crusty loner Mrs. Gallagher reports that her beloved cat, Smoky, has been stolen. While investigating, Hamish meets the attractive new schoolteacher, Maisie Pease, who quickly decides she'd like to help Hamish forget his previous love interest, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. As Hamish works on the two cases, he also makes the acquaintance of the Andersons, a strict and reserved couple whose daughter, Morag, longs for a traditional Christmas. In this mystery without a murder, Beaton reintroduces familiar characters like the spinster Curry sisters and local seer Angus Macdonald, while working in newcomers such as Maisie. It's light fun throughout, though all but Beaton's die-hard readers will find this Christmas carol too cozy by half.
Customer Reviews
Happy Christmas!
As someone who has enjoyed Hamish (and Agatha Raisin!)) for years, this sweet little tale,
Which I reread this Christmas, after a summer trip to the British Isles, was a perfect gem of a story to put me in the holiday spirit. As always, Hamish's boss, Blair, continues in his attempts to hog credit for crime solving, which is absolutely comical in its zeal...
A Highland Christmas
This a happy story. I like the author's quirky cynicism but this time the Christmas spirit prevails.
A Highland Christmas
A wonderful story, quite unlike the rest of the series. It's so short that it seems like a short story. No murder, just goodwill, reflecting the generous spirit of the holiday season. Surprisingly, it's illustrated, maybe charcoal or watercolor. It's a real treat and the truly spirited side of all the sub characters in the books shines through with Hamish at the helm, leading the way, and setting the example. Very fast read.