Not bored to death but murder most foul . . .

Celebrated author John Heppel is known in Lochdubh as a self-important bore, prone to belittling the scribblings of the locals in his creative writing class. So when he's found dead, his mouth oozing ink, it seems a fitting fate.

But for PC Hamish Macbeth the murder is more than a disruption to idyllic village life - especially when the media arrive, trailing in their wake DCI Heather Meikle, a maneater with a taste for bachelor police constables. Hamish must rekindle an old flame to escape her clutches and pull out all the stops to find the killer.

Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series:

'The detective novels of M. C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status'. - Anne Robinson, The Times.

'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.