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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN num: 9780804109123
ISBN number: 0804109125
Label: Fawcett
Manufacturer: Fawcett
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 160
Printing Date: May 23, 1992
Publishing house: Fawcett
Release Date: May 23, 1992
Sale Popularity Level: 36202
Studio: Fawcett
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'Pure bliss.' Atlanta Journal & Constitution
A Hamish Macbeth Mystery by the author of 'Death of a Hussy.'
With a cold in his head and no place to go for Christmas, Hamish snaps up the invitation of drop-dead gorgeous Jane Wetherby to spend the holiday at her Scottish island health farm -- and figure out who is trying to kill her.
When Hamish arrives on the island of Eileencraig, he finds threatening locals and fellow guests barely more civil, especially a terrible snob named Heather Todd. It seems like everyone on the island has a grudge against Jane. How to choose among so many suspects?
But then one suspect is eliminated. Heather Todd is murdered. And suddenly Hamish's Christmas is looking very grey indeed . . .
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Rated by buyers 
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What is it with men and colds? Men who could brush off a gunshot wound will be felled by the slightest sniffle; it's amazing. Hamish is a perfect example of that in this book, and while it might seem like it should be annoying, it's really not. It's more of a 'shake your head and chuckle' feeling. And maybe it's nice to see that even a fictional character - one you're supposed to like - can still have faults.
We also learn more about Hamish and his family in this story, which makes up for the lack of village characters. The cast on the island is all well and good, but they're not the same as the crazy bunch at Lochdubh (but then, how many murders can Lochdubh have before it's a ghost town?). I will admit I loved the character of the truck, though I thought the relationship with Harriet just didn't quite ring true (I can't tell you exactly why, it just felt off).
The mystery itself was interesting, though not one I think is particularly solvable by the reader (if that is important to you). It had just enough twists to keep it interesting, but not so many you get frustrated. On the whole, a very decent cozy and a good addition to the Hamish series.
Rated by buyers -
Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is miserable. He's sick . . . and no one seems to notice. He also is looking forward to visiting his family on his Christmas holiday . . . until he's warned off because his aunt who cannot stand him is coming from America. In a foul mood, he's not too excited when Priscilla Hallburton-Smythe asks him to talk to a guest, Jane Wetherby, at the family hotel (formerly the family castle) about two brushes with death and an inauspicious tea leaf reading. Meeting Jane, he's quickly impressed by her looks, her wealth, and her health farm (the Happy Wanderer) on remote Eileencraig. His mood lifts when he's able to inveigle an invitation for a free trip over Christmas to "look into things there." He leaves the exhausted Priscilla to trek to his parents' home to deliver Christmas presents in a terrible blizzard . . . and promptly forgets about her while becoming intrigued by the widowed cookbook author, Harriet Shaw, who becomes Dr. Watson to his Sherlock Holmes.
Naturally, Hamish is trying to fit in with the other guests . . . and not indicate that he's a policeman on holiday with a purpose. Choosing a cover as a forester, he's ripped up one side and down the other by one of the guests, Heather Todd, who is a social climbing communist sympathizer who favors any trendy left-wing cause for which she can hold a party. But you cannot blame Heather too much for her self-absorption: Her husband mainly likes to admire himself in the mirror. The other guests don't endear themselves to Hamish very much either. He soon wishes that he were anywhere else. And then, mysterious events start to occur. Jane disappears, and Hamish sets out to find her. Then one of the guests disappears and the search is even more challenging.
The mystery is a delightful one, with fair clues to help you figure out who did what to whom. The detection process is also fun. Hamish's attraction to Heather provides lots of amusing scenes. Priscilla's Christmas story will be one you'll long think about.
The book's only weakness is that the victim is painted in harsher colors than are needed for the story. That creates a memorable character, but hardly a realistic one.
Rated by buyers 
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The holidays are not starting out too well for Constable Hamish Macbeth, he has time off but nowhere to go, Priscilla is totally immersed in running the family-home-turned-hotel and he's coming down with a cold. Things begin to look up when a friend of Priscilla decides that she has been targeted for murder and would like Hamish to find out who is behind the attempts on her life. Hamish is convinced that the matter is all in her head but since the investigation would involved free room and board at the would be victim's resort it might bear looking into after all.
The resort turns out to be a health spa on an island in Hebrides and currently filled with a group of the owner's (and potential victim's) friends. Just as Hamish decides that there is really nothing to these murder attempts someone is killed and in a very suspicious manner. Hamish goes about solving the crime in his own unique way.
This is the sixth entry into the series about the young police constable in the remote village of Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands. Hamish has been smitten for years with Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, daughter of a formerly wealthy family now fallen on hard times - whence the need to manage the family home as a hotel, unfortunately the romance has proceeded only in fits and starts.
This is definitely a 'cozy' style of mystery. The mystery itself, although clever and fairly laid out, is perhaps secondary to the life and loves of young Hamish himself. It's a pleasant read and a moderate challenge to a fan of this genre. If you enjoy this type of mystery I would recommend beginning at the beginning - DEATH OF A CAD - but it is definitely a series worth beginning.
Rated by buyers -
This is the sixth in a series of wonderful mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. In this book, Hamish is dubious of an attractive health farm owner's belief that someone is trying to kill her, but accepts her invitation to come to her place in the Hebrides. However, when another guest turns up dead, Hamish does not agree with his superior's belief that the death was an accident, and goes on investigating. There's a lot here that doesn't meet the eye and only Hamish Macbeth will be able to find the motive for the murder, and as such the murderer.
Being a dyed-in-the-wool Hamish Macbeth fan, I can tell you that this is another great Hamish mystery, just as good as the rest. The story was quite fascinating, and I have always enjoyed M.C. Beaton's (pseudonym of Marion Chesney) Highlands & Islands setting and characters. Overall I thought that this was a great book, and a great mystery. If you like mysteries, or are merely interest in Scotland, then you must get this book!
Rated by buyers -
This is one of the best examples of a cozy Christmas mystery that I've read for awhile. Hamish is at loose ends on Lochdubh. He can't go to his parents' house since there is going to be an aunt there who hates him. Priscilla is too busy with her father's hotel, so he accepts an invitation to go to lonely, remote Eileencraig for the holidays. One of Priscilla's acquaintances has asked him to come in an unofficial capacity to investigate whether or not there is someone trying to kill her. While he's there another resident at the health farm turns up dead, and Hamish finds himself in the middle of a murder again. The best thing about this book is a native islander called Geordie and his possessed truck. Beaton never fails to amuse and Hamish is as adorable as ever.
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