When the townspeople of Lochdubh begin receiving poison-pen letters, no one takes them very seriously, even if they are full of wild accusations. But Hamish fears that they might lead to something deadly. His instincts prove correct when the town's postmistress is found hanging from a rope with a poison-pen letter at her feet. Though it appears to be a suicide, Hamish suspects something more sinister. Attempting to trace the letters, the last thing Hamish needs is any distractions, but soon Jenny Ogilvie arrives in Lochdubh determined to seduce him. Realizing that she is unable to take Hamish's mind off his case, Jenny decides to do a little investigating of her own. Hamish finds himself in a race to solve the mystery of the poison-pen letters before someone else dies, including one likely target-Jenny.
"Great characters, spot-on dialogue, scenes full of tension, and humor- these staples of Beaton's mysteries are all part of Scottish cop Hamish Macbeth's latest adventure…Beaton's writing is vivid, flawless, and energetic, and she knows how to twist a plot with great dexterity. Another winner in this thoroughly enjoyable series."
RT Reviews (4 stars)
"A spate of letters (including one accusing the stolid rector's wife of having an affair with the much younger Macbeth) spreads bad will, uncovers old secrets, and leads directly to two homicides…What rescues the Macbeth series from being Agatha Christie retreads are Macbeth's quirks, the deft social comedy, and the wonderfully realized Highlands atmosphere…A first-rate cozy."
