This time, in the nearby village of Drim, he meets young Tommy Jarrett, who rents a small cottage from landowner Parry McSporran. Tommy professes himself to have been a recovered heroin addict and is staying in the remote Highlands in order to write. Hamish feels compassion for young Tommy. So, when Tommy turns up dead of an overdose Hamish feels something is wrong, that Tommy would not have taken the drug.

He counters a skittish young woman, Felicity, in the adjoining rented cottage. She denies any relationship with Tommy – but with too much vehemence. She definitely has something to hide and Hamish means to find out what it is.

Meanwhile, of course, Hamish makes a mess of things by pretending to be a drug dealer. It "chust" happened when he was digging into Tommy's past, which led to two thugs in nearby large city Strathbane. One thing leads to another with the final scenario of Hamish and ice-water-in-her-veins policewoman Olivia Chater (called "Concrete Knickers" by all who know her) portraying a married couple of drug dealers, infiltrating the drug world. Imagine Hamish in an Armani suit, acting like a mean thug!

How Hamish sorts it all out and comes up with the correct answers is a delight to read. There is the plot line of the envious copper who tries to sabotage Hamish (echoes of Inspector Clouseau and the mad policeman) that adds intrigue.

M. C. Beaton is the mistress of wit, tongue-in-cheek dialogue and unforgettable characters. Hamish is still, after all, just a village constable wanting nothing more than a warm fire, comfortable clothes, his little croft, and perhaps, some love. Beaton's mysteries just trip along wonderfully, giving the reader the best there is of the British procedural cozy, if there is such a genre. What a delight!

--Kay Black