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A Highland Christmas (Oeb)
  
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A Highland Christmas (Oeb) (Hardcover)

by M. C. Beaton (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Product Description

From 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. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


From Library Journal

Police constable Hamish Macbeth must work during Christmas week while his family vacations. Although his caseload involves nothing more pressing than a missing cat and a tree and lights stolen from a community center, he alleviates his own depression by soothing others. An inspirational treat for the holiday season. [A Mystery Guild featured alternate.]
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars No Plans for Christmas, May 17 2007
This review is from: A Highland Christmas (Mass Market Paperback)
Do you ever remember dreading Christmas? Did something happen to make it all turn out all right? If not, you will find good holiday cheer in M. C. Beaton's A Highland Christmas.

The sun barely peeks over the horizon for a few hours near the solstice in Lochdubh. Most villagers hunker down indoors and perhaps take a wee dram while wishing that the telly would offer some new shows rather than rerunning Miracle on 34th Street for the hundredth time.

Where is the festiveness of the season? The religious villagers see Christmas as merely a pagan festival that no true Christian would observe. The streets are quiet, the houses are dark, and Hamish is lonely as the book opens. His family has fled to warmer climes after his mum wins a contest for writing a soap powder slogan. Priscilla is off in New York working on a computer contract.

How will Hamish celebrate the holidays? Hopefully, without a murder investigation intruding.

In a change of pace, this story focuses on the role of community policing and takes Hamish away from most serious crime. The old recluse, Mrs. Gallagher, has lost her cat, Smoky, and demands that Hamish leave no stone unturned to find Smoky. Hamish turns curious about Mrs. Gallagher when he realizes that she seems afraid of something more than a lost cat.

In searching for the cat, Hamish addresses the town's schoolchildren and asks them to be on the lookout. He asks them what they will receive for Christmas, and the children seem mostly happy. But did he spot a worried face?

In neighboring, but unneighborly, Cnothan, an enterprising vendor has persuaded the town to raise money by donation to purchase a tree and lights for the very first time. But the hopes for a festive celebration are dashed when the supply shed is broken into. Hamish follows the trail of needles to some tire tracks.

Hamish decides it would be kind to take the new teacher, Maisie Pease, out for dinner. She's soon swept up in his attention and invites Hamish for Christmas dinner. Will it be grand? How will he respond to mistletoe?

While trying to find out about Mrs. Gallagher's background, Hamish stumbles onto a nursing home where the patients could use some holiday cheer. Soon, Hamish has arranged for entertainment and brings his own party to celebrate.

With the clock ticking down towards Christmas day, Hamish finds himself with an opportunity to play Santa Claus. But will Detective Chief Inspector Blair destroy the good cheer?

And wonder of wonders . . . what will Hamish get for Christmas?

Don't miss this heart-warming story. It'll be one of your favorites.
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5.0 out of 5 stars I Have a new favourite Christmas story., Mar 9 2004
By S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: A Highland Christmas (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a wonderful little Christmas novelette. I didn't enjoy it any less because I was reading it in March rather than in December, but it will be a wonderful addition to my holiday favourties. I am a huge Hamish Macbeth fan and this book is Hamish at his very best! It's Christmas in Lochdubh and Hamish is feeling blue - there are no Christmas lights and decorations in strict Calvinist Lochdubh and his old flame Priscilla is in New York, of all places (so far away, so very far away he thinks). But all of a sudden Hamish is very busy with some crimes in his patch. He has to deal with the village grumpy lady over her lost cat, he is confronted with a lonely little girl, and someone has taken all the fairy lights and the Christmas tree from a neighbouring village of Chnothan. Hamish pulls out all the stops on his charm and his detective ability to set things right in his little world.
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5.0 out of 5 stars --Very Enjoyable Story--, Jan 17 2004
By Judith Miller (Bluemont, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: A Highland Christmas (Mass Market Paperback)
In the small Highland village of Lochdubh, Christmas is not celebrated with bright decorations, festive trees or gaily-wrapped presents. The old Calvinist ways still endure. Since Christmas comes at the same time as an ancient pagan festival, the strict followers of Calvinism continue to celebrate Christmas with moderation.

Police Constable Hamish Macbeth does believe in having a wonderful Christmas, but since he's on duty during the holidays, he knows that it will be a dreary and lonely time for him. Thankfully, there are no violent crimes; however, Mrs. Gallagher, a mean and crabby woman, demands that Hamish find her lost cat. He also has to cover crime in the nearby village of Cnothan where a Christmas tree and lights were stolen. When Hamish questions people about the lost cat, he meets the pretty new teacher and a little girl who needs some joy in her life.

Hamish ponders the situation and decides to organize Christmas carols and a party at the local retirement home. He also decorates the village with sparkling strings of lights and brings the true spirit of Christmas to Lochdubh and himself.

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Is this a JOKE?
This is without doubt the worst book I have ever read. Inept would hardly describe it. I can't believe this is not a vanity publish. Read more
Published on Nov 19 2007 by Sean Lee

5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite!
This is the sixteenth in a series of mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. Read more
Published on May 24 2003 by Kurt A. Johnson

5.0 out of 5 stars In the Spirit of Christmas
I was very pleased to be able to fit A Highland Christmas into my own Christmas season. To all of us who know that a sudden sibilancy in Hamish McBeth's accent is because he is... Read more
Published on Feb 19 2001 by Vincent Croal

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking for A Holiday 2000 gift?
M.C. Beaton has done it again...a great tale, wonderfully set in Scotland, spun with all the trappings that make a holiday great. Read more
Published on Aug 19 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars It actually brought tears to my eyes
This was the first book I read from this author.

It was alittle strange to get used to the language, and the accent. Read more

Published on Jul 18 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Holidays from The Highlands (and Hamish MacBeth)
M. C. Beaton delivers a Christmas tale worthy of Dickens in this delightful departure from the Death of A series. Read more
Published on Jun 18 2000 by Mamalinde

1.0 out of 5 stars Just awful!
This book was a real disappointment- got the feeling Beaton really didnt want to write it and rushed through. Read more
Published on Mar 31 2000 by zipple

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so Merry
I have always enjoyed the adventures of Hamish Macbeth. However, I was very disappointed in this particular one. Read more
Published on Mar 30 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Not so Silent Night!
M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series takes a holiday in "A Highland Christmas"!

And for her fans, naturally, it's a good read: full of the Christmas spirit in... Read more

Published on Mar 29 2000 by Billy J. Hobbs

5.0 out of 5 stars READ THEM ALL1
Ach, Hamish will grow on ye. It is always a braw bricht moonlicht nicht when Mcbeth is aboot. Read the whole series and start with the first one since there is some continuity... Read more
Published on Mar 6 2000 by Jim T

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