She couldn't paint to save her life - so someone's given her a lesson by taking it!

Most newcomers don't stay long in remote Lochdubh - usually boredom, dampness and nosy locals drive them out. But it looks as if artist Effie Garrand has come to stay. When Hamish Macbeth calls on her he's amazed to find the woman in residence after a particularly harsh winter. Unfortunately, Effie is also quite delusional, having convinced herself that fellow local artist Jock Fleming is in love with her, and that they are engaged. But after a lover's scrap with Jock, Effie is found dead, poisoned by hemlock.

Suicide or murder? It's up to Hamish to find out whether the dreamer's death is the result of something much more serious than a broken heart...

Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series:

'First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' Booklist

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

'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

'The much-loved Hamish Macbeth series... beguiling blend of wry humour and sharp observations about rural life.' - Good Book Guide