 | A Highland Christmas |
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 "great book" | 2008-06-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3FOK0LUG2YIRN | |
| All the M.C. Beaton books are wonderful-whether it's Agnes Raisin or Hamish MacBeth. I wish there were more. | |
 "Quick, Enjoyable Christmas Read" | 2007-11-19 |
| - Reviewed By drebbles | |
| It's Christmas time in Lochdubh, Scotland, although it doesn't feel like it. Christmas decorations have been banned in the village, at least outside decorations. Constable Hamish MacBeth isn't too happy but he has his work to keep him busy. Someone has stolen some Christmas trees and lights from a nearby village; a lonely elderly woman has lost her cat and seems afraid of someone or something; and a young schoolgirl seems to be hiding some secrets. Hamish's methods may seem unorthodox, but he will solve these problems by Christmas day.
"A Highland Christmas" is a very good but light entry in M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth cozy mystery series. It's a slim book, a little over one hundred pages and there are no real mysteries in the book, outside of the missing Christmas trees. Despite the brevity of the book, M.C. Beaton still squeezes in all the elements that I love about the series: Hamish's ability to outwit Detective Chief Inspector Blair; his pining for Priscilla Halburton-Smythe; his mooching free meals; and the various characters that make up Lochdubh. In many ways the book feels like a Christmas gift for Beaton fans (a stocking stuffer, perhaps). Everything in the book is wrapped up neatly as Hamish solves the small mysteries and manages to bring happiness to several people. The ending is particularly delightful and I couldn't help but smile as I finished reading the book. Readers will love the Christmas gift Hamish gets. "A Highland Christmas" is a quick and enjoyable read - perfect for this busy time of year. | |
| "No Plans for Christmas" | 2007-05-17 |
| - Reviewed By happypatriotsandredsoxfan | |
| 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. | |
| "'A Highland Christmas' will make you want to pack your bags and head to Lochdubh to spend the holidays with Hamish and the gang!" | 2006-10-20 |
| - Reviewed By erika_sorocco | |
| Constable Hamish Macbeth has always managed to find a way to celebrate the Christmas holidays, even in the small, gossip-ridden town of Lochdubh, Scotland, where news travels faster than the daily post, and the local Calvinist beliefs have kept Christmas trimmings out of sight of the townspeople, and the thought of Jolly Old St. Nick nothing but a fairytale to be read about in books, or watched in films on the telly. But this year, with his parents away, his mother having won a vacation for coming up with a soap slogan, leaving him behind to watch over the quaint little town and its nosy occupants, Hamish finds himself feeling a bit lonesome, and craving the Christmas spirit he's always loved, complete with presents, turkey, fairy lights, and a large Christmas tree wound with sparkling tinsel, and shiny ornaments. But when the lanky lawman finally discovers the key to unlock the secrets to cranky old Mrs. Gallagher's fears; learns of an unhappy young girl named Morag, who has never had the joy of celebrating Christmas, calling someone a friend, or doing anything that her parents didn't approve of; and discovers that a group of hoodlums have been hitting local towns, stealing all of their holiday goods, along with their Christmas spirit, Hamish must muster up every bit of his Highland charm, along with his sleuthing skills, in an attempt to make things right for everyone, and create the perfect holiday for all those involved, before every bit of this years Yuletide cheer goes straight out the window, and leaves nothing but a dreary winter in its wake. This was my first M.C. Beaton novel, but I can honestly say that it will most certainly not be my last. Hamish Macbeth is a dapper, dashing detective, whose sleuthing skills may need a little work, but are more than made up for in the good spirit department. From page one, he captures you with his witty commentary, and snappy thoughts regarding everything in his path, from the townspeople he encounters, to the weather, and even to the ongoing investigations he happens to be working on. His interactions with various townspeople such as the grumpy Mrs. Gallagher, the over-protected and somewhat sheltered Morag, and the over-expectant new schoolteacher he happens to be semi-romancing, Maisie Pease; along with his oft-times seemingly off-his-rocker boss, Lieutenant Blair, are natural, and flow at such an easy, believable pace that the reader literally feels as if they are a part of the scene, conversing with the characters themselves. A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS will make you want to pack your bags and head to Lochdubh to spend the holidays with Hamish and the gang! Erika Sorocco Freelance Reviewer | |
| "I Have a new favourite Christmas story." | 2004-03-09 |
| - Reviewed By romonko | |
| 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. | |
| "--Very Enjoyable Story--" | 2004-01-17 |
| - Reviewed By judith913 | |
| 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. | |
| "My new favorite!" | 2003-05-24 |
| - Reviewed By kurtajohnson | |
| This is the sixteenth in a series of mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. It's Christmas time, but there is no rest for Hamish Macbeth. When a mean old woman from outside of town insists that her cat was stolen, Hamish begins to investigate. And then, he begins to wonder why the woman is so mean and lives a fearful and solitary life behind locked doors. A second mystery materializes when the Christmas decorations for a neighboring town are stolen. For Hamish this is a Christmas of finding things that were lost (sometimes a long time ago), and finding new friends. My wife introduced me to Hamish Macbeth and made a fan of me. Although there are no murders, this is a great book, with an interesting storyline, setting and characters. (Sherlock Holmes stories rarely revolved around murders, as I recall.) I really enjoyed this book, and proudly proclaim it my favorite so far. If you are interested in a story set in modern Scotland, or just a good mystery, then I highly recommend this book to you. | |
| "Surprisingly delightful Christmas confection!" | 2000-01-06 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous | |
| A gem of a Hamish book! Fans of the cozy village mystery series will find all the beloved elements. The series and life of Hamish does progress from book to book, and those who care about the struggles of "our Hamish" will note several important developments in Hamish's life. But this book, of all of them, is well suited for the first time reader, as it stands alone as a really lovely piece of holiday writing, with Hamish playing Santa to a group of cranky highlanders, and brightening the life of a small girl named Morag. Sentimental...yes. But who doesn't love the sweet pleasure of sentimentality at holiday time? An easy afternoon read, about one-third the length of a regular Hamish mystery. Plus, uncharacteristically, the author allows Hamish some small bit of triumph at the end. Merry Christmas Ms. Beaton, Merry Christmas Hamish! | |
| "A Charming Christmas Tale" | 1999-12-23 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous | |
| I was enchanted by this charming Christmas tale. As always in the Hamish McBeth series, the primary focus of this novella was not the mystery, but a visit to the Scottish Highlands. After following the series since the first book, I felt that I was vising old friends-- this time at Christmas. Although the focus was not on the mystery, this aspect was still credible, with Hamish using his Highland intuition to recover a town's stolen Christmas lights. The book's short length made it a quick read for the busy holiday season. Highland Christmas had a fairy tale feeling and happy ending. Hamish plays Santa to a lonely little girl and an old folks home, foils Blair's attempt to get him in trouble, and gets a new friend. There are laugh-out-loud moments in this touching, feel-good story for the holidays. | |
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