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Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly delightful Christmas confection!
Review: 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!
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Summary: A Charming Christmas Tale
Review: 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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Summary: In the Spirit of Christmas
Review: 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 becoming angry: M.C. Beaton greets us with a wonderful highland holiday season. Yes, I am a fan. This is my sixth experience with Hamish (my favorites: Death of a Prankster and Death of a Macho Man) and I hope to read them all.
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Summary: --Very Enjoyable Story--
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Looking for A Holiday 2000 gift?
Review: M. C. Beaton delivers a Christmas tale worthy of Dickens in this delightful departure from the Death of A series. Ever hassled by headquarters, always tormented by a villager or two, plagued by petty crimes, Hamish MacBeth manages to create a Highland Christmas celebration you will never forget. This slim volume contains more Christmas magic than a huge department store, all of it delivered with delightfully understated Highland humor, and (a gift from the author?) decorated with some marvelous illustrations. Looking for a perfect Christmas gift? Put this first on your list, it will suit all ages (and particularly a pet lover). And no need to wait for Christmas - the cool, fresh Highland air and Hamish's gentle spirit were even able to blow away the heat and humidity of June in Dallas. Highly recommended! Note: The Reader is finally permitted a glimpse of this author. And the mischievous twinkle is right there, just as I knew it would be.
Rating: 
Summary: Not so Merry
Review: 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 everyway, from the local Grinches, Scrooges, and other no-good-niks, to Lockdubh's own angels with their own Spirits of Christmas presents! It's full of holiday cheer and joy, to offset the negative side of the season. Someone has stolen the Christmas lights! The villagers are in an uproar and naturally our Hamish, the local bobby of Lochdubh, is called upon to solve the crime. The book is a "feel good" read, rather short, but still it holds the interest of Ms Beaton's fans. Naturally, Hamish has ANOTHER love interest. Will it be a lasting one? So--deck the halls with boughs of holly, trim the tree, pour a delicous glass of pure Highland malt (neat, of course), and be prepared for a nice read. Happy Hols!
Rating: 
Summary: Just awful!
Review: This book was a real disappointment- got the feeling Beaton really didnt want to write it and rushed through. No murder, very uninteresting crime and no insight into criminals at all. If this was my first MC Beaton book Id never pick up another!Makes my Top Ten List of Lousy Books.
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Summary: I Have a new favourite Christmas story.
Review: 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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Summary: I Have a new favourite Christmas story.
Review: 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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Summary: My new favorite!
Review: 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.
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