Ignoring a call for help from a woman who had previously reported a false crime, Scottish policeman Hamish Macbeth is aghast to find her corpse the next day. Her murder is the third in the past week in the county of Sutherland. The other victims were the Leighs, a couple new to the Highlands. Hamish's boss and archenemy, Chief Inspector Blair, steers Hamish away from the more high-profile Leigh case and assigns him to probe the death of the liar, Liz Bentley. Hamish soon uncovers a connection between the two crimes but becomes entangled in danger as he investigates further. As usual, he also has trouble figuring out his love life. The beautiful baker Anka has caught his eye, yet Hamish faces competition from his sidekick Dick Fraser. Luckily, there's forensic expert Christine Dalray and old loves Elspeth and Priscilla to keep Hamish's mind and heart occupied. VERDICT The hero's dogged methods and the rotating cast of Scottish villagers are all present in Beaton's 30th installment (after Death of a Policeman) in the long-running series. What's missing is the humor—replaced instead by a nasty tone that seems out of place with the cozy surroundings. Here's hoping Hamish's next adventure will find him in a better mood.—Lynnanne Pearson, Skokie P.L., IL

At the start of Beaton's highly entertaining 31st Hamish Macbeth mystery (after 2014's Death of a Policeman), the Lochdubh, Scotland, police sergeant receives a phone call from Liz Bentley, who claims she's been raped. Hamish and his team rush to the village of Cromish, where they learn from Liz's doctor that she's a chronic liar and still a virgin. But Liz's second call for help is no lie, and Hamish discovers her dead body in a vegetable patch outside her house. Meanwhile, back in Lochdubh, someone tortures and murders Frank and Bessie Leigh, a couple new to the area. Detective Chief Inspector Blair, always eager to deny Hamish opportunities, keeps the Leigh investigation for himself. Hamish handles Blair and Superintendent Daviot nimbly, but stumbles badly with familiar flames Priscilla Halburton-Smythe and Elspeth Grant. There are nasty characters behind the killings, and Hamish's deep knowledge of local folk and his keen observations lead him into danger. Beaton's series remains as engaging as ever. Agent: Barbara Lowenstein, Lowenstein Associates. (Feb.)