Grime and punishment . . .

When Fergus Macleod, Lochdubh's abusive, drunk dustman is put in charge of the local recycling centre and is dubbed Environment Officer, Hamish Macbeth smells trouble. Sure enough, Fergus, imbued with his new powers, becomes a bullying tyrant and when his body is found stuffed in a recycling bin, no one is sorry - including his long-suffering family.

But Hamish is surprised to find that many of the despicable dustman's victims refuse to talk - and when violence strikes again, the lanky lawman must quickly unearth the culprit among a litter of suspects . . . before the killer makes a clean getaway!

Praise for M.C. Beaton:

''The books are a delight: clever, intricate, sardonic and amazingly true to the real Highlands'' Kerry Greenwood

''It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh'' New York Times