Scottish policeman tall Hamish Macbeth gets repeated forebodings. Newcomer alluring Catriona Beldame supplies "herbs" to Lochdubh village men wanting to exercise "marital rights" their wives deny. Hamish threatens to kill her, finds her slashed; her house burns up as he leaves. Someone from her murdering past or interfering present has taken revenge.

Three other stabbings follow, finally a pair of scissors descend on the back of his old reporter friend Elspeth, after she writes baiting horoscopes "your sin will find you out .. curb your .. violent rages." Romance also beckons from Strathbane's former forensics expert Lesley Seaton, who bats "large very blue eyes" and brings home-made dinner.