The picturesque Cotwsold village of Winter Parva has decided to warm the post-Christmas season by roasting a pig in the town square. Agatha, always one for a good roasting, organizes an outing to enjoy the merriment. But as the rotary spit is placed over a bed of fiery charcoals and the pig is carried toward its final resting place, Agatha realizes that things are not as they seem ..."Stop!" she screams suddenly. The "pig," in fact, is Gary Beech,...

Confounded by the murder of Lochdubh writing circle's long-winded organizer, police officer Hamish Macbeth investigates the victim's writings for clues and wonders at sinister themes within an unfinished soap opera script.

Less than delighted when he wins the maid services of Mrs. Gillespie, a notorious and malicious gossip, in the local church raffle, Hamish Macbeth suddenly finds himself investigating the death of the local cleaning woman.