In the isolated villages in the north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the chimney sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands-until the day that Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney.

The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens. It's up to Hamish to discover who is responsible for the dirty deed-and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes.