In Scotland, where thrift and a “nice set of dentures” are generally admired, dental surgeon Dr. Frederick Gilchrist’s cheap rates and penchant for pulling teeth have gained him a clientele.

However, wiser Highlanders, like Constable Hamish Macbeth, opt to steer clear of this reputed womanizer’s all-too-busy hands. But a blinding toothache sends Hamish Macbeth 120 miles out of Lochdubh to the infamous dentist’s door.

Unfortunately for Hamish and Gilchrist, someone has canceled all the doctor’s appointments—permanently. Since everyone is pleased that the dentist is deceased—patients, several harassed women, and even his wife—Macbeth faces one of the more biting challenges of his career.

A toothache can drive a man mad, and Hamish, with a mouth full of throbbing pain, decides to go after the killer alone.