THE FREE FISHERS

Scotland of the 1815 period, and a vigorous picture of the complexities of life in which a minister of the Kirk and professor of the University finds himself involved when he attempts to straighten out the entanglements of an ex-pupil who is up to the neck in hot water. The ""free fishers"" is the name of an organization which, under cover of protecting fisher rights, does a bit of free trade and government secret service. There is romance and adventure -- pungent driving scenes in the grand manner -- dialect which swings along easily enough -- historical fiction which is superior to the Farnol school, but might appeal to the more discriminating among the Farnol readers. Market closer to that of the author's Witch Wood, than of others he has done, perhaps.