Empty Nets and Promises

Back at Kinloch, but this time it is July 1968. This novella (only 75 pages) is a humorous tale about the skipper of a fishing boat, Sandy Hoynes, and his mates - a younger Hamish from the DCI Daley books and Georgie - as they try to make a living fishing herring. Except that this year the fish are in short supply. The fishermen speculate on the reason for this and decide that the supersonic planes being tested at the nearby airbase are responsible. When they decide to do something about this all does not go to plan.

As in all Denzil Meyrick books the interaction between the characters is just as important as the plot and in this story we meet Sandy's daughter who is about to wed the local policeman, the local fishery officer and the exciseman investigating the sale of illicit whisky. Added to this a ghost makes an appearance and there is almost an international incident.

Empty Nets and Promises is an easy to read, enjoyable and amusing tale. This novella is also included in a collection of stories by Denzil Meyrick - One last Dram before Midnight.