First published 2016
Sandy Hoynes commands the Girl Maggie in the waters off Kinloch, but July 1968 brings him double trouble. His daughter's wedding looms with bills to match, yet the herring have vanished from his nets. Hoynes and his crew blame a supersonic jet screaming overhead during test flights, convinced the noise drives away their catch. First mate Hamish devises a scheme to restore the natural order, but their efforts draw unwanted attention. A vengeful Fishery Officer circles like a shark, an Exciseman suspects Hoynes of whisky smuggling, and the local police sergeant poses a particular problem since he plans to marry Hoynes' daughter. As the captain navigates these treacherous waters, he encounters ghostly pipers, American sailors, and Russian fishermen in a series of comic mishaps. Meyrick captures the warmth and humor of a Scottish fishing community where ancient traditions clash with modern intrusions, and where a father's love drives him to increasingly desperate measures.
Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, mystery, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, family-secrets, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Kinloch, Scotland
Period: 1968
100 pages · Kindle Edition · Polygon