The Lothian Run

Late in the story, Gilmour feels gloomy about 'the complex pattern of pursuit ... Robertson hunting Porteous --- himself hunting Robertson and St. Clair --- St. Clair also hunting Robertson --- the horse-thief, Rattray, hunting young Sandy Maxwell ---' I had the same problem by chapter 3. But then Gilmour is a bronzed, athletic, highly educated Customs Special Investigations Officer, pursuing smugglers. He gets them. Young Sandy, main character, helps heroically, determined, by the end, to become a CSIO himself. (Training in law-medicine languages ciphers-navigation knife fighting small-arms riding required.) It's 1736, Edinburgh and Lothian. They also thwart Jacobite rebels. More adventure than history, I felt; lots of action --- one nail-biting escape, our hero disguised as a sheep --- lots of detail, but plot at the expense of period. Not an easy read.