Dick Francis is considered the elder statesman of crime fiction. His new novel "To The Hilt" is a tale as violent and wild as the wind off the Scottish Highlands. It is a story of Alexander Kinloch a young man who chooses to live in a broken down bothy on a weather-beaten mountainside far from civilization and his family.

The story starts with a request from his mother to return to London to the side of his dying stepfather. Before he can leave for London, he is beaten by four men who appear at his isolated home in the mountain. This is the beginning of many strange occurrences. When he arrives in London he finds out not only is the stepfather ill he also is in serious financial trouble. At his step father's request he sets out to try and save the family brewing business. When he thinks he has the business restructured and back on its feet he can go home to his mountain and live his highland life. The novel presents him with many challenges besides the saving of the brewery. Two of the most difficult are to hide a race horse and the gold King Alfred cup which is a symbol of a steeplechase sponsored each year by the brewery. To The Hilt is exciting and one of Dick Francis better thrillers.

Deep Scottish roots are a part of the story. The title comes from Alexander Kinloch's uncle, the Lord of Kinloch, possession of the jewel encrusted hilt of the sword of Prince Charles Edward Stewart better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Laird is determined to keep the hilt because it was a gift to the family from the Prince even though he had turned his castle over to a trust. A quote from the book explains:

"...Himself had politely refused to tell the castle administrators where to find it (the hilt). It belonged to him, he maintained, as it had been given personally by Prince Charles Edward to his ancestor, the earl of Kinloch at the time, and had been handed down to him, the present earl, in the direct male line. So had the castle the administrators said. The hilt belonged to the nation.

Not so, Himself argued. The castle transfer documents had not included personal property and had in fact specifically excluded the Hilt.

There had been hot debates in newspapers and on television as to when, if ever, a gift to one man became the property of all.

Moreover, as Himself pointed out, the Hilt had been given as thanks and appreciation for hospitality, horses and provisions. The facts were well attested. Prince Charles Edward, on retreat northwards (after his nearly successful campaign to win the English crown), had stayed for two nights in Kinloch castle, had comforted and revictualed, his retinue and rehorsed, for which services he passed on to the then earl the hilt of his ceremonial sword, the blade having been earlier snapped off short in an accident."

So the hero of the book besides trying to solve the mysteries surrounding his father-in-law must deal with the resolution of what should happen to the hilt of Bonnie Prince Charlie's sword. Two memorable Scottish characters involved in the "hilt conspiracy" are Himself, Earl of Kinloch, and Jed Parlane, his uncle's factor.

As in all Dick Francis books the story moves quickly and you do not want to put it down because there are so many questions to answer. The ending is a surprise and answers the big question "What happens to the hilt?" I guess you will just have to read the book and find out since I am not going to tell you.

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