Wherein we a Portuguese Catholic priest ventures to the land of the reivers on the English-Scotch border during reign of Elizabeth. He observes and is slightly embroiled in a blackmailing (term originating from this time and place) raid and becomes friends with a sort of geordie Yojimbo figure. He learns a bit about the unusual nether zone that was the border in those days in the process, but much. It's the classic Fraser setup of an alien narrator plonked into a world he doesn't understand and muddling through. Having a moralising priest as the narrator in what was one of the precursors to the wild west works well for this. A much sterner story than the Flashmans, both in writing and its substance - very little humour (or sex) throughout but about as much blood.

The opening features a tavern chatter-cum-parable on the morality of living safe under the good deeds of evil men, and this sets the theme. The plot is sparse and low stakes, but gives a good glimpse into the setting, which is the real focus. The border in the 1500s, til unification under James, was a stretch of no-man's land managed through a set of military governorships alongside a tolerated, formalised system of banditry/mafia protection rackets. Northumbria and the lowlands were mainly pasture then (as now), and as with many a hilly pasture area a culture of horse-robber clans developed. These were the reivers, who would take protection blackmail from the settled folks and feud amongst themselves. This was tolerated (sometimes tacitly, sometimes openly) by the March Wardens, who relied on these families both for keeping the peace, as well as for making occasional forays into the bordering country and spreading mischief there. Naturally there was a tension for the wardens in keeping peace, who would be risking livelihoods and lives in attempting to rein in the reiver families. Much of the time it was easier to pay off these bandits and send them to raid the warden down the road instead. The situation was so far from the south of England and central control that the borderland had its own set of Marcher Laws, acknowledging the give-and-take the wardens must make with the riding families to keep relative peace along the border.

I liked this one being interest in the border history and Fraser's writing, and he does touch on all of the above, but I can't see this being an easy read for anyone not familiar with the history, which is niche even for those interested in Britain. It assumes you know a bit about 16c border law, and leaves you behind if you don't. A labour of love for Mr Fraser I think.