The House of the Deer (Gerald and Elizabeth #2) by D. E. Stevenson

D. E. Stevenson's latest novel combines those elements of romance and suspense which have characterised some of her most enjoyable stories.
   At very short notice Gerald Burleigh Brown is asked to take a deer-stalking holiday in place of his brother-in-law, who has to deal with a security threat to the shipyard which they manage, The old hunting lodge where Gerald stays is high up, miles from the nearest village and surrounded by the forest with its high rocky holls, sparkling silver burns and grassy valleys where the Red Deer feed--an enchanting background to an unusual and exciting chain of events.
   Apart from getting to know the other men and the attractive girls in the house party, Gerald gradually begins to understand and make friends with the local inhabitants: the unnkeeper who knows all that goes on in the district and is captain of the fire brigade, his old mother who is reputed to have second sight, and Katie MacTaggart with her wild boys.  Gerald's days are spent stalking the 'hummel', a huge hornless stag which proves particularly elusive. Then suddenly an outburst of violence chnages the whole nature of his holiday. In trying to protect the girl he has grown to love Gerald runs into considerable personal danger as the novel moves to its climax.
   Among the many attractions of The House of the Deer is the pleasure of meeting once more Gerald and his sisterr, familiar to readers of Gerald and Elizabeth. Indeed D. E. Stevenson's admirers will find a number of old friends in the pages of this enjoyable book.