The power of the sea should never be taken lightly. When a notorious whirlpool claims several lives it's important for Sutherland to lay the blame on the right shoulders.

When a respectable woman, a personal friend of Sutherland's, is arrested for shoplifting it soon becomes evident that vital information is being withheld. Why?

A twenty year old murder still casts a long shadow. Especially when the son of the convicted murderer throws doubts on the infallibility of the Law.

When a trawler skipper is beaten up and doesn't lay a complaint, Dr. Roberts is intrigued. So is Sutherland.

A guilty boy is allowed to go free and Sutherland's professional problems clash with some deeply personal ones. The outcome could well change his life.

A light aircraft engages in some dangerous stunt flying and the pilot is killed. Accident or murder?

Who or what caused the death of Ian Mackay? Whatever the answer there are problems for the widow, the business partner and, Sutherland discovers, the insurance man.

A woman is found dead by the roadside. Is she the victim of a hit and run driver - or of a murderer?

""See for yourself, sir - you were booked in as a single. Mrs. Shaw wasn't with you, sir. You were alone.""

""I simply said every time we run into the Reverend Mr. McNeill he glares at us. As if we're living in sin because HE didn't marry us!""

""It shouldn't be there. There comes a time in the life of gelignite when it loses its sense of humour.""

""Yes. I can't be sure, but it looks as though one of them must have found out about me.""

""You believed those two men came from the Water Board, so you let them in...!""

""David, I think I've put my foot in it. But what IS Mr. Sutherland doing in Edinburgh?""

""Still and all, why would somebody be on the river signalling at that time of night?""

""There's not much I can tell you - except that a very likeable police officer seems to have got himself into considerable trouble.""

""Ten to one it's grisly. They seem to reserve those for the small hours!""

""The poor wee soul's dead. An inquiry isn't going to help her.""

""Fallon doesn't represent anyone unless he's asked for. McKinney didn't ask for him, so who did?""

""We're enquiring into the theft of a cheque book and a bank card, Mrs. Sutherland. We'd be glad if you could help us with information.""

""It seems to me that this Jacob's Ladder is very steep, very difficult and damned dangerous!""

""Forsyth walked to a phone box himself to dial 999. He was alone when an ambulance got there. He claimed last night he was the driver - but he wasn't!""

""A fire can smoulder for hours before it... becomes a fire, so to speak.""

""A little genteel courtship, and then he decamps with every penny he can lay his hands on!""

""No, no, Mrs. Sutherland. I don't feel the same about human beings as I do about horses.""

""Funny, isn't it? They wear their hats - we take ours off!""

""There's no way we can get around the fact that the gun was fired - in the direction of another person!""

""All the same, would you not agree that he's got too much power? As a Fiscal, I mean.""