Fire in the Barley — Frank Parrish

Dan Mallett, an elusive and expert poacher in the West Country of England who often finds himself beyond the fringes of the law, is himself forced into the role of unwilling law-enforcer when a large-scale protection racket disrupts his district and threatens Dan's freedom of movement. Using methods that are by turn ingenious, crooked, and sensationally successful, Dan tackles his enemies with the help of all the illegally gained knowledge at his command in this delightful novel.