A MELBOURNE MYSTERY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 21

A MELBOURNE MYSTERY

.In ''Toad" (London:... Hodder . and .Stougliion),'. Bernard Cronin.has shown clearly thaj; to be a success a novel must .not .-necessarily have an English or Continental setting. AH the action in this story df a remarkable invention and the still; more remarkablp man who is responsible for it takes place in Melbourne, and there, is enough thrilling incident to: satisfy the most ardent seeker of thrills. Cronin has hit upon a most ingenious plot, 'but he has taken care.not to overdo tkings,>'tind the manner in which the, story unfolds keeps the reader's interest at a high pitch -until*the very last, page. Mauriee-Mur-chison arrives in.Melbourne with nothing much more than a pleasant! personality and a willing heartland immediately: is involved in a,tremendous mystery. The.Premier of Victoria and certain of his colleagues are threatened with dire results if they do not accede to the demands of a man . who signs, himself "Toad." This man proves his power by disposing of the, Director of the Bureau of Chemical Science in a most • terrifying and mysterious way, and it becon/os vitally important that the monster'should be dealt with without delay, and with as little publicity as possible. It is discovered that "Toad".possesses tho power of setting fire to water, and those allied against him ■ spare'no 'effort , to. bring him to book. How this is accomplished makes a story of engrossing interest which may fairly bo said to rank with the best "thrillers" of recent times. "