NEW VACHELL NOVEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

NEW VACHELL NOVEL

"THRILLER WITH A DIFFERENCE" Mr. H. A. Vachell has displayed a fairly considerable burst of literary energy of late, and fairly close on the heels of " Vicar's .Walk " he has given us " The Disappearance of Martha Penny," which may, perhaps, be best described as a " thriller with a difference." Mr. Vachell gives a prefatory denial to any intention to write u thriller " or a " shocker." He says he understands a formula is necessary for their writing, and he has no such formula. Nevertheless, ho deals in thrills like an old tradesman, but not sufficiently to sacrifice the charm of a book about which the " Quinneys " manner still lingers. The novel is in. some respects an apologia for England's rural constables. A young policeman is stationed at the village of Nether Applewhite, and finds that in a lovely rustic spot there are still stains behind whitewash, while the rattling of skeletons in cupboards becomes at times almost deafening. The evil influence of the place is an did gypsy woman, one Martha Penny, who practices blackmail 011 a highly catholic scale. Siie disappears, and the constable is left to find which of several likolv oersons was responsible for her disappearance. He is aided by the village doctor, something of an amateur psychologist, and the love affairs of each progress hand in hand with the solving of the mjstery. One hardly suspects that Mr. Vachell has written this novel seriously, but for all that it is thoroughly entertaining. Ho has groat gifts of characterisation, and is not abovo using them to embellish a mystery story—out of deference to his wishes it will not be called a " thriller " —and thus make it omiently more readable. " The Disappearance of Martha Penny," by H. A. Vachell. (Hwkler and Sloughton.)