Light Reading for the Week-end

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22670, 6 March 1937, Page 4 (Supplement)

Light Reading for the Week-end

READING IS BELIEVING There is plenty of melodrama in "The Hidden Hand," by Sydney Horler. A brilliant, but drunken journalist is reformed by the love of a good woman. An obscure barrister undertakes the defence of the woman lie loves when she is charged with murder, and succeeds in securing her acquittal. And the revelation of the real murderer is most melodramatic of all. As for the description of Olivia Dane's trial, no words could do justice to it: it must be read to be believed. "The Hidden Hand," by Sydney Horler. (Collins.) • •

Humour and Thrills

Excitement and humour go handin hand in Maurice B. Dix's new mystery thriller, " The Kidnapped Scientist." The story centres round the discovery by Sir John Claymole of a means to cure cancer. Sir John, his assistants and his cancer-curing apparatus are kidnapped and Tony Mornington, one of the famous Mount Street trio, takes it upon himself to assist Scotland Yard in discovering the whereabouts of the kidnapped party. With his two associates, Tony makes good after an initial blunder, but beforh a satisfactory conclusion is reached the reader Is entertained to a series of thrills and laughs. "The Kidnapped Scientist," by Maurice B. I)ix. (Ward Lock.)

LAUGHTER AND TEARS In "The Fire and the Fiddle," by Wynyard Browne; two confused worlds meet and are very contemptuous of one another. They are both shocked —one because of the old ideas and one because of the new (nnd here it should be snid thnt some of the new world's speech may shock some readers.) Yet Mr. Browne makes all his characters (with tho exception of Jean, the girl, who is not so easy) clear and recognisable. He takes nothing too seriously and writes wisely and wittily. ]t is a book that one can read a second time and laugh again. "The Fire end the Fiddle," by YTynyard Browne. (Cobden-Saaderso*^