“THRILLERS.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21022, 10 May 1930, Page 4

“THRILLERS.”

Seven sensational novels, ■*'Thi Colds tone," By.-Patricia Wentworth. HoddM Stoughton, Ltd. <6s BUir’i Attic." By Joseph C. Lincoln and freeman Lincoln. London; Cassell and Co. Ltd. (Os net.) Thunderbolt." 'By Johnston MpuUy. London,: Cassell and Co.. Ltd. (6s net.) j M™ 4 ’’ By Palmer White. London : Chapman and Hall, Ltd. (Os net.) t P® GMBon-" By J. Lindsay Hamilton. London: Herbert Jenkins, Ltd. (Os net.) V % U *, a y .B/vWUUam MacLeod Rklno. B6U)° n ' floddar and Stoughton, Ltd. (Os J-: T „ e J Screaming Skull and Other -Stories." By Sydney Horler. London: Hodder and Ltd. (6a net.) ,jM.iss Patricia Wentworth Hctu given of A tories “other exceptionally good "thraier" in “The Coldstone, She has the happy knack of combining action and thrills, ag and the weird in just the right proportions a to invest her books with the utmost interest. The love story of • -Anthony Colstons and Susan Bowyer. is never lost sight of, however rapid the march of exciting events becomes, and the mystery of the Colds tone is never allowed to dominate the scene to the exmnsion of interest in the human ' touches to the story. The legend of the little tP-’P'JP stones which Anthony inheritswith the property of old Sir Jervis Colstone at Ford St, Mary enables Miss Wentworth to display her flair -for historical romancing. V The villagers have »„ deep distrust of the Coldstone which, rumour has it, has only been lifted on w.o occasions, and that disastrously to reveal the presence of the Evil One himself, and Grandmother Bowyer it-the one person who is in possession of :the full story of the ominous group of stones surrounding it. Naturally, Anthony is in-, trigued by the history of his new • posaeamons, and even more greatly intrigued by Busan, demure grand-daughter ‘of Mrs Bowyer, who sometimes drops him a curtesy as discreet as that of any of the at others visits him at dead of Mfeht in the ccustunie ,of one of hia ances*°rs. Susan is placed in a very unfortunate dilemma owing to the inexcusable interest taken by headstrong'- Garry O Connell in Anthony’s property, .and her own interest in the -owner of the property. _ Being as intelligent afi - she 'is charming, she plays heir own fearless part in, the dark encounters which take place in, Ford St. Mary, and her discovery ot toe connection' of an old edition ot Spenser with the eerie doings afoot goes far to clear up the puzzle and faring to light long-hidden treasure. “The Coldstone” is not only a very thrilling tale, but an uncommonly well-written one. Misa Wentworth draws her characters deftly and convincingly, she keeps her narrative moving at good, speed, and the romantic element is skilfully introduced throughout the book. The book can be- warmly recommended. * * In “ Blair’s Attic ".the Lincoln'brothers have collaborated in' producing- a real mastery story, also concerning hidden treasure, quite as absorbing, despite-its different treatment, as that of Miss Wentworth. The book is of considerable length, but holds the reader’s attention throughout its 352 packed pages. The scene is laid in the locality so familiar to readers of Mr .-Lincoln’s books,. East Orham in Datable County, and the novel is,full of the quaint sayings and dry humour typical of the men and women whom this author depicts as living on the sea coast and salt marshes in the vicinity of Gape Cod. There is, of course, an elderly retired New England skipper, Captain Eteeland Blair. .When Blair, who has won the respect of -the whole town, and is believed to have been wealthy, dies, it is found that he had got rid of practically all his own money and every cent ol his piece’s hundred thousand as well. Curing Blair’s illness the barque Pride of the Fleet had been driven ashore at East Orham a total wreck. Her master, George Grossley, who has died on the run home from the East, bequeathed all his belongings to Blair, and these were salvaged and Sabred in Blair’s attic. It is round these belongings that the story centres. Just before he died. Captain Crossley sent a message to his old friend that “ everything Went off- ,just-as ■ we. hoped it .would,” and instructing him to “ look for one foot, one hand.” That something of great value was hidden in Blair’s ‘ attic among Crossley’s possessions soon becomes the belief of the people in the district, and the plausible excuses of antique dealers who wish to buy the Chinese cabinet, the writing desk, pv. the carved sandalwood box provide a great deal of humour.' The first part of the story is related in an unconventional manner by _ Beasley Hallett, a character who will' win the heart of every reader,_ and _ her- disclosure of the weird happenings in the Blair house, in which she plays a leading part, are full of inAs “Blair’s Attic” is a mysterystory it would not be wise to rob-it of the element of excitement by revealing the mystery now, but the reader can bo assured that he will find the book thoroughly enjoyable, _and that after read, .ing it be will feel that he has been in the company of pleasant, ' healthy-minded friends.

Alias,the Thunderbolt” is a fast-mov-ing story of the famous ‘“Raffles” type, wherein the sympathy of the reader is enlisted on the side of a man who deliberately plans and carries out robberies On' the grand scale. John' Flatchley. man-nbout-town and a, member of several exclusive clubs, is left a considerable fortune by a rich uncle. He discovers that the money had been gained through wholesale swindling; and not only returns it to those his uncle had'despoiled, but resolves

*fco compel his uncle's associates iai nefarious dealings to disgorge, a portion‘of their ill-gotten, fortunes. . There are six of these men, cdmmbnljr' known in the city as the' ‘ Big-Six,” and each ;in turn becomes the victim .of the “ Thunderbolt a disguise adopted by Flatchleyto- help him in his dangerous work.,' As .Burglary succeeds burglary the police gufird on the-remain-.mg members of. the "Big Six is increased, and it a§eihs J : impossible that any marauder could evade the attentions of .the authorities. Nevertheless, the ” Thunderbolt ” finds and incidentally, get* into some extraordinarily ‘difficult situations. Interest in the exploits of this philanthropic criminal is heightened by hi* attachment for Agnes Lonmer, who alone knows the secret of his identity, and the . reader is carried- breathlessly along, from one thrilling incident to another. 5 The 'humour in the story is provided by the idiosyncrasies of' Boggs, a pick-pocket whom Flatchley induces to become his valet. As a “ thriller" this book may be regarded as successful.

* * * - \ In’ a different way “Mystery "island" eT ? ry , siting.as ,: Alias the •Thunderbolt,,-', and not quite the' sainb aUowancea have to be' made for the author’s indifference to the possible;'' The 1 action of .the story occurs mostly in the city' of Auckland and in the Hauraki Gulf, though Mr White _ is not especially concerned with the strict demsnds of uccurfldy i? of these familiar • places. Ronald Barstow, a clever barrister with a good knowledge of languages, had done good .work during the. Great War in the Secret Service Department, and his zest for adventure, seemed rather to have been increased -than- diminished by the experiences he had been through. In the Auckland club of wjaicb he is a member is a curiously: reticent, almost uncanny, stranger named ..Oscar Remington. One night ithe . talk .turns on the Bolshevist .menace, and Remington, who i«' sitting nearby, gives it as his opinion. Lx' answer to a direct question, : that this is much more dangerous and real than the authorities realise. Almost immediately afterwards, with a curt excuse, he leaves the room but later arranges an interview 1 witn Barstow, when he reveals his identity and enlists-the barrister’s help in trackmg down the gang of international crooka who hide behind Communistic enterprises m order that they may enrich themselves Barstow goes .to Sydney, , where he has some hectic adventures, and on his return : a? J. 8 fble, ,villains u n ■ t A l^ 9et! ES t ' la ' ir - an"island m the Hauraki Gulf, The story ,'of how he saves Rita . Remington from their clutches,; checkmates the' arch-villain, and l n i,i <??? Bams !?*? f° n dest wish/ is well told. - Mystery Inland ”ia an absorbing and clfeverly-conceived tale, in which electric rays of devastating power, secret codes, and high-powered transmitting etatiocs all. hold a place.

Mr I J. Lindsay Hamilton has made even greater use-of the mechanical devices by means of wnich gangsters and desperadoes are, according to the novelist, able to. carry out swindles, robberies, and murder* under the Very noses of the Scotland Yard force. The person known as .Ihe Gorgon" is. the. unseen'head ofa vast international organisation which specialises in squeezing., the last' penny r .°® wealthy men and then doing away \vuth their victims or sending them back to their friends, broken in health and mind, to end their days in misery. When Colonel Daintou becomes alarmed at the •disappearance of his-'millionaire brotheri ' * Rawsou, “ The Gorgon ” decides that he is becoming too dangerous. An attempt on his life fails, and the timely appearance in the story of Andrew r,?’ £ special investigator attached to the Foreign Office, and his playwright friend Peter “ twelve stone oi hope ,aiid hard inuiScle,” saves the lives of. his - daughter Htelen ' and Rowto’n’s ciaughtier.,Celia; Prdrh this*point events race along. Eddn enlists the aid of a little cracksman who -has decided to take up poultry-farinlrig, of a corrupt member ol the-police force,., and' of a number of bright'Scotland Yard, then. He is involved in- all sorts of undesirable ad-’ ventures with Egyptian mummies.' ulolworshippers,-- a hypnotist, 'and': othfer peculiar people,' and he is gradually enabled to discover the system of telephones, television and- kindred scientific inventions, by which “ The Gorgon ” keeps Ins . henchmen . advised . without ever becoming visible to them. Tire book ends with the death of the villain and a number of his colleagues, ami a double wedding. ■ ■ - ...... ..... ..

„ It could hardly be suggested that Western ” fiction, -in its most frequent mani testations, .is literature. For the niost part writers of stories pertaining to-cowboys, mustangs, and the rest are content to make only the most superficial attempt to portray, character, limiting their definitions' to “good man.” “brave rna J l > ' “ bad-man,” and beautiful heroine and then setting thenisclves out to hold the attention of their audience with a rip roaring plot containing plenty of gunfights and bucking bronchos, Mr William MacLeod Raihe must be included in this classification; to some-extent, and in this, his twenty-eighth hovel, he is still writing good, thrilling stuff that will win the approval of his followers. “The Valiant” is invested with an air of mystery rmlit from the first ipago, and,.-the-many secrets waich hold the attention arc revealed diserectly as the story proceeds to a fittin" climax. The' questions are formulated immediately the book opens—who is Bruce Barry who resembles the escaped bant Why does Jasper t/Olej- the sheryjt .ot Bonanza, attempt to snoot him even afteh he'.has surrendered? —who is Janice Gregg? One make* plenty of queries as the book proceeds and they arc answered logically. Cole is iound io be not all that he would wish

one to believe, but,it in’still interesting to discover' what is the depth of ,his infamy and to be present when he is unmasked. It is equally worth while to learn how Mitchell Ballard is redeemed from recklessness, to find that Marigold Cole is really somebody else, to follow the love story between Janice Gregg and Bruce Barry (who is actually not Bruce Barry at all). In “The Valiant” Mr has concocted an exciting thriller with the. atmosphere of the .West tingling all through it. * ♦ * Mr Sydney Horler’s vivid imagination rand for the gruesome, the mysterious and the Improbable stand him in good ,stead < in this series of stories which takes its title- from the • first in the book. Ihe reader who does not obtain a spinecreepmg sensation in following the adventures of Martin Lome from the time ne makes the acquaintance of a -girl in the Lotus Night Club to the time when tne ghostly happenings are explained, will need to be imperturbable indeed. And even if. as is .unlikely, he does not find tale as blood-curdling, as he would like, ha will certainly,discover what White Witch of'Gurzon The , Vamp ire,” or some other Ot the eeyen ■ stories included in the MCP fl** be depended upon to give his readers a thrill*, in one or another, if not all, of these tales ... v. V. L.