Managing Ariadne.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 234, 2 October 1931, Page 6

Managing Ariadne .

Week-End Books

By

Dorothea Conyers.

M ISS CONYERS is celebrated for her

stories of Irish sporting life, and she has the knack of combining romance, sport and adventure in her jolly stories. This story opens at the Doncaster Sales where Major Hugh Armstrong meets charming Anne Hardress. Hugh decides to start a small stud and takes up hi? residence in an Irish household. He does his best to prevent the dog from sleeping on his bed, but discovers that the cat has increased her family in his wardrobe. Not only cats and dogs but horses and birds are encountered in the pages of this jolly book, which is full of Irish humour. Best of all are the hunting scenes and the many fine horses which we meet. Stolen jewels, a charming girl, and a delightful romance make the story highly entertaining. Simple Peter Cradd. By E. P. Oppenheim. jVJR OPPENHEIM introduces to his readers Peter Cradd, a salesman who comes into a big fortune through the death of a cousin in New Zealand. There is quite a local touch about this story because Mr Cradd receives the information from a firm of solicitors in Christchurch. Peter is rather a likeable kind of fellow, but his wife and family have given him a bad time, in fact, his life has been a misery for many years. Now, with plenty of money, he proceeds to enjoy himself and makes many friends, all of whom are jolly company. This is rather a good story and it should certainly act as a pleasant tonic in these days of depression. The Emerald Necklace. By A. and R. Weekes. 'JHIIS IS ONE of those readable stories centred around a European principality known as Neuberg. The story opens in Barcelona, where we make the acquaintance of Dan Marqueray, a well-to-do young man who is on holiday in the Spanish town. Dan is partaking of refreshment in a cafe when he is suddenly joined by a mysterious Frenchman who has just escaped the Spanish guards. Explanations follow and soon w*e find the two men on their way to Neuberg in search of adventure. The Frenchman turns out to be a Russian agent and he has been instructed to secure a certain valuable necklace which has been confiscated by the Soviets, and sold to Prince Rudolf of Neuberg. This is a story of adventure and romance which should satisfy lovers of sensational fiction. Kindled Flame. By Margaret Pedler. PEDLER usually produces books of feminine interest and she is a very popular writer of light fiction. When the story begins we find Lester Farrant a very sick man and about to arrange for his old friend, Sir Marcus Orford, to take care of his children after his death; children of the woman both men had loved. It was only natural that Ken Orford should fall in love with Jane Farrant and want her to marry him. Jane, however, is not quite sure that she will be happy with Ken. One day she was out riding, the horse bolted, and Jane was forced to accept the hospitality of a stranger named Dale Petrie. These two are thrown together again at the hunt, Ken is jealous and there is a scene. Margaret Pedler can be depended upon to produce a story full of dramatic situations, and this one is certain to please her many admirers. ERNEST J. BELL.