No Friendly Drop.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 300, 18 December 1931, Page 8

No Friendly Drop.

Week-End Books

By Henry Wade.

WADE is now firmly established in

the world of detective fiction. Those who had the pleasure of reading “ The Duke of York’s Steps” and “The Dying Alderman ” will recollect these gripping stories and the clever manner in which the author dealt with the mysterious crimes. Now we have another very fine and well-constructed story, “No Friendly Drop,” which is sure to further enhance the reputation of Mr Wade. We again meet Inspector Poole, of Scotland Yard, and watch him cleverly unravel this mystery which at first appears to have no clues. The scene is laid in a large English country mansion occupied by Lord and Lady Grayle and their family. Lord Grayle, suffering badly from neuralgia, is given a tablet dissolved in brandy and the next morning is found dead in his bed. Of course, all the usual enquiries are made from relatives, servants, local residents and other folks, but little progress is made. The Home Office analyst certainly found traces of two poisonous substances but not enough to have caused death. After all, had a crime been committed, was it a case of suicide, or was it an accident? Inspector Poole, however, persists with his investigations and is rewarded at last by discovering something about Moode, the butler, but almost immediately Moode meets death under tragic circumstances. Is there some connection between the two deaths? Well, Mr Poole finds many astonishing things ere he discovers the real culprit. The reader is certain to spend an entertaining week-end with this book; the plot is a good one and the characterisation excellent.

The Enchanted Duchess „ By Jane Doe. 'J'HIS is Miss Doe’s first attempt at a full length novel and a very bright and charming story it is, too. The author is well-known in the journalistic world; her name is familiar to thousands of English newspaper readers. In this novel, “ The Enchanted Duchess,” we have an excellent picture of society life to-day. Atalanta, Duchess of Killarney, a charming widow, is about to be married to a millionaire and a party given in her honour is in full swing. At this party the Duchess is drugged, she enters the wrong motor-car, and is driven away to an unknown destination by John Stoneroof, a young journalist. Now picture the scene in St Margarets, Westminster, where a fashionable congregation awaited the bride. What really happens to Atalanta makes jolly good reading; she is kept a prisoner for three months. John teaches her how to cook, how to do the washing and scrubbing, and compels her to don rough clothing in place of her filmy creations. Meanwhile, all England was uneasy regarding the safety and well-being of one of her most beautiful women, and rewards were offered for clues to her whereabouts. However, events move swiftly, the Duchess discovers who John really is, romance enters her life and there is a very happy ending to this queerest of courtships. A story full of fun and lively situations. ERNEST J. BELL. Mr E. J. Bell’s notes will appear in the “ Star ” on Wednesday next, when he will give a list of novels suitable for week-end and holiday reading.