MISCELLANEOUS NOVELS.

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1933, Page 19

MISCELLANEOUS NOVELS.

"The Sow's Ear," by Bernard Cronin (Endeavour Press, Sydney),, is a story of Tasmania in pre-war days, dealing with the virtual enslavement of Australian bush girls by domineering parents who arrange their lives, and even their marriage's, for them. Among recent Hodiler anil Stoughton publications is "Paddy for News," by Cecil Hunt. This is a Fleet Street novel and portrays the irresistible lureof tho restless sea of journalism. The heroine, to whom excitement is the essence of life, marries a staid novelist, a husband and wife with temperaments polos apart. Can they travel the road of life together? "The Golden Witch," by Gavin Holt (Hodder and Stoughton), tells the story of a mysterious murder and strange characters in a very convincing way. "The Secret of the Zodiac," by Julian Sterne (Boswell), has more to offer than the ordinary detectivo thriller, while equally enthralling to those whose favourite reading is of the hunting down of crime, with all tho exeitoments and ingenuities of brain incidental thereto. The book makes a double appeal. It is 'a. story of intrigue, gallantry, and adventure, with a love interest interwoven; and the author's light touch is shown in the description of characters and the introduction of certain highly amusing episodes. The sceoud appeal is to those who like to imagino that the secret societies of the day are working towards tho destruction of civilisation. This is certainly a thriller of the first water. "Dead Man's Heath," by Jefferson Far j eon, a Crime Club publication, is a mystery story of a kind which has made a reputation for the author. A lonely cottage, a damsel in distress, and a corpso are sufficient ingredients for a yarn that will keep the reader guessing until the end. A Clime Club "book of the month" is "Murder Comes Home," by Nellise Child. An eccentric millionaire is found murdered in what to all appearances is an impregnable room, - locked and barred on the inside. Two questions have to be solved by tho reader: iiow was the crime committed and who did it? It will take nn astute reader to answer both correctly.