BOOK NOTICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1941, Page 7

BOOK NOTICES

All lovers of a rattling good Wild West yarn will find pleasant and entertaining reading in “Blood on the Moon,” by V. Cort. The story, told in good English, with no more than a reasonable introduction of slang and dialect, is that of a range war, in a territory into which law has not yet penetrated, with the secret and thieving exploitation of a supposedly derelict, ■but not quite exhausted, silver mine thrown in as an additional material factor. The stirring and perilous adventures in which “Brandon's Cavalry,” a small but formidable body of cowboys of ripe experience and ability, battle with and finally overcome the numerically much stronger forces of the McCords; are unfolded with dramatic effect. From first to last the story is one of rapid-fire action and there are many tempestuous and savage episodes before the heiress of the H.Bar C. is re-established in her heritage. The characters, men and women, honest folks and rogues, are all cleverly drawn. This definitely is a story of merit, ranking high in its popular class.

Rachel Swete Macnamara has written many books which have been thoroughly enjoyed by an ever-increasing circle of readers—“ Masque for Four Women” and “Mirror for Josephine” among others —but her latest work “Melissa” will probably be acknowledged as her best effort to date. It is a love story that women readers will fully appreciate. The chief character, Melissa, is probably the most captivating of Rachel Swete Macnamara’s many attractive young characters—an impetuous, lovable creature who is brought up to believe herself daughter and heir of the Fletes. Hilary Flete’s child died in a nursing home and Melissa was substituted for it, Captain Flete intending to tell his wife when she became stronger. But the captain was killed a few weeks later in the Great War without informing his wife. How Hilary Flete and Melissa discover the real state of affairs long years afterwards makes the novel one of exceptional interest. Elizabeth Frayne gives us in “This Blind Love”- a charming story with the stage as a most romantic and appealing background. The heroine, Sonia, had three generations of actors behind her and she was a star in her own right, and it is the theatrical surroundings of her life that the authoress has woven into a most delightful love story which bears very favourable comparison with those other noted books which Elizabeth Frayne has written, particularly “A Year With Juliet” and “Mavell’s of Mayfair.” The story is cleverly told and will make an immediate appeal to those readers who enjoy a really good book having love and the stage for its chief theme. The above books are all published by Messrs Hodder and Stoughton, and copies have been received from the Sydney representative of that firm. Mr W. S. Smart.