10 APRIL 1959, Page 41

Gin and Murder. By Josephine Pullein-Thomp- n , son. (Hammond, 10s.

6d.) Solid, old-fashioned, well-written and readable, though improbable, story of murder at county cocktail party, with local MFH as chief suspect. Solution by blinding flash rather than plodding detection, so it's more like following a drag than watching hounds work. Local policeman uppish and rude to the gentry, like that odious character created and despised by Joanna Cannan.