10 FEBRUARY 1956, Page 24

A Stitirr OF GUILT. By John Bude. (Macdonald, 10s. 6d.)

Murder of an art student in an English country town, setting a satisfactorily tricky problem for a cautious police inspector. Reliably constructed, in spite of a solution which hinges on an over-familiar deception; and the slightly cheerless provincial back- grounds are solidly established.