12 JUNE 1959, Page 36

The Eighth Circle. By Stanley Ellin. (Boardman, 12s. 6d.) New

departure for the author of short, sharp novel, Dreadful Summit, and classic, grand-guignol short story, The Specialty of the house—a long, detailed, not very violent Ameri- can tale of private dick reluctantly engaged in clearing a cop from suspicion of corruption. As much character-study as detective-story, but satisfying on both levels, with some of the depth that Chandler gaye to his tales of the honest detective in a cynical and corrupted world.