13 DECEMBER 1930, Page 30

THE .OPEN SECRET. By Oliver Onions. (Heinemann. 7s. 6d.)—The warfare

of Communist and anti-Communist secret organizations and the way in which they press upon and distort the lives of normal people is a theme which provides at least an ingenious plot. This Mr. Onions provides and handles with some skill. His description and dialogue are witty and well observed, but unfortunately all is lost upon the rather wooden characters, stock types which cannot gain our sympathy. At the same time, though it cannot be treated as a serious work, the story is rather better than the ordinary thriller,.