13 DECEMBER 1957, Page 29

Apostles of Violence. By Douglas Perring. (Hale, 10s. 6d.) Behind

the lurid and ill-drawn wrapper is a well-written, well-imagined, though slightly over-plotted novel of adventure in the Northern Italy of the Allied occupation, when partisan gangs roamed the mountains, clenching their Communist fists, and no story about Mussolini and his treasure was too wild for belief.