15 MAY 1959, Page 28

Venetian Blind. By William Haggard. (Cassell, 10s. 6d.) Senior civil

service setting for compli- cated but bloodless thriller concerned with who's selling what secrets to whom. London and Venice backgrounds; dim hero; excruciatingly improb- able heroine. A sad falling-off after Mr. Hag- gard's admirable first attempt with Slow Burner.