17 JANUARY 1914, Page 27

The Thing in the Woods. By Margery Williams. (Duck- worth

and Co. 6s.)—This is an American story of a doctor who becomes locum tenens for a friend in a country district of Pennsylvania. The mystery as to" The Thing in the Woods" which spreads death and devastation around is never abso- lutely elucidated. Neither will the reader be quite sore which it was of the Menning brothers who perished. As the interest of the book depends entirely on the horror which the author is able to impart to the manifestations of "The Thing," it seems unfair to give any hint which shall spoil the story. We will content ourselves with saying that any reader who wishes to feel cold water down his back and will shut himself up with this book alone at night will certainly attain his purpose.