The Fatal Request. By A. L. Harris. (F. Warne and
Co.)—The plot of the story is a well-conceived one, and begins well, and the subsequent mystery and horror that envelop it are well kept up, nor does the interest flag till the narrative is ended. The Fatal Request is longer, better written—in the sense that the story is well filled in with minor characters—and embraces a larger field of interest, than most "shockers." The throwing of a portion of the narrative into the form of a diary is a mistake, and the style of the man's diary, at any rate, is absurd. There is plenty of humour in it, enough at times to make us forget the thread of tragedy that runs through the story. The cook's wit is very good in its way, though occasionally its brilliance is startling, and might appear more natural with a little dilution. Young Burritt is a natural character, and his behaviour in disguise as a foot- man is as well described as anything in the book. Mrs. Burritt is almost too weak, besides being a caricature. The Doctor is overdrawn. The situations are contrived with great skill, and this, combined with Mr. Harris's superiority in describing back- stairs society, should make him celebrated as a light comedian. It is as well that the real nature of the fatal request is only revealed at the last ; it is the most improbable thing we ever read.
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