20 JULY 1918, Page 16

READABLE NOVELS.—The Narrow Strait. By W. E. Norris. (Hutchinson and

Co. 68.)—A novel dealing with the psychological results of mixed English and French parentage. It is written with all Mr. Norris's well-known accomplishment.—The Mystery of the Downs. By Watson and Rees. (John Lane. 6s.)—A detective story in which the mystery of a murder is extremely well sustained. -Truant Happiness. By E. Maria Albanesi. (Ward, Lock, and Co. 5s.)—A story of everyday life under war conditions. Until the hero is wounded the war seems to make less difference to the characters than is usual in a novel—or indeed in the life of most of one's acquaintances.—Miss Gascoigne. By Katharine Tynan. (John Murray. Gs.)—A pre-war story of which the interest is in the character-drawing. The book is gay, not a small matter in a novel under present conditions.—The Island of Adventure. By Theodore Coodridge Roberts. (Hodder and Stoughton. 5s.)—The story is concerned with a treasure hidden in an island of the West Indies. The opening scenes, principally in New York, are the most interesting.