30 AUGUST 1957, Page 25

Free Ride. By James Fox. (Cassell, 12s. 6d.) On a

two-day, argot-loaded, train ride across the States, extraditing a tapioca-brain lush who used to peddle chippies and pantie-peelers, and fend- ing off a Sicilian gang, 'organised for murder like a post office is organised for the Christmas mail,' a couple of cops endure and enjoy lashings of sex and sluggings. Those who can construe without a crib such a phrase as 'a couple of Angelinas getting into a rhubarb, as faggots will,' should find it brilliantly exciting, plotted to an Aristo- telian unity of time, place and mood.

CHRISTOPHER MI