3 OCTOBER 1885, Page 23

My Wife's Niece. By the Author of "Dr. Edith Romney."

3 vole. (Bentley and Son.)—This will, we fear, be something of a disappoint- ment to readers coming to it with expectations raised high by that very interesting story, "Dr. Edith Romney." The writer, in her first venture, lighted upon a good subject, and had the ability to make something out of it ; the subject now is not a good one, for it is neither novel nor pleasing—it is not even a surprise, for every one of the least experience in novel-reading will have guessed the secret ; and she has not the power—which, of coarse, is a very uncommon power—to redeem it by her vigour of treatment. There is no reason why she should not be more successful in another venture. There are indications in these volumes of literary ability such as we should expect in anything the author may write ; but it is not a good novel.