5 APRIL 1957, Page 28

The Best That Ever Did It. By Ed .Lacy. (HutchinSon,

10s. 6d.) Two apparently purpose- less and apparently unrelated killings on the side- walks of New York lead to unfolding of ingenious crime that had led only inadvertently to murder. Story stereoscopically. presented, so to speak: one lens for the crooks and one for the law, until the images merge seemingly into three dimen- sions. Neat, brisk and exciting-the only puzzle still unsolved at the end is what on earth the title means.