Novels in Brief
LITTLE did Mr. Bernard Shaw, writing whimsically in a edition of an evening paper on the probable outcome of Adoption Act, realize that a whole novel was about to ap on this very theme. In Her Adopted Father (Gandy, Mrs. M. Soderland depicts the subterfuge of the heroine, Ai, wants masculine society, but does not wish to marry. Readei will be surprised to find that the book develops, not into comedy of manners, but into a real thriller with undergeoult passages, hidden aeroplanes, kidnapping, and secret chernies formulae all complete. * * * It is rather difficult to hello, in Miss Katharine Tynan's account of The Wild Achyskst (Ward, Lock, 7s. fld.) of her latest heroine, Phoebe Carew, young widow, who goes on a journey to Italy and is and confined in mountain fastnesses by an outlaw, but is pleasantly written. * * * In The Quince Bush (mi, and Boon, 7s. 6d.) Miss Marian Bower, author of the some" ful East Anglian Neighbours, gives us a domestic story on large canvas. There are many admirably drawn character; chief among whom are Jeremiah Cushinge, the last nisk representative of an ancient family ; his daughter, Jessica, and grand-daughter, Daphne. The plot, which is niildh mysterious and exciting, turns upon the doubtful parentagt of Daphne. But the strength of this uncommonly goi novel lies in its characterization and in its charming reprea tation of East Anglian scenes. * * * Hattie Murke; the heroine of The Dark Dawn, by Martha Ostenso (Ilodde and Stoughton, 75. 6d.), is almost worthy of Mr. Thong Hardy. Elemental, passionate, and strong-willed, she ma the lives of three very different men—the idealistic Lucia/ Dorrit, who marries her, Dr. Muller, the middle-aged medics and the cowardly Mons Torson, who, having escaped Is wiles by running away from them, returns to submit to he upon her death-bed. Miss Ostenso has written, againsti vivid background of the American prairies, a story rich k drama and emotion. * * * South America is the settiq of Odalisque, by L. M. Hussey (Knopf. 7s. 6d.). Pandit; the passionate and rebellious heroine, is brought up in strict home and educated at a convent school. She makes romantic, runaway match, only to return disillusioned to homely lover of earlier days. Mr. Hussey is at once a" strong' and tender writer, with good descriptive gifts. * * * h Hot Saturday (Knopf, 7s. 6d.) Mr. Harvey Ferguson gists us a humorous, yet sympathetic, portrait of an America flapper, using many wiles to capture a rich New York bachelor, and scandalizing her friends by her boldness, but finally revealing herself to be a true gentlewoman at heart. Gil and sometimes frivolous in style, the story is yet a scrim defence of the "modern girl. * * * The power of -.secret is the theme of Miss Sybil Campbell Lettbridge's UI of Bounds (Methuen. 7s. 6d.). Cassandra Neame, a yogi child, runs away from her nurse one afternoon and wanders "out of bounds, into the grounds of a neighbouring mansion where she overhears illicit love passages between Rose West over, the Squire's wife, and a Frenchman. How this secret alters the whole course of Cassandra's life, and the careers d several other people, is told in a pleasant tale of love, int and quiet description. * * Reality does not troubk Mr. Ben Bolt in The Mystery of Belvoir Mansions (Want Lock. 7s. 6d.). From the moment that Captain Singletos returns one night to his flat to find an hysterical girl in big flat and a murdered man in the room above we are given I long succession of thrills, strung upon a more than average!y ingenious plot. * * * Mr. Vernon Rendall, in Hallos% mead, Limited (Chapman and Hall, 7s. 6d.), offers us a capilA comedy, in which, to suit the schemes of a group of journalislt and financiers, a Soho waiter is temporarily elevated to the peerage. The fun is not only excellent, but contains a subtle element Of satire. 3' * * Mr. Edgar Wallace, in The Hand of Power (John Long, 7s. 6d.), shows that there is certain danger of his novels becoming mechanical, that is, that the problems are so ingenious that he has no tiBle to interest his readers in the characters. In his new novel this is so, but he rewards his readers for their patience by a thrilling account of the capture of a great American liner by a gang of ruffians, who have booked in the steerage, and chase by English and American warships. * * * opening chapters of Miss Agnes Miller's mystery story, J"` C'olfax Boohydate (Ernest Benn, 7s. 6d.), are very well written, particularly the setting in the bookshop and the wounding 0;1 death of the old student. The solution of the mysterY ingenious. * * * The Superintendent of Police, in charge of the murder case in Mr. J. S. Fletcher's The Green RoPg (Herbert Jenkins, 7s. 6d.) does not silently pursue his coin's to the inevitable discovery of the murderer, but flits from etwe to clue until the solution of the mystery is thrust upon hir!: In this; as in the details of the Mystery, Mr. Fletcher is 33 original and entertaining as usual.
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