6 APRIL 1956, Page 36

BUTCHER, BAKER, MURDER-MAKER. By Mystery Writers of America. (Macdonald, 12s.

6d.) Nineteen short stories of crime and detection, in which an English writer, Michael Gilbert, shows up especially well with a neat, light tale of police ferreting, and America strikes back with a splendid piece of technical know- ingness, atmosphere and tension by Brett Halliday.