17 DECEMBER 1910, Page 24

Hardican's Hollow. By J, S. Fletcher. (Everett and Co. 6s.)—

Though this novel is of much slighter texture than most of Mr. Fletcher's work, it has the romantic atmosphere to which he has acccustomed his readers. Perhaps the romance in this instance has a tendency to degenerate into melodrama, but the opening of the book, at any rate, is extremely clever, the suggestion of mystery in the lonely inn being exceedingly alluring. The name of the inn, too, The Starving Crow,' adds to the complete- ness of the picture. It would be very unfair to give the smallest hint of what "Crispin Tregellen's " secret really was. As is only too often the ease in fiction, however, the solving of the problem is not quite so interesting as the opening of the story.