6 NOVEMBER 1959, Page 29

The Man Who Chose Death. By Eric Allen. (Hammond, 12s.

6d.) Rather a lot of sudden deaths in Florence, where a Titian is pinched from the Uflizi. Better than average writing and atmo- sphere, and quite a pace to the plot---altogether a very lively read. A less exotic, more unexpected setting for a thriller is the Isle of Man, where in Toll the Bell for Murder (John Gifford, 10s. 6d.) George Bellairs, cosiest of crime-writers, sends

sensible Superintendent Littlejohn to sort out a delectably old-folksy problem, complete with murder by sporting gun; crackpot parish priest; wicked baronet; village maidens; yokelish accents and all.