29 JUNE 1956, Page 22

GENTLY DOES IT. By Alan Hunter. (Cassell, 10s. 6d.) A

Yard cop as competent as Chief Inspector Gently is made to appear ought to rely a little less on luck and more on good management in teaching the local police their business. But Gently, with his peppermints, is almost as tangible a figure as his French blood- brother, Maigret, with his pipe; and the sleazy seaside town is hit off to a T. The murder is pretty improbable; it's Gently and the pin-table saloons that hold the attention.