The Gargrave Mystery. By Hugh Coleman Davidson. (F. Warne and
Co.)—This one-volume novel is all very well in its way— though we must confess that it seems to us a rather poor way—but we cannot help expressing our regret at seeing Mr. Davidson's name upon the title-page. In his previous works he has shown that he possesses a pretty invention in the matter of plots and exciting incidents ; but heretofore these things have not constituted his whole stock-in-trade, for, in spite of various faults, he has led his readers to expect from him skilful portraiture, fresh humour, and various other desirable things which assuredly are not to be found here. The Gargrave Mystery is full of secret cellars,
mysterious murders, extraordinary appearances, and suspicious disappearances ; it is, in short, a tale which is of the cheapest sensationalism all compact. Worse than all, it seems to us to have the fatal defect of lacking the low kind of interest which the author endeavours to inspire, though this is a mere private opinion upon which we do not lay any stress. One thing, however, is certain,—that the book is not worthy of the author of " The Green Hills by the Sea " and " The Old Adam."
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