The Triumphs of Eugene Valmont. By Robert Barr. (Hurst and
Blackett. 6s.)—Mr. Robert Barr is extremely fond of the detective story, and contrives to impart a slight element of novelty to the present series of adventures by making his amateur detective a retired professional from the Paris Police Force. To say that the stories are written by Mr. Robert Barr is to say that they are ingenious ; but it is extremely hard for any one at the present day to make detective stories original. The plots have all been used up long since, and the best efforts of modern authors can now only accomplish variations of some four or five essential themes. There is indeed hardly one of these stories of which the reader does not forecast the end as quickly as M. Eugene Valmont himself. It is curious that, in spite of this fact, detective stories continue to be produced, for we may be sure that the supply would soon fall off if publishers did not find that this class of goods was largely asked for.
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