This Month's New Reading

History of a Femme Fatale

mHERE is a Daphne du Maurier J. touch about The Keepers of the Walls, a talented first novel by a young woman called Helga Harri son. The story is told with skill in creating suspense and tension, and in retrospect, by young unsophisti cated Linda Johnson who, from the moment she met her, fell under the influence of Louise Forde. On her first encounter she was repelled and fascinated by Louise —with fascina tion in the ascendant as she was drawn into the Forde circle of strangely assorted people held to gether by Louise’s personality.

Louise had everything—character, kindness, good looks, wealth, a lov ing, if too civilised husband, chil dren. She also had lovers and a philosophy that if the heart is pure it does not matter what one does with the body. Above all, she had a spirit, a personality, that amounted almost to spell-binding.

Then there were the men in her life—Michael, her husband; Sean, the young Irishman; the French professor; Cyril, the dilettante; the Anglican clergyman; the Roman Catholic priest; all stimulated by her presence, drawn to her by love, lust or envy.

From the beginning it is known that Louise will die; the events that lead to her death, the reasons for it, provide the story. To the end. the reader is left in doubt. Was her death by accident or design?

This is a contemporary novel of unconventional conception, without the weaknesses that often beset this type of writing. It has strength and vitality and should have a wide appeal. (Published by Seeker & Warburg, London. Australian price, 15/6.)

The Mixture As

Before

THE youthful impression that E. V. Timms did a better job before he switched to writing an Australian saga (see January PIM) is confirmed —with reserva tions —by the recent reprint of an eariler novel. The book was origin ally called Whitehall, and has now been rechristened The Falcon. It was first printed in 1931.

The Falcon is a lively period piece of the Charles II era, with a Scarlet Pimpernel flavour.

The story concerns a dark plot between Charles II and Louis XIV of France, in which Charles under takes to “sell” England into Roman Catholicism and support of Loufs in other directions, in return for a monetary consideration which would allow Charles to continue his life of debauchery and pleasure without the necessity of getting Parliament to vote him the funds.

The plot is, of course, thwarted by an English nobleman, who plays the dual role of King’s fool and agile adventurer —the Falcon.

The narrative is enlivened by the spirited behaviour of the Falcon’s bride, who knows only the conven tional half of her husband’s life, and is unaware until late in the story that she has espoused the Falcon.

Misunderstandings, because of husband’s double-life, complicate the story which abounds in the usual galloping horses, sword duels, 17th century cruelty, courtly Cavaliers and wicked priests.

If The Falcon cannot be regarded as a serious contribution to the literature of the nation, at least it is a welcome change from the puerile adventures of Ma and Pa Gubbay. (Published by Angus and Robertson, Ltd., Sydney. Australian price, 16/-.)

Case History of a

Reluctant Conspirator

AUTHOR John Blackwell has chosen the contemporary back ground of H-Bomb suspicion and security for his first novel, Security Risk. But he has woven it from the old nursery adage: Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive.

Hamilton was an intelligent, capable official engaged on secret re search for a Government project. He had been “screened” and regarded as no security risk; his ability was highly regarded and he was on his way up the hierarchical ladder. But Hamilton was also human, and this took the form of a woman —to wit, Vivien Rawdon.

Hamilton was attracted to Mrs.

Rawdon before he knew that she was the wife o* a colleague whom he instinctively disliked.

Trouble began when Hamilton dis covered that Rawdon had copied a secret document with the intention of passing it on to those of opposing political views. Upon Hamilton fell the task of deciding what to do— and so far as Rawdon was con cerned his duty was obvious and he intended to carry it out. But the complicating factor was Mrs.

Rawdon, who pleaded for her hus band on the grounds that as no harm had been done he should be permitted to resign and disappear from the scene.

Reluctantly Hamilton agreed—and from thereon it is a chain-reaction of events that lead irrevocably to their end. The story has something of the quality of a thriller, but primarily it is the study of a normally clear-thinking man of in tegrity caught up in events over which he no longer has control. It can, of course, be said that Hamil ton, in taking the first fatal step

showed a weakness of character thd was merely emphasised as the stoo unfolds. But it is the weakness iii herent in most of us and the authd makes his points well and logical! —that as security risks most peon* can be found wanting, given U right set of circumstances: and thd the first step has not necessarily be dictated by compelling, vital, inj portant or even logical reasons. (Published by William Heinemann, Ltd price, 15/6.)