Mysteries of the Month

Of this month's 13, four stood out as best bets:

THE FASHION IN SHROUDS -- Margery Allingham -- Doubleday, Doran ($2).

An ambitious attempt at a rounded story of detection, in which Albert Campion expertly solves three deaths in a professional and artistic London circle. Not only is it a skilful mystery, with a solution that stays in solution until the end, but it has good characterizations, and is a competent job of novel-writing.

A BLUNT INSTRUMENT -- Georgette Heyer -- Crime Club ($2). A blunt instrument finishes the philandering of a well-to-do English gentleman. Notable for amusing, effortless dialogue, engaging characters.

THE CROOKED HINGE -- John Dickson Carr -- Harper ($2). Extremely neat puzzle involving mixed identity, murder and witchcraft in an English village. Dr. Fell provides a surprising, ultra-tricky solution.

TRENT INTERVENES -- E. C. Bentley -- Knopf ($2). Ingenious short stories, told in a charming, highly literate style, and featuring Philip Trent, who is something of a classic among English detectives.

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