Murder in September

THE CHUCKLING FINGERS--Mabel Seeley--Crime Club ($2). A subtly contrived campaign to convince a Great Lakes lumberman that his young second wife has homicidal tendencies culminates in murder of his son. A girl cousin helps police sift the suspects. Equals earlier Seeley stories (Crying Sisters, etc.) in craftmanship, characterization, unflagging interest.

DEATH AND THE DANCING FOOTMAN--Ngaio Marsh--Little, Brown ($2). A deadly Maori instrument extinguishes a young Englishman at house party where everybody hates or fears everybody else--as prearranged by a thrill-seeking host. First half is brilliant British conversation piece, the remainder a prime bit of deduction and clew-chasing by Alleyn of C.I.D.

APPLEBY ON ARARAT--Michael Innes--Dodd, Mead ($2). A learned Scotland Yarder, marooned with five other loquacious characters on remote Pacific islet, elucidates the slaying of Sir Ponto Unumunu, black anthropologist, and goes on to puncture an Empire-threatening secret of oddly assorted indigenes. Overtones of Evelyn Waugh, G. K. Chesterton and E. P. Oppenheim make it a treat for those who like their mysteries recondite.

MURDER A LA MODE--Eleanore Kelly Sellars--Dodd, Mead ($2). Office intrigue in a department store motivates the murders in this slightly windy but cleverly constructed tale. Authentic big-business background, sprightly heroine-narrator, two defectives with contrasting but efficient methods.

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