Books: Murder in January, Feb. 7, 1944

¶ DEATH STOPS THE FROLIC—George Bellairs—Macmillan ($2). As exuberant Alderman Harbuttle led a gay crocodile of English "follow-my-leader" through the aisles of a dusky church, he was suddenly and expertly sliced with an ordinary bread knife. Subsequent events and beautiful sleuthing put the story at the top of any list.

¶ SAILOR, TAKE WARNING—Kelley Roos —Dodd, Mead & Co. ($2). The middle-aged yacht enthusiast was stabbed in broad daylight on a knoll overlooking a Central Park lake, in full view of Jeff Troy and his wife, who trail an exceptionally well-concealed killer through...