WINTER CARNIVAL

Belongs to the hard-boiled school in method of telling, but the setting and personnel are keyed to the readers who like an inside track on the glamorous pastimes of the idle rich. The story of a luxurious American winter resort (my guess is Lake Placid) bears the earmarks of authenticity, in the crisp, incisive depicting of an atmosphere of superficial gaiety, highly keyed to the danger mark which an approaching bobsled contest sets. Should be a good antidote for the languor of summer heat. The central characters are two employees of the hotel, the girl who runs the Grill, and who -- on the side -- helps entertain the men guests; and the man who is sports director, an ""amateur"" committed by his job, to dangerous feats of skill. An adroit and brittle job of expert reporting, with a cynical undercurrent -- but not ""pleasant"" reading. Primarily rental library -- for the ""smart"" crowd of younger readers.