PATROL CAR

Patrol Car is the third in Mr. Jeffries' series of Manuals of Police Practice and Annals of Detection. In the present instance, a three point eight Jaguar (driven by Police Constable Harry Cole) is bloodied briefly by a Cooper S Mint, but comes back to overtake and block a Daimler ambulance (driven by the payroll bandits); playing minor roles are a large maroon colored Austin and a two-tone Humber station wagon. In this cops-and-robbers confrontation the cars are the real stars; the characters are largely neuters and the settings are established by road signs. The dry documentary style of Mr. Jeffries' earlier books was a welcome change from the usual juvenile mysteryonics, and this one, though weaker, will still serve boys searching for adult fare. There are lots of technical tips on the survival of the fastest, and a careening cinematic chase as a climax.