DEVIL TAKE THE FOREMOST

A matter of money provoking the intent to kill, rather than the actuality of murder, as Mark Ballard's marriage to Jennie, and prospective paternity, jeopardizes younger uncle's inheritance. Geoffrey, unable to marry a rich girl and to father rival to the estate, makes several attempts to prevent the birth of Mark's child, resorts to drugs, and at the close is trapped by a death in which he was not involved. An intelligent, incisive first- this is also a Crime Club selection.