Murders of the Month

THE BROKEN FACE MURDERS--Darwin & Hildegarde Teilhet -- Crime Club ($2). The Baron von Kaz and his miraculous green umbrella are back, this time with a bride. Before the honeymoon in California's hills can get properly started, the honeymoon cottage becomes a shambles. Both the Baron and the reader get a good run for their money.

THE CASE OF THE BAITED HOOK--Erie Stanley Gardner--Morrow ($2). Perry Mason, the lawyer who always gets there ahead of the cops, takes a fat fee one rainy night to keep a masked girl out of trouble. When several unmasked females turn up in the ensuing murder case, he gets mad, comes through in his usual inspired style.

As GOOD AS MURDERED -- James O'Hanlon--Random House ($2). Rib-tickler about young Jason Cordry, Hollywooder, who just can't finish any of the mystery stories he writes. One gets finished for him when a shooting prompts him to try the hero's role in real life. Goofy but good.

SIXTY-NINE DIAMONDS -- Jeremy Lord --Crime Club ($2). Retired Col. Winston Creevy, arriving in La Jolla, Calif, for fun, can't keep his old British beak out of the murder of M. Duval, an unctuous Belgian with a past in the West End. In London the Yard detects furiously by cable. Creevy's end of it is subtler, and finely handled.

THE CRIMINAL C.O.D.--Phoebe Atwood Taylor--Norfon ($2). Asey Mayo, mooching around among Cape Cod characters, uses the Quashnet party line and other local antiquities to nail the killer of Henry P. Slocum, rising politician, and his girl. Title-point is an express package delivered to the doctor, containing you-know-what, packed in dry ice.

THE CORPSE STEPS OUT--Craig Rice -- Simon and Schuster ($2). Nelle Brown, glamorous radio singer, gets into three fast murders--and out again all right because her lawyer, lover and press agent are smart fellows. Hard-drinking, tight-living, hilarious stuff.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.