Pretty Geraldine, the New York Salesgirl; or, Wedded to Her Choice
John Stuart Mill · en
Ingenious in plot, exciting in incident, and sensational enough even
for warm summer afternoons, the volume teems with interest. The
characters stand boldly forward in a drama that moves breathlessly
along without a break to mar its smoothness, or to interrupt the clews
relating to the sudden disappearance of a lover upon his wedding
day, within an hour of the ceremony. Aside from this, the story is a
singular instance of the constancy and faith of a woman who is worth
loving. She spends her energy in trying to discover her lover, not in
tears over his apparent desertion. Real power in a detective story is
shown in keeping the mystery veiled until the end, and this Mr. Burton
has done."
From THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS.
"His story is of the sensational style--sensational in a clean
and wholesome way--and proves the author has surmounted the first
difficulties which usually attack the man who attempts to write a
'detective story.' There are no hitches or flagging of interest in
spots, the plot is coherent and sufficiently intricate to cause a
reader to sit up late to finish the tale, and the finale--that bunker
at which ignominiously tumble most sensational writers--is logical and
not to be quarreled with. Nothing puts a reader in such bad humor with
his author as to be let down flat after an exciting chase. Mr. Burton
sends one off on a sky rocket, perfectly satisfied.
Poubalov, who in the title arouses recollections of Gilbert Parker's
or Mary Hartwell Catherwood's field of work, is that melodramatic
character, a polished, impregnable, invincible, all-powerful,
diabolical, Russian secret-service official.... Mr. Burton, if he
improves, will rank with the best writers of exciting tales."
From THE YONKERS STATESMAN.
"One of the most readable and entertaining novels that we have read in
some time is 'The Mission of Poubalov,' by Frederick R. Burton.... Mr.
Burton seems rapidly to be making a name for himself in the literary
world as a story-writer of much more than the average ability, and in
this book he has constructed a plot which so fascinates the reader that
one is loath to drop the volume until he has reached the page that
bears 'The End;' then comes the feeling of satisfaction that he has
read a good story, well told, abounding in interest, full of life and
action, and having not a few startling surprises."
From THE ST. LOUIS STAR.