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Synopsis
The twisted circumstances surrounding an unspeakable crime, an old man's fortune, and a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest come to light four decades on in this masterful tale of greed, deception, and murder by CWA Gold Dagger winner Peter Dickinson Behind his practiced facade of cheerful sophistication, the renowned actor Adrian Waring is a haunted man. The ghost that torments him is from an earlier era, when a world war raged and Adrian was still Andrew, the guest and possible heir of his rich uncle, Arnold Wragge. Wragge had returned from the diamond mines of South Africa with a fortune and a loyal servant named Samuel Mkele, and when his own son vanished, presumably in the smoke of combat, the old man looked to his poor relation as a potential replacement. Andrew's true interests lay elsewhere, however, in applause and the attentions of eager young ladies, both of which he realized he could have by starring in his cousin's amateur production of The Tempest. But young Andrew's fledgling theatrics would prove merely to be the opening act of a horrific human tragedy, forcing him to keep a terrible truth locked inside himself-even four decades after a body was discovered hanging from a perfect dovecote gallows . . . A master practitioner of the literary art of mystery and murder, author Peter Dickinson stands tall alongside P. D. James, Ruth Rendell, Reginald Hill, and other luminaries of contemporary British crime fiction. A brilliant innovator unafraid to tamper with the rules of genre, he is at the very top of his game with this gripping, twisting, and altogether remarkable psychological thriller.
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About the Author
Peter Dickinson was born in Africa but raised and educated in England. From 1952 to 1969 he was on the editorial staff of Punch, and since then earned his living writing fiction of various kinds for children and adults. His books have been published in several languages throughout the world.
The author of twenty-one crime and mystery novels for adults, Dickinson was the first to win the Gold Dagger Award of the Crime Writers’ Association for two books running: The Glass-Sided Ants Nest (1968) and The Old English Peepshow (1969). Dickinson was shortlisted nine times for the prestigious Carnegie Medal for children’s literature and was the first author to win it twice.
Dickinson served as chairman of the Society of Authors and was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2009 for services to literature. Peter Dickinson died on December 16, 2015, at the age of eighty-eight.
Review
“An astonishing novel . . . Stunning artistry . . . Subtle magic.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Engrossing . . . Dickinson is one of the most versatile and inventive writers of mysteries.” —Los Angeles Times
“From the marvelous first chapter of Perfect Gallows . . . we know we are once again in the safe hands of a master.” —P. D. James
“Dickinson’s touch is so masterly here that he makes other fine domestic mysteries seem quite amateurish.” —Kirkus Reviews
“An adroit and suspenseful tale.” —The New York Times Book Review
“The whodunits of British novelist Peter Dickinson are exceptional.” —Newsweek
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- PublisherPantheon
- Publication date1988
- ISBN 10 0370311094
- ISBN 13 9780370311098
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages256
- Rating
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PERFECT GALLOWS
Published by
The Bodley Head, 1988
ISBN 10: 0370311094
ISBN 13: 9780370311098
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Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. We're happy to combine shipping to save you some money. We're also always buying collectible book collections. Contact us for details. We're happy to provide pictures of any and all books for you, please just ask! First British edition, first printing. Virtually no wear to the jacket! ! Jacket is NOT price clipped. The covers are clean and bright, edges are sharp. The only mark is to the inside of the jacket where a mylar cover was taped to the jacket. There is a two inch scuff where the tape was removed. Doesn't affect the outside of the jacket at all. The book itself is in Fine condition. Pages are clean and white. Binding is straight and tight. No remainder mark. Seller Inventory # sku520000566
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Perfect Gallows
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Perfect Gallows
Published by
The Bodley Head, London, England, 1988
ISBN 10: 0370311094
ISBN 13: 9780370311098
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Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First British Edition, Later Printing. From the estate of a longtime mystery collector, this is the FIRST BRITISH EDITION (much scarcer than the American, with a cooler cover!), but a reprint from the same year as originally issued (1998). Hardcover book is in Near Fine condition in a Fine, unclipped DJ, which has been protected in a mylar cover since purchased brand new! Completely clean, binding tight & square. NO writing/underlining/highlighting; NOT ex-lib. Book is downgraded to Near Fine due to heavy page tanning. The unclipped DJ (with original price in pounds stirling at bottom front flap) is gorgeous: bright & clean, NO edgewear or fadingPlease see our photos: they show the Exact book you will receive, never "stock" images of books we don't actually have on hand! Description & photos property of Gargoyle Books. Same Day Shipping on all orders received by 2 pm Weekdays (Pacific time); Weekends & holidays ship very next business day. Seller Inventory # 015146
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Perfect Gallows
Published by
Bodley Head, London, 1988
ISBN 10: 0370311094
ISBN 13: 9780370311098
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First Edition
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Perfect Gallows
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Perfect Gallows
Published by
Bodley Head 1988 First Edition First Printing, 1988
ISBN 10: 0370311094
ISBN 13: 9780370311098
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First Edition
Seller: Porcupine Books, Ilford, United Kingdom
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Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Bodley Head 1988 First Edition First Printing Bruised at top and base of spine and page edges browned and and a little marked else Fine book in like Dust Jacket ''Wartime. A cold, huge house. The heir. is dead. a young man. the new heir? Forty years later the same man. comes back to the dispersal sale at the house. is forced to reconsider and face the truth of the events of that distant time. the to-and-fro of intrigue over the inheritance, and the betrayal and death. ''. Book. Seller Inventory # 65532
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