The Devil and the C.I.D.

The second edition of this sought after detective novel from E. C. R. Lorac, complete with the striking original unclipped dust wrapper. The second edition. First published in 1938, the year after Lorac's election to the membership of the Detection Club. Very scarce across all editions. With the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper. From Golden-Age crime writer E. C. R. Lorac, the pen name of Edith Caroline Rivett. She published her first detective novel in 1931; this was The Murder on the Burrows, a well-crafted debut which launched her detective Macdonald on a career that was to last for more than a quarter of a century. The story centres around an audacious criminal who murders while dressed as Satan, then hides the body in Chief Inspector MacDonald's car. Four pages of publisher's advertisements to the rear. In the original cloth binding, with the original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, with minor shelf wear and fading to the spine. Handling marks to the cloth. Front hinge starting only slightly to the tail of the front hinge. Dust wrapper is smart, with mild sunning to the spine and edge wear. Minor loss to the head of the spine and a couple of nicks to the wrap's edges. Tape repair to the reverse of the wrap for a small closed tear to the front joint. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are largely bright and clean, with spots to the endpapers and to the fore-edge, affecting the margins of the occasional page. Contemporary ownership inscription to the front free endpaper. Very Good Indeed.…