Anthony Berkeley Cox (28 results)

Softcover. Condition: As New. Re-issue of 1932 classic. ; 8vo 8" - 9"; 364 pp; British Library Crime Classics.

Octavo, pictorial wrappers. New edition, enlarged. A collection of all the known short stories featuring Roger Sheringham or Chief Inspector Moresby published during Cox's lifetime. A fine copy. Trade paperback format. (#177456).

Softcover. Condition: Poor. Reprint. Reading copy, tatty paperback, binding shaken, spine creased and split, card covers creased and grubby, pages age tanned, name on half title page and some scribble on title page and in text. 214 pages.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. Early reprint. Good copy of a scarce title in the early reprint published by Grosset & Dunlap (originally published in 1926 by the Crime Club). Orange cloth binding, cover corners and spine ends rubbed with threading, dulling/wear to spine, slight binding turn; 1/4 - 1/2 inch worm holes at beginning and near end of text, affecting blank margins only; paper remains bright, clean and unmarked. No dust jacket. 308 pages, plus 2 advertising pages. Experienced full-time bookseller since 1994. Images may be added by request. Questions welcome.…

Paperback. Condition: Fair. Pages tanned with some foxing, else internally still in reasonably good condition, cover rather worn with corner creasing, tanned and foxed, back cover has been disattached and repaired with tape. Still a sound reading copy.

Hardcover. Condition: Fair. 1st Edition. Fair first US printing. Lacking the dust jacket. Publisher's black cloth with . red embossed to spine and cover. Wear to spine and cover. Minor fading to spine. Binding still square but with some looseness to the hinges. Pages clean, with very slight age toning. Crease to bottom corner of pages 201/202. One of the greatest Golden Age works of British crime fiction, about Dr Bickleigh and the mysterious death of his wife. Stated First Edition on copyright page.…

Original Wraps. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First Paperback Edition. A fourth printing of the first UK paperback edition published in December 1939 - Penguin Catalogue No. 153 - priced at 6d on the front flap of the dustwrapper [these pre-war editions did not carry the price on the front cover]. The first Penguin printing was on 26th August 1938, with reprints in September 1938 and May 1939. This was the 26th title to be published in Penguin's iconic green-covered crime series. ***A very good copy in illustrated green and white card wrappers, with the original Penguin style of horizontal stripes. The covers have some marks and creasing commensurate with age and handling but are largely clean and unmarked. The book would be described as near fine, except for some top corner tip creases to a few pages pp.87-124] but with no significant faults - just some light rubbing and creasing to the edges of the covers, and a small pinhole on the back cover. The covers have been protected with the original dustwrapper. The spine is completely clean with just some light reading creases. There is a slight reading lean to the binding. Internally the book is also very good, with no inscriptions and no serious creases or tears - just the aforementioned corner tip creases to a few pages. The paper stock is only slightly tanned with age. No foxing. ***In a good example of the scarce original dustwrapper. The thin and fragile dustwrapper is virtually complete, with just some insect damage to the back panel and along part of the foldover creases, which are also slightly splitting in places. Apart from these faults, the dustwrapper is just slightly browned and creased. With an excellent period advertisement for 'Army Club - the Front-Line Cigarette' on the back panel, matching the advert on the back cover of the book. ***248 pages plus an interesting 8pp publisher's catalogue detailing some of the Penguin Books published up to 1939 at the back of the book. 180mm x 110mm. ***'Anthony Berkeley Cox (5 July 1893 - 9 March 1971) was an English crime writer. He wrote under several pen-names, including Francis Iles, Anthony Berkeley and A. Monmouth Platts. In 1930, Berkeley founded the Detection Club in London along with Agatha Christie, Freeman Wills Crofts and other established mystery writers. His 1932 novel (as "Francis Iles"), "Before the Fact" was adapted into the 1941 classic film Suspicion, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. "Trial and Error" was turned into the unusual 1941 film Flight from Destiny starring Thomas Mitchell. A key figure in the development of crime fiction, he died in 1971 in St John's Wood, London.' [Wiki] ***A fourth printing of the first Penguin paperback edition of this classic crime novel by Anthony Berkeley, in very nice collectable condition. Copies of these pre-war printings are quite scarce now - copies in their original dustwrappers are extremely scarce. Impressive that an 82 year old paperback has survived in such nice condition. A rare survivor. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Cheap Edition. Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles First Cheap Edition Gollancz 1931. Pseudonym of Anthony Berkeley Cox. No previous owner's marks or inscriptions, contents and edges free of foxing. A bright fine copy, covers completely unblemished. In a near fine dust jacket with no fading or toning.…

PARIS, Hachette [Brodard & Taupin, Coulommiers-Paris] - 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948 - Br.18x12 cm - ENSEMBLE DE 21 TITRES + 4 doublons - Couvertures au premier plat illustré en couleurs et au prix imprimé en gros, dos blanc titré en bleu entre 4 doubles traits rouges, 4e de couverture vert ou saumon au catalogue des titres parus ou à paraître; pagination variable. (Collection L'Énigme). L'ENSEMBLE DES 21 TITRES + 4 doublons, tel que décrit. 1940-1948 pour la première présentation. * LE SERPENT JAUNE. [E. Wallace - (1937) 1940 (I-3-0491) - Vignette de titre par P. Sim - 253 et (3) pages - 6 frs - Bon état général]. *****___***** * LA PORTE DU TRAÎTRE (The traitor's gate). Traduit par Jean Calvel. [E. Wallace - (1938) 1940 (6-0491) - Vignette de titre par P. Sim - 253 et (3) pages - 6 frs - Manque de papier au bas du 2e plat; bon état par ailleurs]. *****___***** * LE RUBAN VERT (The green ribbon). Traduit par G. de Pracomtal. [E. Wallace - (1935) 1940 (5-0491) - Vignette de titre par Michel Jacquot - 224 pages - 6 frs - Couverture défraîchie avec manques de papier; corps d'ouvrage en bon état]. *****___***** * LA TERREUR (The terror). Traduit par Pierre. Cobor. [E. Wallace - (1936) 1941 (2-1491) - Vignette de titre par P. Sim - (2), 190 et (2) pages - 7,80 fv v - Bon état]. *****___***** * LA MARQUE DES 4 / QUATRE. [C. Doyle - (1941) 1941 (305-6-1491) - Vignette de titre par E.D. - 190 et (2) pages - 7,80 f - Petits manques de papier en couverture; bon état par ailleurs]. *****___***** * ALERTE! Traduit par Maurice Rémon. [H. M. Kritz - (1941) 1947 (580-1-2491) - Vignette de titre par ? - (2), 187 et (3) pages - 7,80 f - Couverture défraîchie avec petits manques de papier; tampons de bibliothèque; corps d'ouvrage en bon état]. *****___***** * NOUS ÉTIONS 4. [G. Duvic - (1942) 1942 (617-2-2491) - Vignette de titre par ? - 191 pages - 7,80 f - Couverture défraîchie avec petits manques de papier; corps d'ouvrage en bon état]. *****___***** * LA PORTE DU TRAÎTRE (The traitor's gate). Traduit par Jean Calvel. [E. Wallace - (1938) 1946 (6135-8-1946) - Vignette de titre par P. Sim - 253 et (3) pages - 45 F - Bon état général]. *****___***** * UNE LUEUR DANS L'OMBRE. [E. Wallace - (1936) 1946 (6149-9-1946 / DL 4290) - Vignette de titre par ? - 255 pages - 45 F -Bon état général]. *****___***** * L'ARCHER VERT. [E. Wallace - (1935) 1946 (6141-9-1946 / DL 4295) - Vignette de titre par ? - 255 pages - 45 F - Bon état général]. *****___***** * LE PIGEON NOIR. Traduction de Pierre Belperron. [A. Austin - (1940) 1947 (6182-3-1947 / DL 4297) - Vignette de titre par P. Sim - 253 et (3) pages - 45 F - Petits manques de papier en couverture; bon état par ailleurs]. *****___***** * LE MYSTIFICATEUR (The Joker). [E. Wallace - (1939) 1947 (6372-4-1947 / DL 4751) - Vignette de titre par P. Sim - (2), 251 et (3) pages - 60 F - Bon état]. *****___***** * L'HOMME DU CARLTON. [E. Wallace - (1934) 1947 (6371-4-1947 / DL 4752) - Vignette de titre par ? - (2), 252 et (2) pages - 60 F - Bon état]. *****___***** * LE GANGSTER. [E. Wallace - (1941) 1947 (6370-5-1947 / DL 4753) - Vignette de titre par P. Sim - (2), 187 et (3) pages - 60 F - Couverture défraîchie avec petits manques de papier; ensemble solide et très correct]. *****___***** * LE RUBAN VERT (The green ribbon). Traduit par G. de Pracomtal. [E. Wallace - (1935) 1947 (6411-6-1947 / DL 4773) - Vignette de titre par Michel Jacquot - 224 pages - 60 F - Bon état]. *****___***** * L'AFFAIRE DES MOTS CROISÉS et Le diadème enpenné. [Villebrumier - (1947) 1947 (6412-9-1947 /DL 4699) - Vignette de titre par ? - 189 et (3) pages - 60 F - Couverture défraîchie avec manques de papier; corps d'ouvrage en bon état]. *****___***** * LE CLUB DES DÉTECTIVES (The poisoned chocolate case). Traduit par M. Faure. [Berkeley - (1946) 1947 (6628-10-1947 / DL 5098) - Vignette de titre par ? - 190 et (2) pages - 60 F - 2 exemplaires en bon état général]. *****___***** * LES FORFAITS DE MICHAËL (Michael's evil deeds).…

Condition: Usado - bueno.

Condition: Very Good. First Edition. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1931. First Edition stated. Octavo (19cm); publisher's cloth binding; 290pp. Cover has minor shelfwear; crown and foot of spine rubbed; corners lightly bumped. Pages are clean and unmarked. Binding sound. Overall, in Very Good condition. Published as part of Harper's "Sealed Mystery" series, in which books were published with the last few chapters sealed with a thin paper sheet stating "If you can resist the desire to know the outcome of this story, return the book to your bookstore with the seal unbroken and your money will be refunded." Alas, the reader of this volume could not resist and seal has been broken but the blue tissue paper remains intact.…

Condition: Good. 1933. Second Impression. 352 pages. No dust jacket. Red cloth with black lettering to spine. 'Second impression May 1933'. Aspects of the story were used in the 1941 Hitchcock film 'Suspicion'. Pages have slight foxing, tanning and minor thumbing. Gutters somewhat cracked with some exposed netting. Binding is quite firm. Foxing and tanning more noticeable towards start and end of book and on text block edges. Prices in pencil to front endpaper. Occasional mild marks to pages. Slightly blotchy endpapers. Text block edges a little tanned and foxed with minor scratches. Boards have some edge wear (mild bumping and fraying to corners) while spine ends are moderately crushed. Slightly scratched, rubbed and dust-marked overall. A few liquid droplet marks and faint stains. Spine is noticeably sunned. Book has a pronounced forward lean. Subtle bowing to boards.…

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. A very good plus copy in the scarce original dust jacket. Handsomely bound in finely woven brown cloth stamped brightly in black on the front boards and on the spine. Very clean and tight throughout. Printed on heavy stock and creamy white paper. With a touch of dust foxing to the top edges. In a pictorial dust jacket with wear and chipping to the top and bottom of the spine ends. Edge wear along the spine folds. With one vertical piece of tape on the verso along the inside front fold. With the original price of "$2.00" at the top of the inside front flap. Overall, a pleasant copy of this scarce Berkeley detective novel in jacket. Anthony Berkeley Cox (1893 1971) was an English crime writer. He wrote under several pen-names, including Francis Iles, Anthony Berkeley and A. Monmouth Platts. His first novel, The Layton Court Mystery, was published anonymously in 1925. It introduced Roger Sheringham, the amateur detective who features in many of the author's novels including the classic Poisoned Chocolates Case. In 1930, Berkeley founded the Detection Club in London along with Agatha Christie, Freeman Wills Crofts and other established mystery writers. His 1932 novel (as "Francis Iles"), Before the Fact was adapted into the 1941 classic film Suspicion, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. Trial and Error was turned into the unusual 1941 film Flight from Destiny starring Thomas Mitchell. He was a friend of E.M. Delafield and they each dedicated a book to the other (Jill and The Wychford Poisoning Case). She gently ragged him in her Provincial Lady Goes Further by having people tell her that "Francis Iles" is really Aldous Huxley or Edith Sitwell. The opening sentence of Malice Aforethought has been described as "immortal":[7] "It was not until several weeks after he had decided to murder his wife that Doctor Bickleigh took any active steps in the matter."In 1938, he took up book reviewing for John O'London's Weekly and The Daily Telegraph, writing under his pen name Francis Iles. He also wrote for the Sunday Times in the 1940s and for the Manchester Guardian, later The Guardian, from the mid-1950s until 1970. A key figure in the development of crime fiction, he died in 1971 in St John's Wood, London. His estate was valued at £196,917 (£2,321,878 in 2023). (Wikipedia) First edition with matching dates of 1939 on the title and copyright pages; and the "First Edition" slug on the copyright page.…

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. A very good minus copy in the scarce original dust jacket. Handsomely bound in finely woven black cloth stamped brightly in red lettering on the front boards and on the spine. With some faint leeching of color along a few inches of the front right panel and a touch at the top of the rear panel. Name in ink on the front paste-down. In a striking blue pictorial dust jacket with wear and chipping to the top and bottom of the spine ends. With several pieces of tape on the verso along the top and bottom of the spine and along the inside front fold. .With the word "Price:" left, but the $2.00 clipped at the top of the inside front flap. Overall, a pleasant copy of this scarce Berkeley detective novel in jacket. Anthony Berkeley Cox (1893 1971) was an English crime writer. He wrote under several pen-names, including Francis Iles, Anthony Berkeley and A. Monmouth Platts. His first novel, The Layton Court Mystery, was published anonymously in 1925. It introduced Roger Sheringham, the amateur detective who features in many of the author's novels including the classic Poisoned Chocolates Case. In 1930, Berkeley founded the Detection Club in London along with Agatha Christie, Freeman Wills Crofts and other established mystery writers. His 1932 novel (as "Francis Iles"), Before the Fact was adapted into the 1941 classic film Suspicion, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. Trial and Error was turned into the unusual 1941 film Flight from Destiny starring Thomas Mitchell. He was a friend of E.M. Delafield and they each dedicated a book to the other (Jill and The Wychford Poisoning Case). She gently ragged him in her Provincial Lady Goes Further by having people tell her that "Francis Iles" is really Aldous Huxley or Edith Sitwell. The opening sentence of Malice Aforethought has been described as "immortal":[7] "It was not until several weeks after he had decided to murder his wife that Doctor Bickleigh took any active steps in the matter."In 1938, he took up book reviewing for John O'London's Weekly and The Daily Telegraph, writing under his pen name Francis Iles. He also wrote for the Sunday Times in the 1940s and for the Manchester Guardian, later The Guardian, from the mid-1950s until 1970. A key figure in the development of crime fiction, he died in 1971 in St John's Wood, London. His estate was valued at £196,917 (£2,321,878 in 2023). (Wikipedia) First edition with matching dates of 1938 on the title and copyright pages; and the "First Edition" slug on the copyright page.…

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. A very good plus copy in the scarce original dust jacket. Handsomely bound in finely woven black cloth stamped brightly in orange lettering on the front boards and on the spine. Very clean and tight throughout. Slight spine slant. With a name stamped on the front paste-down. In well worn dust jacket featuring a photograph of the girl in the basement with heavy chipping at the top and bottom of the spine ends; chips at the corners and one v-shaped chip at the top of the rear panel. Uncommon in dust jacket. Anthony Berkeley Cox (1893 1971) was an English crime writer. He wrote under several pen-names, including Francis Iles, Anthony Berkeley and A. Monmouth Platts. His first novel, The Layton Court Mystery, was published anonymously in 1925. It introduced Roger Sheringham, the amateur detective who features in many of the author's novels including the classic Poisoned Chocolates Case. In 1930, Berkeley founded the Detection Club in London along with Agatha Christie, Freeman Wills Crofts and other established mystery writers. His 1932 novel (as "Francis Iles"), Before the Fact was adapted into the 1941 classic film Suspicion, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. Trial and Error was turned into the unusual 1941 film Flight from Destiny starring Thomas Mitchell. He was a friend of E.M. Delafield and they each dedicated a book to the other (Jill and The Wychford Poisoning Case). She gently ragged him in her Provincial Lady Goes Further by having people tell her that "Francis Iles" is really Aldous Huxley or Edith Sitwell. The opening sentence of Malice Aforethought has been described as "immortal":[7] "It was not until several weeks after he had decided to murder his wife that Doctor Bickleigh took any active steps in the matter."In 1938, he took up book reviewing for John O'London's Weekly and The Daily Telegraph, writing under his pen name Francis Iles. He also wrote for the Sunday Times in the 1940s and for the Manchester Guardian, later The Guardian, from the mid-1950s until 1970. A key figure in the development of crime fiction, he died in 1971 in St John's Wood, London. His estate was valued at £196,917 (£2,321,878 in 2023). (Wikipedia) First edition with matching dates of 1928 on the title and copyright pages; and the "First Edition" slug on the copyright page.…

Yellow card cover. Condition: Good. First Edition. G: in good condition without dust jacket as issued. Cover creased, marked, chipped and sunned. Browning to pages and text block. Some creasing to corners. 190mm x 130mm (7" x 5"). 288pp. Anthony Berkeley Cox wrote under several pen names, including Francis Iles, Anthony Berkeley and A. Monmouth Platts. In 1930 he was a founding member of the Detection Club along with Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Freeman Wills Crofts and others. Malice Aforethought is an early example of the inverted crime format where the crime and the identity of the criminal are known to the reader from the start. Mundanus was a short-lived imprint of Gollancz and published this paperback edition simultaneously with the cased edition.…

Hard Cover. Condition: VG. No Jacket. First Edition. Undtaed, but 1939. 12mo. original pale blue cloth (rubbed & bumped, spine sunned, some spotting & marking, inscrip. to FFE; lacks dustwrapper); pp. 320. A very good copy of this uncommon psychological romance. The final novel by Anthony Berkeley writing under his Francis Iles pseudonym. Better known for his crime fiction, sales and critical reception for this novel were poor, after which he ceased writing fiction.…

8vo, 363pp. A near fine hardback copy in lightly edgeworn dust jacket. A collection of Sherlock Holmes mysteries by authors including Agatha Christie and Mark Twain, many of which fall into the "category of parody-travesty-satire-burlesque". Misadventures was removed from circulation by the Conan-Doyle estate after being published under Ellery Queen (joint pseudonym of Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee).…

First Edition. JUGGED JOURNALISM, Herbert Jenkins, 1925, first edition, 5 leaves missing a small chip at the fore edge margin nowhere near the text, t.p.e.'s a bit age toned, else a very bright, vg+/near fine copy in the publishers original green cloth in a vg dust-wrapper with some light wear and tear and soil and professional reinforcement to the inner rear dust-wrapper spine hinge. Illustrated by George Barrow. Many of these humorous essays were first published in Punch the year previously. Three titles were published of Anthony Berkeley in 1925; this one, another under the pseudonym of A.B. Cox entitled BRENDA ENTERTAINS and THE LAYTON COURT MYSTERY, which was released anonymously.…

Condition: Very good. First edition (preceding the hardback). 8vo. Original printed wrappers. Housed in morocco-backed cloth slip-case and chemise. Usual toning to text block; some creasing and wear to spine, a little rubbed at edges; slip-case with scuffing to one spine label. An uncommon work by Anthony Berkeley Cox, aka Anthony Berkeley. The work is significant in the genre of crime fiction as one of the earliest and finest examples of the inverted detective story, a technique which would go on to inspire numerous other authors, as well as film-makers - notably Hitchcock and his 1941 film Suspicion (actually based on another, similar Iles title). Provenance: From the library of detective/mystery fiction formed by Florence and Edward Kaye (their morocco bookplate to inside of chemise). Book.…

Cloth. Condition: Very Good Indeed. First edition. A very scarce, first hardback issue of this important 'inverted detective story'. Written by Anthony Berkeley Cox under the pen name Francis Iles. The first edition of this scarce crime fiction novel written by Anthony Berkeley Cox. The murderer's identity is revealed in the first line of the novel, which provides the reader with insights into the workings of the murderer's mind as his plans progress. Cox loosely based this novel on the real-life case of Herbert Armstrong and includes elements of Doctor Crippen.Issued under the Gollancz imprint of 'Mundanus' which they produced as a 3/- paperback series in an attempt to initiate a paperback revolution. This hardback edition was published simultaneously with the wrappers issue, as was a library issue. Copies of the hardback edition are extremely scarce.An extremely scarce copy of this important novel. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, very smart. A few light marks to the boards. Bumping to the head and tail of spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright. Scattered spotting to the fore-edge, and heavy spots to the first and last few pages. Otherwise, occasional light spots. Very Good Indeed. None (illustrator). book.…

Hard Cover. Dust Jacket. First Edition. (London: Herbert Jenkins Limited 1925. First UK Edition. Octavo. 280, [8, ads]. Frontispiece and thirty-one additional inserted plates by George Morrow. Publisher's green cloth, stamped in dark green. A slightly darkened spine, a touch of wear at the top right hand corner of the spin, a former owner's neat name to the front free end-paper which is creased. In the RARE D/W pricedv7/6 net to the spine as called for. The D/W is a solid near fine example with just a hint of darkening to the spine and with a reduced price (1/-) sticker to the front panel. In our experience, these stickers are removable but tend to leave a lighter patch underneath. A nice copy. Photographs/scans available upon request.…

First U.S. edition. Octavo, pp. [i-vi] vii-viii [ix-x] 1- 308 [309: Crime Club statement] [310: blank], cloth. Mystery novel featuring sleuth Roger Sheringham, the second published (in England in 1926). Slight lean, otherwise a fine copy in a very good to nearly fine dust jacket with a short closed tear (20 mm) to the upper left front panel, tiny tear at lower right corner tip and mild shelf-wear to the head of the spine panel, some portions of the orange ink of the spine panel are a bit faded. Publisher's wrap around band is present. An attractive copy of a scarce book in jacket. (17960).…

First U.S. edition. Octavo, pp. [1-10] 1-299 [230: blank] [231: Crime Club statement] [232: blank], cloth. Mystery novel featuring sleuth Roger Sheringham. ".it should appeal to those who like the combination of good characterization and armchair dectection". - Pronzini and Muller, 1001 Midnights, The Aficionado's Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction, pp. 36-37. A Haycraft-Queen cornerstone volume. Top page edge a little soiled and spotted, a nearly fine copy in a nearly fine price clipped dust jacket with mild rubbing and shelf wear to spine ends, a little mild soiling. Publisher's slip (portion of wrap around band?) laid in "The Christmas Selection of the Crime Club Jury". An attractive copy. (17959). …

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. 1st Edition. Hardcover. COX, A. B. (Anthony Berkeley). THE AMATEUR CRIME. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran and Co. 1928. First Edition of this extremely scarce Hubin listed classic Golden Age mystery by this author best known for his works written under the names Anthony Berkeley and Francis Iles including, 'The Poisoned Chocolates Case' and 'Malice Aforethought'. 8vo. 349 pp. A very good or better copy in yellow cloth, black titles to spine, in a nearly Very Good dust jacket, shallow chips to spine ends and top edge, half dollar sized chip at lower front panel, modest darkening to spine, inch closed tear at top rear panel. Published in the U.K. as, 'Mr. Priestley's Problem'. Barzun & Taylor, A Catalogue Of Crime. Pronzini & Muller, 1001 Midnights. $850.00.…

First edition. First edition, first printing, preceding the cloth issue. 288 pp. Bound in publisher's yellow wraps. About Very Good, spine creased and toned, small tear along spine edge at foot, contents and wraps toned with age, corners a little bumped. An uncommon British mystery that is often cited as one of the best examples of the inverted detective story, in which the murderer's identity is revealed in the first line, "It was not until several weeks after he had decided to murder his wife that Dr. Bickleigh took any active steps in the matter.".…

FIRST EDITION, publisher's slip tipped in at rear 'To the Reader' (exhorting them to spread positive notice of the work through word-of-mouth), a couple of tiny spots at foot of half-title and the odd spot to border within, pp. 289, crown 8vo, original orange cloth, backstrip lettered in black, edges spotted with a few spots to endpapers, dustjacket price-clipped with some very light handling and the odd miniscule nick, very good. Rather a scarce book. The author was by then well-established as a detective novelist under the pseudonyms 'Francis Iles' and 'Anthony Berkeley', but Hamish Hamilton - then a young publisher - probably anticipated the likely readership for this book to be a little smaller: it is, the author confesses, 'written in indignation' and addresses itself to 'the ordinary citizen' in decrying the state of the nation at a time of crisis throughout Europe (Cox considers the character of Communism and Fascism, 'simple-souled twins' with 'at least one arm in common'). As often, the analysis seems to all-too-current in respect of its assessment of our political parties and the behaviour of our politicians, who are characterised by 'timidity', 'incompetence' and 'petty dishonesty': 'The Roman Emperors knew that, if they did not keep their plebs happy, they would lose their jobs, and probably their heads. Our Pollies are not afraid even of losing their seats'. Throughout his literary career, Cox wrote journalism and published collections of his work in that area, generally of a light and humorous variety - the present critique is distinguished from these by its earnest tone, though it is far from dry and full of the wit and brio that characterises his writing generally. …

First Edition. Extremely scarce Hubin listed mystery by this author best known for his works written under the name Anthony Berkeley, which include, The Poisoned Chocolates Case and Malice Aforethought. Very Good to Near Fine, in nearly Very Good dustjacket, shallow chips to spine ends and top edge, half dollar sized chip at lower front panel, modest darkening to spine, inch closed tear at top rear panel. …