One Across, Two Down (Signed UK 1st)

Ruth Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE (1930 - 2015) was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries. She is best known for creating Chief Inspector Wexford. A second string of works was a series of unrelated crime novels that explored the psychological background of criminals and their victims. This theme was developed further in a third series of novels, published under the pseudonym Barbara Vine. From Wikipedia: Stanley Manning is a fortysomething petrol-station attendant and hobbyist crossword puzzler who lives with his wife, Vera, and mother-in-law, Maud. Maud is a controlling elderly woman who despises Stanley as a ne'er-do-well, based partly on his conviction prior to meeting Vera for mugging an old woman. They make Vera's life unhappy as they bicker every day, but on learning that Maud has £20,000 (£284,825 as of 2019, per inflation) due in her will to Vera, Stanley plans to deal with Maud once and for all by interfering with her medication. Things go steadily wrong when Maud's friend Ethel comes to stay, and soon Stanley's crosswords become an obsession as he tries to stay calm in the face of danger on several fronts. This copy is very good in brown cloth with gilt titles on the spine. Ex-library, but the only indication are a few light ink stamps on the front flyleaf. Many of Rendell's early books sold better to libraries than to the general public. (This was in a ship's library, but appears very little used.) Slight bumping at the spine ends. No other marks or damage. The unclipped dust jacket has minor edge wear and minor creasing on the front jacket flap. Signed by Rendell on the title page. . EB20.…