Crime of the Fictional Variety

Maigret and the Millionaires – Georges Simenon

Published by The Book Club Associates 1974 in conjunction with Hamish Hamilton a first edition 1974 having been published in French in 1958

A super wealthy man is found dead in the bath shortly after his lover the Countess Paverini attempts suicide. The world of the rich is opened up to Maigret.

Maigret among the rich of Paris …

$35.00

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Maigret and the Gangsters – Georges Simenon – First UK Edtion 1974

First edition published in 1974 by Hamish Hamilton, London.

Octavo, 156 pages, a little marked to top edge otherwise very good, super complete dust jacket.

Confusion and worry as Detective Longnon attempts to resolve a case alone … Sicilian gangsters make it tough. It gets very complex for Maigret.

Maigret delves into International Crime

$35.00

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Killer in the Rain – Raymond Chandler – First UK Edition 1964

First edition of this collection of short stories by Chandler published by Hamish Hamilton, London in 1964. Octavo, 332 pages, very good dust jacket designed by “Andrew” page edges foxed but still a great copy of a sought after Chandler collection … rare in such a good dust jacket.

Published posthumously, Chandler died in 1959. Most had appeared early on in the magazine “Mask” in the USA … some elements of the stories were cannibalised into his later novels. See if you can spot them.

The eight stories of reasonably equal length include the title “Killer in the Rain’ and Bay City Blues; No Crime in the Mountains; Mandarin’s Jade; The Lady in the Lake; Try the Girl; The Curtain and The Man Who Liked Dogs … well who doesn’t.

Introduced by Chandler expert of the day, Prof Philip Durham of the University of California where numerous Chandler ephemera are housed.

Chandler – eight thrilling stories – first edition.

$65.00

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Playback – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1958

A first edition of Raymond Chandlers last novel published by Hamish Hamilton, London in 1958. Chandler died the following year.

Octavo, 207 pages, unclipped dust jacket designed by Patricia Davey, chip to lower spine, a better than good copy of a desirable first edition.

Private detective Marlowe appears for his final hurrah. His first appearance since “The Long Good-Bye”. Chadler’s classic writing personified by the first sentence of the second … “There was nothing to it. The Super Chief was on time, as it always is, and the subject was as easy to spot as a kangaroo in a dinner jacket” … PS read in your head with the voice of Humphrey Bogart.

Playback …. Marlowe’s final … sadly.

SO SORRY SOLD

$60.00

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The Blue Dahlia – A Screenplay – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1976

Published by Elm Tree Books – Hamish Hamilton, London in 1976 a first edition. Produced from the only then existing copy of the screenplay used in the movie production kept in the University of California collection.

Large form octavo, v, ix, xxiii, 129 pages (the screenplay) plus 11 page appendix. Complete dust jacket … a near fine copy.

A well put together book with a lengthy Memoir “Lost Fortnight” by John Houseman and neat Editorial Note re anomalies in the script. After the screenplay, which is illustrated from movie promotional stills, an Appendix … Chandler on Hollywood; Movies made from Chandler’s Plays and Screenplays written by Chandler (almost as prolific as Graham Greene .. but not quite).

Many think Chandler the greatest crime writer of the 20th Century. Hollywood needed a script in a hurry for Alan Ladd to continue his rise. Chandler had a half finished book … the Blue Dahlia .. he was commissioned to adapt what he had complete the plot etc. He immediately hit a bout of writers block … his remedy was to write whilst blind drunk for a fortnight … hence the title to the memoir. He finished … it was a hit … he got sober.

Chandlers Dahlia wrapped up for Hollywood.

$60.00

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The Duke of York’s Steps – Henry Wade – First Edition 1929.

A super scarce first edition of Henry Wade’s early novel. From the “Golden Age of Detective Fiction”.

Published by Constable, London in 1929. Octavo, 317 pages. Green cloth covered boards with embossed titles in black and spine in rather full form. Unclipped dust jacket with a few chips around the spine ends … generally all in very good condition. Jacket design by Morton Sale.

This was the first in a series of seven novels featuring Chief Inspector Poole. The steps referred to connect the Duke of York Column with the Mall in London. A German Jewish banker seeks revenge for his mistreatment by murdering a fellow banker… Sir Garth Fratten. At the time the book was highly praised.

Henry Wade was the pen name of Sir Henry Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher (1887-1969) Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. He had a distinguished military a career in both World Wars and played cricket for his county. He was very successful as a writer and a founding member of the Detection Club.

Scarce First Edition of a very worthwhile detection novel.

$90.00

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Maigret and the Millionaires – Georges Simenon

Maigret and the Gangsters – Georges Simenon – First UK Edtion 1974

Killer in the Rain – Raymond Chandler – First UK Edition 1964

Playback – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1958

The Blue Dahlia – A Screenplay – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1976

The Duke of York’s Steps – Henry Wade – First Edition 1929.

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