Non-Fiction
White Slave Traffic in Asia
London, John Long, 1938.
Fireside Library edition, second impression. 8vo. Original blue boards. Dust-jacket, priced 5/-.
First published in 1934 and translated from the French by Warre B. Wells, this purports to be investigative journalism: Champly follows the trafficking route from Marseilles through Singapore, Indo-China and Hong Kong to Shanghai, "the Mecca of pimps," interviewing assorted procurers and racketeers along the way. What it actually is, is a lurid exercise in colonial anxiety about the "White Race," dressed up as social concern and sold (this copy being the eleventh thousand) extremely well, which perhaps tells you something illuminating about a proportion of the 1930s reading public... It survives now as a genuinely useful primary source on interwar Shanghai's demi-monde.
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, [1948].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 6s.
John Creasey (1908–1973) was one of the most prolific authors who ever lived: around 600 books under his own name and some two dozen pseudonyms, and the founder of the Crime Writers' Association and a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master. The Toff is the Hon. Richard Rollison, his debonair gentleman-sleuth, who began in the story-papers in 1933 and ran to nearly sixty novels.
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1965.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
A stand-alone crime thriller set in a Nottinghamshire housing development, in which a doctor investigates the suspicious death of a disliked man apparently killed by wasp stings at his wife's birthday party.
Thriller Fiction
London, John Long, 1967.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
Thriller Fiction
London, John Long, 1968.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
Thriller Fiction
London, John Long, 1969.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
Thriller Fiction
London, John Long, 1969.
First UK edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
Thriller Fiction
London, John Long, 1969.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1943.
First UK edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The first UK edition of Canadian/American author Millar's first book, introducing the character Paul Prye. Rare, especially in the jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1962.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced 13s6d.
This whodunnit is set on the Hebridean island of Kersivay, where a series of murders confounds locals. Amateur sleuth Jeremy investigates amid island gossip and eccentric characters...
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1939.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Extremely uncommon Hubin-listed title, in excellent dust-jacket. Seemingly the only criminous novel by the author.
Modern Literature
London, John Long, [1936].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, with 4/- price sticker to spine.
A tale of desperation and romance set in Los Angeles.
Detective Fiction
Donovan (Dick, pseud. J. E. Preston Muddock) In the Face of Night
London, John Long, 1908.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original pictorial cloth.
James Edward Preston Muddock (1843–1934) was a British journalist and author. His "Dick Donovan" character, often billed as the "Glasgow Detective," featured in dozens of novels and stories.
Detective Fiction
Graeme (Roderic, pseud. Roderic Jeffries) Blackshirt Stirs Things Up
London, John Long, 1969.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original black boards, with gilt stamped code to foot of lower board. Dust-jacket, priced 18s.
The novel follows Richard Verrell, known as "Blackshirt," a gentleman thief who uncovers a double-cross involving a scientist suspected of treason, leading to pursuits by both murderers and the police. Jeffries began his writing career by continuing the "Blackshirt" series created by his father, Graham Jeffries.
Weird & Supernatural
London, John Long, 1903.
First edition. 8vo. Original red pictorial cloth.
Further exemplification of Hume's talent for weaving intricate plots filled with suspense and exotic elements. Uncommon.
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1924.
First edition, first impression. Publisher's file copy with stamp to title-page and upper panel of jacket. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Lovely jacket artwork on this equestrian tale, by the Dick Francis of his day, Nat Gould.
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1966.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced 15s.
An attractive first edition of one of the author's non-series suspense novels.
Detective Fiction
Eustace (Robert, pseud. Eustace Robert Barton) A Human Bacillus
London, John Long, 1907.
First edition. 8vo. Advertisements. Original red pictorial cloth.
An attractive example of this rare first edition, a medical detective thriller.
Modern Literature
London, John Long, 1935.
First edition. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Advertisements dated Summer 1935 at rear. Original dark cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Attractive first edition, inscribed by the author 'To Nelly "Kelly" Boyce from Andrew Soutar 1935'.
Modern Literature
London, John Long, 1938.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The author's first novel, a tale of a neglected housewife and her internal struggle with making the right choice when tempted by an affair.
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1939.
First edition. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, with publisher's price sticker 7/6.
Extremely uncommon Hubin-listed title, in excellent dust-jacket. Seemingly the only criminous novel by the author.
![Alternative view of [Croy (Homer)] West of the Water Tower](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/85136_2-300x400.jpg)
American Literature
London, John Long, 1923.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A rather stunning first UK of this famous account of Missouri life. Although Croy was primarily a humorist, this is a serious, realistic novel in the vein of Theodore Dreiser and Thomas Hardy.
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1947.
First edition. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 6/-.
Dr Palfrey tackles dubious friars, a giant and "the Testament of Evil" in this cruise-ship caper.