Detective Fiction
McRoyd (Allan, pseud. Esther McCoy & Allan Read) Death in Costume
New York, Greystone Press, 1940.
First edition, first printing. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in red. Dust-jacket, priced $2.00.
Esther McCoy was an American author and architectural historian, best known for her work on modernist architecture. Allan Read's biography is less documented.
Detective Fiction
London, Jonathan Cape, 1936.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original brown cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
The novel follows William "Gilt Kid" Kennedy, a London housebreaker just released from prison. Disillusioned by honest work – "only saps work," he believes – Kennedy is a burglar and a Communist sympathizer who justifies theft as reclaiming surplus value from capitalists. Returning to Soho's seedy underworld, he reconnects with old criminal associates in smoky cafes, dingy pubs, and late-night coffee stalls. Kennedy carouses with prostitutes and petty crooks, eventually joining a daring robbery that forms the novel's centrepiece. The ending is bleak: the Gilt Kid's return to crime proves futile, underscoring the inevitability of his defeat in a society offering him little chance for redemption.
Detective Fiction
London, Hammond Hammond, 1948.
First UK edition, first impression. Publisher's file copy, stamped to front free endpaper. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8/6.
Coxe was a prominent figure in American crime fiction, contributing significantly to the genre with his unique blend of journalism and detective work.
Detective Fiction
London, Hutchinson, n.d..
First UK edition, '2nd Thousand'. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Native American detective Falcon and his indefatigable secretary take on faithless kidnappers. Attractive jacket artwork.
Detective Fiction
London, Robert Hale, 1959.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced 10/6.
Nigel Morland was a British author and editor, known for his detective novels and for editing crime fiction magazines.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1940.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The name's Bond...Christopher Bond - great jacket artwork on this spy thriller, complete with villainous Nazis.
Detective Fiction
Southampton & London, C. Arthur Pearson, [1937].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket.
A murder mystery thriller featuring the crime genius 'The Vulture' and a series of murders.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Jarrolds, 1939.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Marthe Mathilde Cnockaert (1892–1966) was a Belgian nurse who became a spy for the United Kingdom during WWI. She was awarded the Iron Cross by the Germans for her medical service and later wrote several novels based on her experiences.
African literature
London, Heinemann, 1969.
First edition, first impression; review copy with publisher's printed slip. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, priced £1.50.
The novel centers on a dispute between two villages over ownership of a pond, leading to escalating tensions and conflict. It explores themes of tradition, community, and the consequences of pride and stubbornness.
Horror & Gothic
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1937.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original pale blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The idyllic life of a Devonshire village is violently interrupted by the arrival of two visitors.
Detective Fiction
etc.
London, Chatto & Windus, 1906.
'A New Impression'. 8vo. Original pictorial boards.
A collection of maritime-themed stories blending adventure with supernatural elements, reflecting Russell's seafaring background. Russell was a prominent writer of nautical fiction in the late 19th century, influencing the genre significantly.
American Literature
and other stories
London, Heinemann, 1927.
First UK edition, first impression. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A collection of short stories from the author of Giant, focusing on ordinary working-class Americans, exploring themes of ambition, family dynamics and societal expectations. Uncommon.
![H. Douglas Thomson, The Mystery Book, [1930s]](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/86856-300x300.jpg)
Detective Fiction
London, Collins, [1930s].
8vo. Original black cloth, gilt. Dust-jacket.
An anthology comprising classic stories of mystery, detective fiction, adventure, suspense, and supernatural tales. The anthology includes works from notable authors, reflecting the popularity and diversity of early 20th-century genre fiction.
Detective Fiction
London, Faber & Faber, 1994.
First edition. Signed presentation inscription from the author pasted to front pastedown. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
James has inscribed another example of the jacket, which the dedicatee has cut-down and pasted onto the front pastedown; the previous owner has also written a note explaining the process and pasted in a small description of the crime writing course she attended, where she obtained the author's inscription.
A murder mystery set in a London publishing house, investigated by Commander Adam Dalgliesh. The novel explores themes of betrayal, legacy, and moral ambiguity, with James's hallmark psychological depth.
Detective Fiction
London, Stanley Paul, [1934].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 4/- and stating '3rd impression'.
A holiday-themed detective story with all the charm of the British mystery tradition. Murder and misdirection take place in a snowbound country house. Great jacket artwork.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins, 1929.
First edition, early issue. 8vo. Original blue cloth.
A thrilling tale of deception and intrigue unfolds as a group of young adventurers stumble upon a deadly secret connected to the enigmatic Seven Dials Club.
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1936.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A mystery novel set in an English country house, involving social intrigue and secrets beneath a genteel surface — a typical set-up for interwar Golden Age crime fiction.
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, n.d. [c.1928].
First edition thus. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A thriller involving smuggling and intrigue in the East, featuring Packard's trademark fast-paced plotting and exotic settings.
Weird & Supernatural
seven stories and a play
London, Chatto & Windus, 1935.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in silver. Dust-jacket, price-clipped but with 7/6 price sticker to inside front flap.
A collection of supernatural and eerie tales. Blends historical and Gothic elements, showing Irwin's talent for uncanny atmosphere.
Victorian Literature
London, Trübner, 1888.
Second edition. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered and ruled in gilt.
A non-fiction political commentary on British-Zulu relations, written after Haggard's return from South Africa. It defends Zulu rights and critiques colonial policies — surprisingly progressive for the time. Uncommon signed.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, n.d..
?First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6 with price sticker for 2/-.
Attractive Skeffington title, from their popular crime series.
Detective Fiction
Eadie (Arlton, pseud. Leopold Leonard Eadie) The Crimson Query
London, Jarrolds, [1929].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original peach cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The elusive first edition of this splendidly jacket title. Sometimes subtitled Or How the Squid Got Besuckered, this novel introduces a villain known as the Crimson Query because he leaves, Zorro-like, a sign of his machinations. In this case, a bright red question mark. All in all, this hard-to-find detective story stands alongside the more horrific novels Eadie is known for. Eadie (1871–1938) was a barrister turned writer known for macabre thrillers and crime novels with supernatural elements. His works are now cult favourites among fans of early weird fiction.
Detective Fiction
London, Gollancz, 1947.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The story follows an office worker named Jones, whose dull life is interrupted when he is accused of murder. Symons blends psychological insight with traditional mystery tropes, offering a critical look at post-war British society.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1919].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original mustard yellow pictorial cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 6/-.
Excellent jacket artwork on this uncommon title, particularly in the jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, Ward, Lock, 1901.
Third edition, reprint. 8vo. Original sage cloth.
The first Sherlock Holmes novel, originally published in 1887. Introduces Holmes & Watson as they investigate a murder linked to past events in Utah.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, n.d..
'Seventh thousand'. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6 with 1/6 price sticker to spine.
Golden-age style mystery, in keeping with Skeffington's crime output — formulaic but atmospheric, and popular.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, n.d..
'Seventh thousand'. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6 with 1/6 price sticker to spine.
A detective novel featuring Anne Austin's recurring sleuth, sometimes Detective Bonaparte.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, n.d..
Early UK printing (stating '7th thousand'). 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
Arsène Lupin, a gentleman thief and master of disguise, is in demand once again.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1926].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A romance set in the California desert, showcasing Gregory's signature blend of adventure and vivid descriptions of the Western landscape.
Detective Fiction
London, Evans, 1951.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 9/6.
The 14th novel in the Dr. Palfrey series. In this installment, Dr. Stanislaus Alexander Palfrey confronts a formidable adversary whose apocalyptic visions threaten global stability.
Non-Fiction
London, Macmillan, 1932.
First edition, fourth impression. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Keynes' critical examination of the global monetary system in the aftermath of World War I. First published in 1923, John Maynard Keynes discusses the economic turmoil caused by inflation and deflation, advocating for stable currency management and policy interventions to mitigate economic instability.
...entirely new edition
London, Ward, Lock, Bowden & Co., 1892.
8vo. Original green cloth with red sheep spine elaborately gilt-decorated.
An extensive guide to running a household in Victorian Britain, first published in 1861. Compiled by Isabella Beeton, it encompasses over 900 pages covering topics such as cooking, cleaning, childcare and etiquette.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, July, 1950.
First edition, fourth impression. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 5s.
In Cards on the Table, the enigmatic Mr. Shaitana invites eight guests to a dinner party: four detectives—Hercule Poirot, Colonel Race, Superintendent Battle, and mystery writer Ariadne Oliver—and four individuals Shaitana subtly suggests have committed murder undetected.
American Literature
Twain (Mark, pseud. Samuel Langhorne Clemens) Life on the Mississippi
London, Chatto &Windus, 1883.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original red pictorial cloth lettered in gilt.
Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain recounting his experiences as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. Collectors often seek copies with the advertisements dated March 1883 at the rear, indicating the first impression
London, Faber & Faber, 1957.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 10s6d.
Hughes's inaugural poetry collection, comprising 40 poems that delve into themes of nature's raw power, particularly through vivid depictions of animals such as hawks, foxes, and jaguars. The collection also touches on human experiences, including war and relationships.
Victorian Literature
London, Longmans, Green, 1889.
First one vol. edition. Signed & dated by the author. 8vo. Original black cloth with bevelled boards and lettered in gilt.
A narrative which intertwines themes of romance, financial distress and a quest for hidden treasure, exploring the complexities of rural English life in the late 19th century. An attractive early edition, uncommon signed.
Uncategorized
London, Wright & Brown, [1932].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Roland Daniel (1880–1969) was a British writer known for his detective and mystery novels, many of which have stood the test of time reasonably well.
Detective Fiction
London, Wright & Brown, 1941.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Roland Daniel (1880–1969) was a British writer known for his detective and mystery novels, many of which have stood the test of time reasonably well.
Detective Fiction
London, Wright & Brown, 1944.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Roland Daniel (1880–1969) was a British writer known for his detective and mystery novels, many of which have stood the test of time reasonably well.
Detective Fiction
London, Wright & Brown, 1946.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket.
Roland Daniel (1880–1969) was a British writer known for his detective and mystery novels, many of which have stood the test of time reasonably well.
Detective Fiction
London, Wright & Brown, .
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket.
Roland Daniel (1880–1969) was a British writer known for his detective and mystery novels, many of which have stood the test of time reasonably well.
Detective Fiction
London, Wright & Brown, 1949.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket.
Roland Daniel (1880–1969) was a British writer known for his detective and mystery novels, many of which have stood the test of time reasonably well.