FORTY WHACKS.
New York: William Morrow And Company, 1941. Octavo, pp. [1-8] [1-2] 3-246 [247-248: blank], original light green cloth, spine stamped in black and red, top edge stained red. First edition. The author's eighth mystery novel. Features Humphrey Campbell. Basis for the 1944 film "Crime by Night," starring Jane Wyman and Jerome Cowan. "Between 1936 and 1946, Homes published 12 detective and suspense novels set primarily in the valleys and foothills of north-central California. Each is distinguished by clever plotting, semi-hard-boiled realism, fast-paced action, witty and remarkably good dialogue, and some of the finest and most vivid descriptive passages in mystery fiction."- Pederson (ed.): St. James Guide To Crime and Mystery Writers (4th ed.), p 533. Name in ink to upper front free end paper, lower front corner rubbed, small spot to lower front cover, a very good copy in a very good dust jacket with rubbing to front flap fold, spine folds and spine ends, two tiny closed tears to upper front panel. some color fade to red of spine panel title lettering. (11607). Item #11607
Price: $350.00