Published by Dell Publishing Company, Inc., N.Y., 1949
Seller: MURDER BY THE BOOK, Warwick, RI, U.S.A.
First Edition
Pictorial Wrappers. Condition: Good-Very Good. First Printing. First printing, November 1949. Vintage Paperback, Dell Mapback #344. Reading crease, light edgewear, spine edges rubbed with sligt loss at head and foot. Back cover map of "The Murder Apartment of the Himberts on Park Avenue, NYC." "The malicious, exploitative and deeply disturbed wife of Willem Himbert, symphony conductor, becomes the target of Elizabeth Beel's undying animosity when the wife begins to concoct a fantasy in which she is the object of John Maicey's desire. John is Elizabeth's boyfriend, perhaps soon-to-be husband, but Coca has other plans for the promising composer. Elizabeth's deep seated hatred is further fueled by the fact that she knows that Coca has infiltrated herself into the romantic lives of other musicians who at one time were Himbert's proteges. She will not see John's chances at fame in the music world destroyed by Coca's petty and devious scheming. She plans Coca's murder in her head almost nightly, various methods and means, until she doesn't know the difference between her fantasies and reality. When Coca ends up dead Elizabeth is unsure if she carried out her murderous plan and turns detective to find out if it was she --or someone else -- who put a permanent end to Coca's twisted soap opera-like machinations." -- J.F. Norris on his blog "Pretty Sinister Books". [Highly recommended]. All Vintage Paperbacks come sealed in 2.5 mil plastic bag and taped closed with removable tape which will not tear the covers if it sticks to them when the book is removed. Vintage Paperback.