Craig Rice; Ed McBain — The April Robin Murders

New York, Random House, 1958. First edition. Cloth. The first edition, first impression of this mystery novel by Craig Rice and Ed McBain. The first edition, first impression of this novel in the publisher's original cloth binding, with the original unclipped dust wrapper. Ink inscription to the front paste down, dated 1959. Craig Rice (1908-1957) was an American writer of mystery novels and short stories in the hard-boiled detective tradition combined with screwball comedy. This novel was a posthumous collaboration with Evan Hunter (1926-2005), whose pen name was Ed McBain, in which he completed the unfinished book begun by Rice. McBain has stated that the book was essentially half-finished in first draft, but there were no notes as to how she had intended to continue it, so that he had to solve the mystery himself before completing the manuscript. A page to the rear concerning the authors of this book. In publisher's original cloth binding, with original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, cloth is in lovely condition. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright and clean. Minor chipping to the head and tail of the dust wrapper's spine and the folds of the flaps; otherwise in smart condition. Fine . Ill.: None. Fine/Near Fine.