Crime of the Fictional Variety

The Trials of Oz – Tony Palmer – with Felix Dennis Bookplate – 40th Anniversary Edition

This book carries the bookplate of Felix Dennis (1947-2014) with the pencil note likely by Dennis xi ii which presumably means February 2011.

Felix Dennis was one of three charged and found initially guilty in the famous “Schoolkids Oz” obscenity trial in London. Dennis received a lesser sentence because he was considered less intelligent than the others.

Published by Gonza Multimedia in 2011, softcover 312 pages, many illustrations including the somewhat offensive which formed part of the trial. The book is a great read especially for those the like the machinations of a good court drama. Verbatim mixed with other narrative about the lead up, police, judiciary etc. Political influence is said to have been involved in getting to the lads sentences rescinded – the Judge met then secretly and got their commitment not to be “so naughty”.

For the dumb one Dennis did very well and went on to build a magazine and media empires worth several hundred million quid, bought David Bowie’s West indies paradise, set up the biggest tree planting charity in England etc etc – quit a chap – look him up.

OZ Trial – for provenance couldn’t be beaten

PS If your protective of Rupert the Bear this is not the book fro you …

$120.00

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The Night Manager – John Le Carre – First edition published by Knopf, New York in 1993.

A handsome book in the hand, large octavo, 429 pages, plus acknowledgement, printing details etc. Jacket rubbed along leading edge otherwise a fine copy.

“On a snow-swept January evening of 1991, Jonathan Pryce, the English night manager of the Hotel Meister Palace in Zurich, forsook his office behind the reception desk and, in the grip of feelings he had not known before, took up his position in the lobby as a prelude to extending his hotel’s welcome to a distinguished late arrival”

Needs no further introduction other than to say the rather brilliant mini-series is worth the watch also albeit a little over glamourised.

Le Carre’s characters do move with the times, something we like about his writing. However we cannot believe the ‘first” is as long back as 1993 – where have the year gone!

Night Manager – now a standalone Le Carre classic and a punchy read

$50.00

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Murder by Proxy – Audrey Boyers – First Edition 1945

A fine copy of this elusive crime novel. Two Boyers were involved, Audrey has some help from her sister Bettina but we suspect it was mainly Audrey’s work.

Published by the Crime Club [Doubleday], New York in 1945. Super condition for a later war book – striking dust jacket – collectable.

Poldi the Austrian protagonist along with her companion Gil meet a vivacious red head on the train on the way out to Hollywood. The red head, Olivia had been through torture from her husband, and she was going west to confront him. Later Poldi hears that Olivia has been brutally murdered and fears [correctly] for her own life by association – it all gets complicated.

Fine collectable first edition

$120.00

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The Lost City – By Major Charles Gilson – 1920′s

Another adventure by Charles Gilson in striking pictorial covers published in the 1920’s. Gilson has been promoted since he wrote “On Secret Service”. Another Voyager favourite.

Published by “The Boy’s Own Paper”, Bouverie Street, London. Octavo, 378 pages with frontispiece in colour and eight other illustrations.

The longer title, as usual, gives a clue … “The Lost City … being the Authentic Account by Professor Miles Unthank of the search for the Sarcophagus of Serohis, and the Theft of the Mystic Scarab, formerly in the British Museum”. We love it!

Collectable … The Lost City

$50.00

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The Mystery of Swordfish Reef – Arthur Upfield – First UK Edition 1960

Published by Heinemann, Lonon in 1960, a first UK edition. Octavo, 247 pages. Jacket a bit rubbed still a nice copy of perhaps our favourite Upfield / Bonaparte book. Dust jacket design by Bill Morden.

A fishing boat disappears along with its four occupants. It all happens in the New South Wales game fishing grounds – something the author was familiar with.

A skull is found by a passing trawler. Our Favourite police inspector, “Bony” Bonaparte is called in, and the “mystery” is unravelled.

Based on a true story the disappearance of geologist Lamont Younger at Mystery Bay, NSW in 1880

True mystery behind this entertaining Upfield “fishy” mystery.

$80.00

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She Shall Have Murder – Delano Ames – First US Edition 1949

Published by Rinehart, New York in 1949.

Octavo, 245 pages. The first book in a series of murder mysteries featuring Jane Hamish and Dagobert Brown. Super stuff a plot that would fit today’s take on the classic murder mystery.

Delano Ames and American, who moved to England and then Spain had huge success with this genre.

Made into a movie the following year.

A plot built on a fantasy of a plot.

$50.00

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The Trials of Oz – Tony Palmer – with Felix Dennis Bookplate – 40th Anniversary Edition

The Night Manager – John Le Carre – First edition published by Knopf, New York in 1993.

Murder by Proxy – Audrey Boyers – First Edition 1945

The Lost City – By Major Charles Gilson – 1920′s

The Mystery of Swordfish Reef – Arthur Upfield – First UK Edition 1960

She Shall Have Murder – Delano Ames – First US Edition 1949

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