A Kiss Before Dying.

IRA LEVIN

Publication: Published by Simon and Schuster, 1953, New York

First edition. Author's first book. Pages uniformly browned throughout, else a fine copy in dust jacket professionally restored at spine ends,corners, and extremities. Levin's finest book and written as three books in one: part one is told from the vantage point of the murderer, who wants to marry into a wealthy family, but cannot because the girl becomes pregnant and refuses to have an abortion. This will cost him his chance at the family fortune, so in an ingenious manner, which the reader can follow step by step, he murders her and her death is ruled a suicide. In part two the sister of the murdered girl deducts that the apparent suicide was really murder, so she tracks down the killer. She's got the right person, but for the wrong reasons and she becomes the second victim. In part three, a third sister and her husband bring the killer to a sort of justice. An attractive copy of a scarce book. Winner of the Edgar Award in 1953 for Best First Novel.

Inventory Number: 37527