{"product_id":"an-old-man-dies-george-bellairs-1st-edition","title":"An Old Man Dies, George Bellairs — 1st Edition","description":"\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(--header-height)\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pt-12 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden items-end rtl:items-start\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"user-message-bubble-color corner-superellipse\/0.98 relative min-w-0 overflow-hidden rounded-[22px] px-4 py-2.5 leading-6 max-w-(--user-chat-width,70%)\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication\u003c\/strong\u003e: London, John Gifford Ltd., 1980\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormatting\u003c\/strong\u003e: 8vo, pp. [vi], 119, [1].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Report\u003c\/strong\u003e: Near Fine; Very Good dust jacket. The binding remains remarkably tight and perfectly square, bearing sharp corners and no significant shelf-wear to the boards. Internally, the text-block is entirely unblemished, with bright, crisp pages completely devoid of foxing, thumbing, or previous ownership inscriptions. The original dust-jacket, safely housed in a protective sleeve, presents its striking cover art beautifully. It shows only the faintest rubbing and mild edge-wear to the extremities, remaining free from any chips, tears, or significant fading. An exceptionally clean, collector-grade survivor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Note\u003c\/strong\u003e: First edition, first impression. Notably, An Old Man Dies serves as the final, poignant curtain call for Bellairs' beloved creation, Superintendent Thomas Littlejohn. The novel concludes a staggering run of over fifty mysteries that began with Littlejohn on Leave in 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublished late in the author’s life during his retirement on the Isle of Man, this title saw a notably smaller commercial print run compared to his widely circulated post-war classics. Consequently, encountering this final Littlejohn mystery on the open market—especially retaining an unclipped and highly presentable dust-jacket—is increasingly uncommon for collectors of British detective fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this final, atmospheric case for the venerable Superintendent Littlejohn, a small-town saga unravels into sudden and calculated violence. When a wealthy and deeply influential local patriarch passes away, his decaying legacy and scheming descendants are thrust into the unforgiving spotlight. Greed, long-buried family resentments, and whispered secrets soon culminate in murder, drawing Littlejohn into a tangled web of provincial malice. Infused with George Bellairs' trademark wit, astute psychological observations, and sharp procedural tension, An Old Man Dies serves as a fitting twilight puzzle for one of Scotland Yard's most enduring and quietly brilliant investigators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53783599874387,"sku":"4078-RM-F-VG-4","price":74.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260609_145623.jpg?v=1781017667","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/an-old-man-dies-george-bellairs-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}