{"product_id":"devil-at-your-elbow-d-m-devine-1st-edition","title":"Devil at Your Elbow, D. M. Devine — 1st Edition","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"50\"\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Collins (The Crime Club), 1966\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"102\"\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 8vo, pp. 224.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"2\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Ex-Library (Good). Despite its institutional history, this book remains a highly respectable and structurally sound reading copy. The publisher's original red cloth boards are firm, showing minor handling wear and gentle softening to the spine extremities, while avoiding major bumps. The binding remains tight and square, free of the excessive looseness often associated with library circulation. The text block is robust, featuring a red-dyed top edge, with only mild age-toning and faint spotting to the fore-edge. The book's primary faults are internal, most notably the 'Durham County Library' stamp to the title page and evidence of institutional handling on the preliminary pages. Crucially, the original unclipped dust jacket has survived in remarkable shape under a clear protective sleeve; it remains bright with strong, un-faded lettering, exhibiting only light shelf-wear and minor grubbiness to the white rear panel. It entirely bypasses the severe spine-fading, edge-chipping, and heavy label scarring typical of ex-institutional jackets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e This First Edition of Devine’s acclaimed whodunit remains exceptionally well-preserved for a circulating copy. While mid-century crime titles frequently surface in the trade, early first printings by Devine have grown increasingly scarce on the open market, as his tightly plotted, academically rooted mysteries have cultivated a dedicated collector base. Finding an institutional copy that retains such a bright and complete dust jacket, especially one that has avoided the heavy trimming or severe paper loss common to public library stock, makes this a highly desirable placeholder or robust reading copy for the vintage crime enthusiast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003eWhen a ruthless campaign is launched to oust the abrasive Dr. Haxton from his position at Hardgate University, petty academic politics rapidly escalate into a matter of life and death. Accused of embezzling summer school funds, Haxton goes on the offensive, threatening to unearth a hushed-up scandal involving a student's tragic death years prior. The toxic atmosphere soon reaches a boiling point, culminating in a shocking murder that rattles the entire faculty. Weaving the insular traditions of modern university life with masterful suspense, Devine delivers a classic detective story that builds to a wholly fair yet stunning revelation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54416472867155,"sku":"4770","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260723_214628.jpg?v=1785151539","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/devil-at-your-elbow-d-m-devine-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}