Murder in Haiti, John W. Vandercook — 1st Edition

£14.99

Murder in Haiti, John W. Vandercook — 1st Edition

Name: Murder in Haiti, John W. Vandercook — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4053-EV-F-VG-4
Price: 14.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

In stock

£14.99

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Publication: New York, The Macmillan Company, 1956

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 191.

Condition Report: Very Good. Binding remains tight and secure, though the spine exhibits a very slight forward lean and minor crushing to the head and tail. The light blue cloth boards are generally clean and bright with crisp dark stamping, showing only trace rubbing to the corners. The text block edges display light age-toning and a degree of dust-dulling and subtle foxing, though the interior pages remain entirely clean, crisp, and free of notable blemishes. The original dust jacket presents handsomely but bears mild edgewear, including shallow rubbing and very minor nicks to the extremities, alongside general surface toning to the rear panel. Notably, the verso of the dust jacket reveals distinct vertical bands of acidic tanning, which does not heavily penetrate the front artwork but remains an observable flaw upon inspection.

Catalogue Note: First edition. This title was issued under Macmillan's recognisable "Cock Robin Mystery" imprint, a highly regarded series that championed a vast and diverse catalogue of post-war crime fiction. The striking, moody dust jacket design, executed by the prolific American artist and collagist Leo Manso, features a haunting juxtaposition of a spectral skull overlooking a silhouetted steam yacht, perfectly encapsulating the era's pulp-adjacent aesthetic.

The title marks Vandercook’s long-awaited return to the mystery genre after a decades-long hiatus from fiction, bringing back his established investigative protagonists. Finding examples with an intact, unclipped dust jacket that retains its dark, vibrant frontal coloration without severe paper loss remains a desirable point for collectors of vintage mid-century crime and thriller fiction.

Following a twenty-year hiatus from the mystery genre, renowned news commentator and author John W. Vandercook resurrects his razor-sharp detective duo, Bertram Lynch and Robert Deane. This time, the intrepid pair finds themselves aboard the Vittoria, a luxury super-yacht cruising the sun-drenched but treacherous waters off the coast of Haiti. Tasked by the enigmatic and ruthless tycoon Viggo Sand to recover millions in stolen pirate loot, Lynch and Deane must navigate a claustrophobic galley of desperate passengers and greedy shipmates. As tensions boil and the yacht drops anchor in a secluded cove, the sudden and violent demise of one of the guests plunges the voyage into a perilous game of cat and mouse, testing the detectives' limits in an atmospheric tale of greed, deception, and murder.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John W. Vandercook

Book Publisher: Macmillan; Cock Robin

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 191

Book Publication Year: 1956

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: Leo Manso (Dust Jacket)

Book Series: Cock Robin Mystery

Country/region of manufacture: New York, United States

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.