Murder in the Temple, Justin Brooke

£37.50

Murder in the Temple, Justin Brooke

Name: Murder in the Temple, Justin Brooke
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5508
Price: 37.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, The Modern Publishing Company, n.d. [c. 1930s]

Formatting: 8vo.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original red cloth boards remain surprisingly bright and robust, particularly the front panel, though the spine exhibits noticeable sunning and slight softening at the head and foot. The rear board, featuring the bold 'News of the World' black stamping, is sharp and well-preserved with only trivial superficial rubbing to the extremities. The binding is secure, exhibiting only a very slight lean. Internally, the text block displays uniform, heavy toning, a standard and expected consequence of the inexpensive, acidic paper stock utilised by the Modern Publishing Company during the interwar period. The page edges are moderately darkened and dusty, but the original advertisement endpapers remain entirely intact and unmarked, making this an attractive, solid survivor of an inherently fragile production.

Catalogue Note: This is an exceptionally scarce 1930s mystery publication by Justin Brooke (a known pseudonym for J. Richard Traynor), issued by the Modern Publishing Company. Operating out of London during the interwar and Depression years, this publisher specialised in affordable, mass-market thrillers characterised by their sensationalist aesthetic and prolific internal advertisements for patent medicines and self-help regimens, all of which are perfectly preserved here.

While this copy lacks its original dust jacket, the publisher's striking 'News of the World' promotional stamping on the lower board remains a fantastic artefact of 1930s British pulp publishing. Copies of Brooke’s thrillers are virtually unprocurable on the open market today; their inherent fragility and status as "cheap editions" meant very few survived the decades, making this a highly desirable volume for completists of classic British crime fiction.

On a bitterly cold New Year's Eve, the harsh winds howling off the River Thames usher in more than just the new year. As Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey Campbell emerge into the biting chill of Mount Street, they are swiftly drawn into a murky and perilous mystery. Set against the atmospheric, fog-drenched streets of 1930s London, Murder in the Temple is a fast-paced and evocative classic crime thriller that uncovers the sinister underbelly of the city's legal heart.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Justin Brooke

Book Publisher: The Modern Publishing Company

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year:

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

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.