{"product_id":"the-affair-at-little-wokeham-freeman-wills-crofts-1st-edition","title":"The Affair At Little Wokeham, Freeman Wills Crofts — 1st Edition","description":"\u003cp id=\"p-rc_f92ea501efed2821-100\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-127\"\u003ePublication:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-127 citation-end-127\"\u003e London, Hodder and Stoughton Limited, 1943\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-126\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-126\"\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-126 citation-end-126\"\u003e 8vo, pp. 252.\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"p-rc_f92ea501efed2821-101\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Very Good. The original blue cloth boards remain relatively firm and square, displaying only minor shelf-wear and light bruising to the spine extremities\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The binding is structurally sound, though the spine exhibits subtle sun-fading typical of the era's wartime economy materials. The text block is firm, and the pages are largely clean, with only light, expected tanning to the text block edges. The black spine lettering remains entirely legible and unoxidized\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The front free endpaper bears a neat previous ownership signature\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Overall, a highly presentable and sturdy copy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"p-rc_f92ea501efed2821-102\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"citation-125\"\u003eTrue first UK edition of Freeman Wills Crofts's twenty-fourth Inspector French novel, published ahead of its American counterpart (which was released under the alternative title \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-125\"\u003eDouble Tragedy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-125 citation-end-125\"\u003e).\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The copyright page bears the hallmark of wartime publishing, stating that the typography and binding conform to the \"Authorized Economy Standard,\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e a fascinating historical artifact of the era's material constraints. The book was printed in Edinburgh by T. and A. Constable Ltd.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"p-rc_f92ea501efed2821-103\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book features a comprehensive list of the author's preceding Inspector French novels on the page facing the title page\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Copies are notoriously scarce in collectible condition, and this particular unjacketed copy bears the simple ownership signature of \"Searle,\" offering a modest but pleasing touch of provenance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"p-rc_f92ea501efed2821-104\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-124 citation-end-124\"\u003eIn this masterfully crafted \"inverted mystery,\" Freeman Wills Crofts introduces readers to Guy Plant, a man whose desperate financial straits lead him to orchestrate the demise of an elderly relative.\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Told from multiple perspectives, the novel allows the reader to witness both the meticulous planning of the crime and its execution. However, the true thrill lies in the arrival of the methodical and unrelenting Inspector Joseph French\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, who painstakingly unravels Plant's seemingly flawless scheme. Praised as a standout morality tale in the French canon, it is a brilliant showcase of Crofts's signature focus on ironclad alibis, logical deduction, and the psychological unraveling of the guilty.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54074819838291,"sku":"4213","price":45.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260611_105511.jpg?v=1782214276","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-affair-at-little-wokeham-freeman-wills-crofts-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}