The Second Jeopardy, Roger Ormerod — 1st Edition, Signed & Inscribed, with Letter

Publication: London, Constable and Company Limited, 1987

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 224.

Condition Report: Near Fine. A remarkable, collector-quality example, tightly bound in the publisher's original dark boards with sharp, unbumped corners and virtually no discernible shelf-wear. The spine remains flawlessly square, and the hinges are entirely firm, showing no signs of weakness or starting. Internally, the text block is exceptionally clean, bright, and free from any foxing, off-setting, or spotting, preserving a crispness throughout the entirety of the book. The original unclipped dust jacket (£8.95 net) is similarly superlative; it retains its vibrant, unfaded coloration with only the most microscopic rubbing to the extreme upper spine tip, remaining wholly free of tears, chipping, or creasing. The inscribed title page and the accompanying handwritten letter are immaculately preserved, with the ink bold and unfaded, completing a superior presentation.

Catalogue Note: True first Edition of Roger Ormerod's gripping police procedural. Issued in a relatively modest print run primarily aimed at the library and dedicated mystery markets, surviving first editions in such immaculate, unread condition are increasingly uncommon on the open market.

The book boasts remarkable, highly personal provenance, having been signed and warmly inscribed by the author on the title page: "To Eileen / Affectionately / Roger." Further elevating this copy is the inclusion of a laid-in Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Ormerod, dated "16. 9. 87." Written on personal stationery from "3 The Crescent," the letter is addressed to Eileen Dewhurst and discusses the arrival of this very book: "The new book arrived today, so, as promised, here it is."

Most fascinatingly for collectors and enthusiasts of Ormerod's work, the letter offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the author's creative polymathy. In it, he reveals that his publisher has just accepted his original painting for the dust jacket of his next novel, An Open Window (subsequently published in 1988), stating: "Publisher likes my painting for the jacket of the next one (An Open Window) & is intending to use it." This unique correspondence transforms an already handsome first edition into a highly desirable literary artifact.

In The Second Jeopardy, Roger Ormerod delivers a masterclass in the traditional English detective novel. When Harry finds himself unexpectedly married to the forthright and naive Virginia Bern, he also inherits a host of dangerous liabilities. Virginia's determination places her squarely in the crosshairs of the formidable master-criminal Sean O'Loughlin, a man Harry would normally only approach with an army of fellow roughs. As the mismatched couple is thrust into a perilous murder investigation with deeply personal stakes, Harry must utilize every ounce of his experience to protect his new wife. Yet, in a brilliant twist of intellectual satisfaction that Ormerod's fans have come to revere, it is Virginia who ultimately holds the key to unravelling the labyrinthine mystery.