A KISS BEFORE DYING

First UK edition, first printing. Publisher's original black cloth with titles in white and red to the spine, in the Dennis Beytagh illustrated dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding firm with a little bumping at the spine tips, the cloth bright and fresh. The contents, spotted to the endpapers and toned to the text block edge, are otherwise clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and nicked dustwrapper that is a little spotted and toned to the flaps and underside. Not price-clipped (10s 6d net to the lower front flap).

The author's debut which won the 1954 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The basis for several film adaptations, the first in 1956 directed by Gerd Oswald, starring Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter, Virginia Leith, Mary Astor and Joanne Woodward; again in 1991 directed by James Dearden, starring Matt Dillon, Sean Young, Max von Sydow, and Diane Ladd. (Hubin).