ORDEAL BY INNOCENCE

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Publisher's original red cloth with black titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. An excellent near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the upper corner bumped, the cloth bright and fresh. The contents, with a mild crease to the upper corner of the early pages are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's marks. Complete with the very lightly rubbed and price-clipped dustwrapper that is a touch dustmarked to the rear panel and otherwise without loss or tears. Housed in a bespoke purple cloth chemise and full navy blue morocco slipcase, with titles in gilt to the backstrip.

Inscribed by the author in blue ink on the front endpaper "best wishes for Xmas / from / Agatha Christie". A stand alone mystery novel, considered by Robert Barnard "One of the best of 'fifties Christies, and one of her own favourites". (Hubin; Wagstaff & Poole; Curran, John: The Hooded Gunman).