The Complete Marti MacAlister Series

McClure: St. Martin's Press, 2005. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/fine. Dead Time was the first novel in which the main protagonist is a Black woman police officer. Right away the reader is introduced to a hero that is—typical of detective fiction— strong and intelligent, but also actively engaged in her personal responsibilities and trauma, cognizant and empathetic toward the most vulnerable in society. The exposition and character development provides context as to why the lived experiences of an African American women can act as an emotional shield in a profession that might, otherwise, bring out the worst in someone. Bland's MacAlister series was at the forefront of promoting diversity and inclusion in crime fiction; a genre that not only boxed women characters into a traditional space, but, often, entirely excluded Black women. 1st edition of her first book (Dead Time), introducing streetwise detective Marti MacAlister. Fine in fine dustjacket. Signed and inscribed, " My favorite chapter 24-and Lupe Torres will return also-Padgett returns in fourth book in series. Eleanor Taylor Bland 1-13-94." With an advanced proof of Dead Time and the other 13 novels in the series that have been published (the final novel "Suddenly a Stranger" (2007) appears not to have been printed): All are 1st editions, all are fine in fine dust jackets, all are signed or inscribed but one.