[Devil May Care] Devil-May-Care [Signed Review Copy] by MERTZ, Barbara [writing as Elizabeth Peters], 1927-2013 - 1977

New York: Dodd, Mead, 1977. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Printing (full number line) of this suspense novel. 8vo: [8],275,[1]pp. Publisher's coarsely woven saffron quarter cloth over slate-blue paper-covered boards, spine lettered in black, top edge stained yellow; dust jacket with wraparound illustration by Charles Geer, priced $7.95. Review copy, with publisher's slip laid in and (presumably) reviewer's remarks in blue ink to verso ("Not as good as the earlier Crocodile on the Sandbank or The Murders of Richard III but good spooky fun"). Book plate signed by the author as Barbara Michaels, her other nom de plum, also laid in. A Fine, apparently unread copy (one wonders how the review read enough to issue his or her critique without breaking the book's spine), in a Fine jacket. An excellent example. Titled Devil May Care in later editions. "Young, beautiful Ellie is to house-sit for her wealthy and eccentric Aunt Kate, who lives in one of the oldest towns in Virginia, founded in the 17th century by six families from England. Aunt Kate has a plethora of dogs and cats, and even a rat, that Ellie must care for, but once Aunt Kate leaves ghostly manifestations begin to occur." (Wikipedia) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).