A JADE IN ARIES

New York: Random House, 1970. First Edition. . Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. This copy of the fourth novel in Westlake's early mystery series (using his Tucker Coe pseudonymn) featuring ex-cop Mitch Tobin is from the library of Science Fiction Grand Master Harlan Ellison (It has Ellison's library stamp on the lower corner of the inside front cover.). When gay male model Jamie Dearborn is murdered, his partner, an avid astrology believer, asks for Tobin's help in learning the birth dates of a group of six men who had been the victim's friends. Tobin makes a single phone call and never expects to see the man again. But then the man becomes a victim of a murder attempt and Tobin finds himself pulled into the darker side NYC's gay community to prevent another murder. First Printing, First Edition (with a numberline ending in 2, as per Random House custom). About 5 1/2 x 8 inches, 175 pages in green paper-covered boards with black graphic design on both covers and silver Random House logo and title box with green lettering on spine. Dustjacket's front panel shows a rams head with blood on horns against black background and yellow lettering. The back panel contains a long blurb describing a book by Kim Platt, "The Kissing Gourami." Boards show only a touch of shelf wear and wear at corners and spine ends. No bumping or fraying. Text top edge very lightly soiled, o/w clean, complete and unmarked. Binding tight and square. Dj shows slightly more wear in same areas as book but without significant flaws, no creasing, not price-clipped. A nice association between a fantasy-sci-fi master and a master of mystery-detective fiction.