tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post1074885331514982701..comments2024-03-18T11:01:42.459-05:00Comments on Pretty Sinister Books: Death of Laurence Vining - Alan ThomasJ F Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-2548791242559519962021-09-01T07:05:35.997-05:002021-09-01T07:05:35.997-05:00The same could be said of 99% of the books I write...The same could be said of 99% of the books I write about. It’s up to you to find your own copy wherever and however you do it. J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-53865903198354266452021-09-01T01:03:39.352-05:002021-09-01T01:03:39.352-05:00Would you mind scanning it and donating it to open...Would you mind scanning it and donating it to open book library,so many more readers could read it.Mysterybloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05495648805008200117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-68304901520346555762012-01-25T11:37:39.657-06:002012-01-25T11:37:39.657-06:00Arun-
I found nothing of real interest at Bookman...Arun-<br /><br />I found nothing of real interest at Bookman's other than some Dover reprints like DEATH AT PERIGORD by John Ferguson and MURDER BY MATCHLIGHT by E.C.R. Lorac which are absurdly difficult to find in the original hardcover editions so I bought those.<br /><br />We were in Tucson, Bisbee and Oro Valley to visit Biosphere 2 which was one of the most fascinating places I've ever been. Didn't make it to Phoenix so those Bookman's shops were untouched by my marauding hands and severely abused credit cards. Hope you find some good books when you make it to Phoenix.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-38569036552743573052012-01-25T03:31:12.761-06:002012-01-25T03:31:12.761-06:00Very interesting to see with a dust jacket. The b...Very interesting to see with a dust jacket. The book made a splash in its day.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-74533392372834988092012-01-25T01:22:56.979-06:002012-01-25T01:22:56.979-06:00Congratulations on your find! This book was select...Congratulations on your find! This book was selected as one of the top 50 Locked Room Mysteries in one of the magazines recently(shared by John Pugmire on GAD) and I've been keeping my eyes open for this title ever since! I was in Phoenix for 2 years and I've picked up some absolute gems from Bookmans. And I'm going there this weekend - hope you restricted yourself to Tuscon and didn't raid the Phoenix stores? :(( :((Arun Kumarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08653087890201599878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-8238257706049825512012-01-24T09:54:11.336-06:002012-01-24T09:54:11.336-06:00Bill --
I visit four different used book shops in...Bill --<br /><br />I visit four different used book shops in Chicago regularly - about twice a month. Most of them tend to have good turnover in stock. There are three more in Evanston that I go to about once every three months or so. We used to frequent the used book sales throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin that have "bag sales" (fill up a shopping bag for X amount of dollars) all year round, but I have accumulated an awful lot of "chaff" from those sales and it's hard to sell. So I've curtailed the visits to the book sales.<br /><br />When we're on vacation I always make an effort to devote a single day to checking out the used books stores and the antique malls. We were just in Tucson over the weekend where I found a first edition of Edith Wharton's XINGU and an early UK edition of an Arthur Machen book in one store as well as a few hard to find books in cheap vintage paperback editions at various Bookman's (an Arizona chain similar to Half Price Books). Not too bad. I think my finds are part luck and part assiduity.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-7948055470488824832012-01-23T22:33:27.538-06:002012-01-23T22:33:27.538-06:00John: I wish I had access to your used bookstores....John: I wish I had access to your used bookstores. Do you only look in the Chicago area or do you go further afield?Bill Selneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17268006369157307593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-43957040219236773052012-01-23T21:30:52.062-06:002012-01-23T21:30:52.062-06:00According to my records it was an ABE purchase (an...According to my records it was an ABE purchase (and probably the last affordable copy on it), so hopefully your copy will turn up. It's disheartening how depleted the book sites have become during the last five years...I think I'll go hug my copy ;)Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14062628395256120383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-48729246422086577832012-01-23T20:44:10.667-06:002012-01-23T20:44:10.667-06:00Darrell -
I had a copy of THE TREMAYNE CASE but ...Darrell -<br /><br />I had a copy of THE TREMAYNE CASE but couldn't find it (did I sell it to you?) when I went digging for it after reading this one. Never did get to read it. <i>...Laurence Vining</i> must be Thomas' best mystery. It's falls just short of being a true tour de force in the genre.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-52741138500473502222012-01-23T20:41:29.320-06:002012-01-23T20:41:29.320-06:00Richard -
I say go for it. The $15 - $25 range is...Richard -<br /><br />I say go for it. The $15 - $25 range is what I would pay for a copy of this book. I truly lucked out with this cheap copy. Mine is a later reprint and I guess the dealer didn't realize even for a reprint it was a scarce title in any edition. The DJs for the Harrap Shilling series are very hard to find - especially in US used bookstore - and I'm glad to have another to add to my collection.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-81239514220952141552012-01-23T16:52:38.140-06:002012-01-23T16:52:38.140-06:00Sounds much better than the author's "Tre...Sounds much better than the author's "Tremayne Case" which also had an impossible situation (a stabbing in a taxi IIRC)but seemed more like a short story expanded to novel length.Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14062628395256120383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-4145282234679930542012-01-23T16:02:10.507-06:002012-01-23T16:02:10.507-06:00Sounds like a great classic mystery read, John. I ...Sounds like a great classic mystery read, John. I can just see you in that dusty book shop, maneuvering the ladder while the thrill of the hunt quickened your blood. Ha. <br /><br />I know the feeling.<br /><br />I so wish there were a second hand bookstore around here. But no such luck.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-37137151295454832632012-01-23T15:39:37.962-06:002012-01-23T15:39:37.962-06:00I've personally placed a hold on this via Inte...I've personally placed a hold on this via Interlibrary Loan. The Canadian Library system strikes again!!!Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-29974437381304987912012-01-23T13:13:12.407-06:002012-01-23T13:13:12.407-06:00I did find a copy, supposedly VG but with no DJ, f...I did find a copy, supposedly VG but with no DJ, for about $20. What do you think? Too much?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-5473147963805824302012-01-23T13:09:10.971-06:002012-01-23T13:09:10.971-06:00Well done, and it's obvious you have access to...Well done, and it's obvious you have access to an excellent used book emporium. Your review of this one makes me want to read it, but that sounds very unlikely indeed. Still I'll keep y eye out for it, one never knows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-23203444967633387382012-01-23T11:06:21.383-06:002012-01-23T11:06:21.383-06:00Congrats John, on the excellent review and for the...Congrats John, on the excellent review and for the successful resolution of your book hunting 'case' - my envy continues ... you do realise that at this rate you are likely to end up in the centre of a plot to nick half your stock in the most unguessable manner possible, right?Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)http://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-87420387553143935812012-01-23T10:11:38.864-06:002012-01-23T10:11:38.864-06:00I agree. It's hard for me to find anything wor...I agree. It's hard for me to find anything worthwhile at the few used bookstores that are left around here. Ah, for the Ohio of my youth when every crossroad had a used paperback store.<br />Also wanted to mention that Ramble House just released a book on the KEW list: MAKER OF SHADOWS by Jack Mann.Tim Mayerhttp://www.z7hq.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-74402631604240736882012-01-23T09:24:57.333-06:002012-01-23T09:24:57.333-06:00I never find this sort of thing at used bookstores...I never find this sort of thing at used bookstores. I think they sell them all online and just keep the standard mass pbs in the stores.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-66690540591577106922012-01-23T08:16:08.730-06:002012-01-23T08:16:08.730-06:00How great for you that you've finally gotten y...How great for you that you've finally gotten your hands on this one. It sounds very good. I'll be putting it on the list...but knowing that you've been searching for years doesn't make me very hopeful. Here's hoping for a pleasant surprise in my future. :-)Bev Hankinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01127476456755776574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-70265942475526438582012-01-23T05:26:10.946-06:002012-01-23T05:26:10.946-06:00Congrats on the discovery! Now you've made me ...Congrats on the discovery! Now you've made me want to get my hands on a copy! This was, after all, one of the books warmly recommended to me in the comments on my "Best of 2011" list.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844617192737950378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-50573568235696675462012-01-23T02:28:12.977-06:002012-01-23T02:28:12.977-06:00John, congratulations on your serendipitous discov...John, congratulations on your serendipitous discovery and know that I feel very envious at the moment! <br /><br />This book is marked down for a hunt later on in the year, but this review might end up shoving it further to the top of my wish list. I think I would enjoy this story. <br /><br />Is it just me, or is there an influx of reviews of impossible crime stories over the past few months?TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.com