LYNCH, Lawrence L. [Emma Murdoch van Deventer?]. - The New Detective Story. The Diamond Coterie.

Chicago, Donnelley 1885. Octavo publisher's illustrated plum cloth blocked in black and silver (surface blotch on the back cover); numerous full page wood engravings (not without some crude appeal). Some natural toning of the paper but a rather good copy. ¶ I'm not sure whether the mystery of the first edition of this book has ever been solved but I can tell you this isn't it. Copyright dates of 1882 and 1884 have led some bibliographers to the conclusion that there is an 1882 edition but I want to know who has seen one. There is an 1884 edition but I doubt the supposed Sumner 1884 edition cited by some really is 1884; my bet is on Donnelley 1884 being the first edition. Emma van Deventer has been long established as Lawrence Lynch but I've come across recent questions about the existence of anyone called Emma Murdoch van Deventer. The publisher tells us that this "combines the excitement that ever attends the intricate and hazardous schemes of a detective ... with ... as carefully constructed and cunningly elaborated a plot as the best of Wilkie Collins' or Charles Reade's." This is not unreasonable, it certainly is elaborate.

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