PATTERN OF MURDER Death Claims a Lovely Woman By: Mignon G. Eberhart Copyright: 1937; assumed first edition of this paperback version Published By: Popular Library (#167) This Soft Cover Vintage book (222 pages) is in Good interior and exterior condition. There is some age toning to pages, and a small tear noted to at least 2 interior pages; also a light stain, as pictured, to the upper right corner of the first 40 pages or so, not affecting readability of text. Compare prices for this collectible version online now!!! This is one of a number of books I got from a serious collector. They were all bagged and most are in near pristine condition; this one rougher than most. I took them out of their plastic collector?s bags in order to provide great photographs of the awesome quality of these books. Extremely collectible in very good vintage condition! About Book: The novel takes place on a lakeside resort outside of Chicago, where wealthy families keep rustic summer homes and boathouses on an adagio of islands nearby. There's a lot of rowboat, motorboat and canue action keeping them linked. Eberhart is superb at atmosphere and I could almost feel the loneliness of these pine-smelling islands and the creak of a pair of high heels mincing down a wooden pier at night. Half of her talent is describing silence and the other half, describing darkness, or so it sometimes seems. The novel reunites a pair of star-crossed sweethearts, Jerome Gable and Nan Bayne, whose engagement was broken three years ago by the machinations of an evil femme fatale, beautiful Celia, sort of the "Nofret" of the Midwest if you know your Death Comes as the End. Celia has since married Jerome and poor Nan hasn't been able to revisit the islands since, she just can't bear the heartbreak. A rabble of older friends has brought her out at last, and she hasn't been there even 24 hours before hunky Jerome tumbles back into her life and love brings them together once more. That night, Celia is brutally murdered, and her body is sent drifting out across the silent, spooky lake, in am untethered canoe. By some odd coincidence, Nan's boat actually collides with it. Next day comes and the obvious suspects in Celia's death are Nan and Jerome, who are hounded a suspicious constabulary and by the suspicions of their own friends. Fantastic Vintage gift for the Murder Mystery fan or book collector in your life!!!!! Your satisfaction is important to me. Any and all questions answered, and happy to send more pics / info etc. Please look at my feedback and buy with confidence. Please see my other listings for more great collectibles and books! Happy to discount shipping for multiple wins!