HIGH PRIEST OF CALIFORNIA/WILD WIVES by Charles Willeford Re/Search Publications, 1987 First Trade Paperback Edition Condition: Near Fine In 1984 Charles Willeford seemed to come out of nowhere when his novel MIAMI BLUES became a best-seller. But he'd actually been writing books for decades, mostly for obscure paperback imprints or self-published. These two short hard-boiled crime novels first appeared together (one a 2nd edition, the other a 1st) as a Beacon Book, which now sells on the Internet for $250 -$500. On the surface, they appear to be typical Beacon sleaze, but they're actually regarded by many as two of Willeford's best-written stories. This trade paperback edition contains both novels, as well as the play version of HIGH PRIEST...; it is photo-illustrated and has a new Introduction by Lou Stathis, a new Afterward by the Editors and a Bibliography. The novels are formatted Ace Book-style. (The first several pages of HIGH PRIEST are duplicated upside-down on the WILD WIVES side.) The book is unmarked with just minimal signs of wear. An opportunity to own two of Willeford's earliest and most collectible novels.