Golf Mysteries

With Father's Day coming up, we have an excuse to send another list of books to you!

GOLF MYSTERIES

Just in time for Father’s Day, here is a small selection of mysteries involving golf for those who play the game, watch the game, or like to read about the game.


Duke, Will, Fair Prey, New York, Graphic Publishing, 1956. First edition. Paperback original. A 13-year-old boy wins the Southern California Junior Championship and continues to improve, shooting a 64 of the championship tee of the Canyon Country Club, where he works as a caddie. After graduating college, he takes a job at the pro shop while deciding about whether to turn pro. One of the members humiliates him in front of other players at the club so, when he turns up dead in the rough, he is the prime suspect. Duke is the pseudonym of William Campbell Gault. Very good copy. $25.00


Francis, Dick, To the Hilt, New York, Putnam, 1996. First U.S. edition. A Scottish painter on a remote mountain is attacked by four thugs and he realizes that four golf paintings have been stolen, all views of Pebble Beach. Another of his golf paintings has been seen by an art critic who thinks the painter could be great because he had courage. He later plays, not because of much skill, but because, he says, he "paints frustration.". Fine in dust jacket. Signed by Francis. $35.00


Fuller, Timothy, Reunion with Murder, Boston, Little, Brown, 1941. First edition. A man in a dinner jacket is found dead on the 11^th tee at the Syonsett Golf Club. Fine in a bright and fresh dust jacket, which is very lightly rubbed at edges. $175.00
Another copy. Near fine. $20.00
Another copy. Good reading copy. $12.50

More After the Cut! 





Hamer, Malcolm, Sudden Death, London, Headline, 1991. First edition. Chris Ludlow is a pretty good golfer but he can’t earn enough to keep in his lavish lifestyle, so he takes a job as a stockbroker. He still caddies on the tour, and he is constantly on the course with his boss and clients. The miracle of the year seems to be Brian Harley, a has-been golfer, long lost to booze, who suddenly can’t miss a putt. As Ludlow walks the course to get yardage for his golfer, he comes across Harley’s caddie—who has a putter shaft stuck through his neck. Very fine, as new copy in dust jacket. $50.00


Jepson, Selwyn, The Mystery of the Rabbit’s Paw, N.Y., Harper, 1932. First U.S. edition. An invitation to an estate for a day of golf leads to suicide. Or is it murder? Minor golf content. Spine sunned; a very good copy. $15.00


Keating, H.R.F., The Body in the Billiard Room, New York, Viking, 1987. First U.S. edition. Inspector Ghote of the Bombay India Police is assigned to investigate a murder at an old resort town built to resemble Victorian England. Attempting to have a conversation with each of the suspects, he finds that the only time he can get with one of them is to play golf with him. Ghote has never swung a club but he goes, determined to watch his playing partner and replicate his moves. For the first two holes, Ghote appears to have a latent talent for world class golf. Very fine, as new copy in dust jacket. Review material laid in. $25.00


McInerny, Raph, Body and Soil, N.Y., Atheneum, 1989. First edition. Fine in dust jacket. Andrew Broom, top-notch amateur golfer and a successful lawyer, is playing a round with his nephew and a client to whom he has to explain why he won’t represent him in a divorce case. He shoots a birdie on the long 7^th hole, his nephew a par four, and the client admits to six of the ten shots he actually took. Inscribed and signed by the author. $25.00


McNeile, H.C., Out of the Blue, N.Y., Doran, 1925. First U.S. edition. A short story collection, one of the stories being "Uncle James’s Golf Match." Very good. $45.00


Oppenheim, E. Phillips, The Evil Shepherd, Boston, Little, Brown, 1922. First U.S. edition. Chapter 5 features a golf match. Very good copy. $17.50


Penzler, Otto, ed., Murder in the Rough, N.Y., Mysterious Press, 2006. First edition. A collection of golf mysteries with original stories by Lawrence Block, Simon Brett, Ken Bruen, Jonathan Gash, Steve Hamilton, Laura Lippman, Ian Rankin, John Sandford, etc. Remainder mark on bottom edge, else very fine in dust jacket. $20.00

Platt, Kin, The Kissing Gourami, N.Y., Random House, 1970. First edition. Private eye Max Roper investigates the murder of a beautiful blonde that involves a handsome golf pro. Fine in dust jacket. Inscribed and signed. $45.00

Sally Owen

The Mysterious Bookshop

sally@mysteriousbookshop.com