Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Neglected Authors: Lillian O'Donnell

Lillian O’Donnell

The novels of Lillian O’Donnell have an important place in the history of crime fiction because she was one of the first women to write police novels featuring female cops. Along with Dorothy Uhnak, she rivaled in popularity the other New York police writers, Robert Daley and Ed McBain (though his books are set in Isola, a thinly disguised Manhattan), but focused on her policewoman’s job and private life, unlike her male colleagues. Her early titles (pre-1972) were suspense novels, the later titles being her more famous police novels.

Babes in the Woods, London, Abelard, 1965. First edition. Very good. $12.50

The Baby Merchants, NY, Putnam, 1975. First edition. Fine in near fine jacket, which has a very small tear at top spine, light soiling to back panel. $15.00

Blue Death, NY, Putnam, 1998. First edition. Fine in fine jacket. $22.95.

The Children’s Zoo, NY, Putnam, 1981. First edition. Fine in near fine jacket, which has a 1 ½" tear at top of spine and is lightly sunned. $10.00

Cop Without a Shield, NY, Putnam, 1983. First edition. About fine in near fine jacket. Thin watermark along bottom and top edges of boards, reciprocal on jacket. $15.00

Death Blanks the Screen, Arcadia House, 1961. Ex-library copy of this very scarce title. Flaps glued to boards, stamps on endpapers. $12.50

Death of a Player, NY, Abelard, 1964. Ex-library. Flaps glued to boards. Date stamps on endpapers. Dust jacket shortened. $8.50

Death on the Grass, Arcadia, 1960. Near fine in good jacket. Cover design has left a ghost image on the cloth. 2" tear to bottom right corner of front panel, small chips to spine ends, general wear to extremities. A tennis mystery. $16.50

Death Schuss, NY, Abelard, 1968. First edition of this scarce title. About fine in very good jacket. Some minor crimping to top and bottom of spine. Small chips to top and bottom of dj spine, some soiling to white dj. $25.00

Another Copy. First edition, near fine in near fine jacket. Spine darkened. Previous owner’s name in ink on front endpaper. Edge of flaps darkened, top corner of front flap torn. $50.00

Dive into Darkness, NY, Abelard, 1971. First edition. Fine in near fine jacket. 2" chip at bottom edge of front panel, small closed tear at bottom of dj spine, another at top edge of back panel. $22.50

Don’t Wear Your Wedding Ring, NY, Putnam, 1973. First edition. Near fine in very good jacket. Watermarks to rear pastedown and endpaper, reciprocal to flap. Small closed tear at top edge of front panel. $15.00

The Face of the Crime, NY, Abelard, 1968. Very good in very good jacket. Flaps glued to boards. Previous owner’s name in ink on front endpaper. Price-clipped. $13.50

Ladykiller, NY, Putnam, 1984. First edition. Fine in fine jacket. $14.95

Leisure Dying, NY, Putnam, 1975. First edition. ¼" closed tear at top edge of front panel, else fine in fine jacket. $15.00

Lockout, NY, Putnam, 1994. Fine in fine jacket with one small closed tear. $8.50

Murder Unde the Sun, NY, Abelard, 1964. First edition. About fine in very good jacket. Light rubbing to spine ends. Chips and tears to top of dj spine, large tear at top edge of back panel. $16.50

No Business Being a Cop, NY, Putnam, 1979. First edition. Fine in near fine jacket. Some wear to spine ends and corners. $15.00

The Other Side of the Door, NY, Putnam, 1987. First edition. Fine in near fine jacket. Two small closed tears to top edge of front panel, some shelf wear to top of dj spine, corners. $15.00

The Phone Calls, NY, Putnam, 1972. First edition. About fine in very good jacket. Minor fraying to bottom of spine. A few small, closed tears to jacket edges, light rubbing to top and bottom of dj spine. $15.00

A Private Crime, NY, Putnam, 1991. First edition. Tiny chip at top of dj spine, else fine in fine jacket. $19.95

Pushover, NY, Putnam, 1992. First edition. Fine in fine jacket. $19.95

The Raggedy Man, NY, Putnam, 1995. First edition. Fine in fine jacket. Signed. $19.95

Wicked Designs, NY, Putnam, 1980. First edition. Fine in fine jacket. $15.00

A Wreath for the Bride, NY, Putnam, 1990. Book club edition. Spot of rubbing to top of dj spine, else fine in fine jacket. $8.50

No comments: