
cover art by Robert McGinnis

better image than previously posted
his 3rd novel, a tale of municipal corruption, published two years before his first Lew Archer

1990 St. Martins hardcover, 1st print

1990 St. Martin’s mass market reissue
An ex-cop, burned out in a dead-end job, is enticed by an alluring co-worker into a plan to rob the chain of stores for which they work on Christmas Eve. Great dark comic noir.

1952 Dell mapback reissue
1950 Random House hardcover
cover illustration by Eddie Chan
better image than previously posted

1951 Lippencott hardcover
1952 UK Bloodhound paperback reissue
cover art by Dennis McLoughlin
4th with Peter Chambers, private eye (Kane disliked the term ‘private dick’ , preferring ‘private richard’)