AMANDA CROSS: The Collected Stories

New York: Ballantine Books, 1997. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. For a number of years Heilbrun, a tenured professor of English literature at Columbia University, kept her identity as "Amanda Cross," the author of a series of witty, literary mysteries (featuring an amateur sleuth, Kate Fansler, who was also an English professor0, concealed from the public, afraid it might compromise her work at Columbia. Heilbrun's identity was discovered by a mystery fan searching copyright records. This book is a collection of 10 Cross/Heilbrun short stories, most previously published in magazines or in other short story collections. Most are Kate Fansler stories. First edition, first printing (as stated, with complete number line). About 5 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches, 184 pages in dark grey paper-covered boards with a green backstrip and gold lettering on spine. Includes an introduction by the author. Dustjacket's front panel features background photo of ivy and statuary behind a centered box with yellow borders containing Heilbrun's pseudonymn. Back panel has five blurbs praising Heilbrun's work. Front end page shows single, faint, vertical crease about 2 inches long, o/w boards and text are free of any noticeable flaws or damage. Complete, clean and unmarked. Binding tight and square. Not ex-library, not remaindered. A very collectable copy of Heilbrun's short stories.