New York: Crown Publishers, 2005. 340pp. Book clean. Spine firm, red title there-on. Boards very lightly bumped on lower foredge corner of front panel. Leaves clean. Red remainder pen spot to lower textblock edge. Illustrated dustjacket negligibly edge-creased, short soft crease to spine. From the jacket flap: " . . . Ruth Rendell masterfully interweaves the multiple narratives that connect the angry young man who longs for recognition, the young model he dreams about, and his elderly spinster landlady who has found a reason to hope that romance may still find a way into her life. 'Thirteen Steps Down' winds its way to a conclusion that defies the reader's expectations in every way. This is psychological suspense at its very best." Book weight approx. 600g. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First American Edition. Hardcover and Dustjacket. Very Good +/Very Good +. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Synopsis

From the multi-award-winning author of The Babes in the Wood and The Rottweiler, a chilling new novel about obsession, superstition, and violence, set in Rendell's darkly atmospheric London.Mix Cellini (which he pronounces with an 'S' rather than a 'C') is superstitious about the number 13. In musty old St. Blaise House, where he is the lodger, there are thirteen steps down to the landing below his rooms, which he keeps spick and span. His elderly landlady, Gwendolen Chawcer, was born in St. Blaise House, and lives her life almost exclusively through her library of books, so cannot see the decay and neglect around her.The Notting Hill neighbourhood has changed radically over the last fifty years, and 10 Rillington Place, where the notorious John Christie committed a series of foul murders, has been torn down.Mix is obsessed with the life of Christie and his small library is composed entirely of books on the subject. He has also developed a passion for a beautiful model who lives nearby -- a woman who would not look at him twice.Both landlady and lodger inhabit weird worlds of their own. But when reality intrudes into Mix's life, a long pent-up violence explodes.From the Hardcover edition.

Reviews

(Log in or Create an Account first!)

Details

Bookseller: Diversity Books, IOBA (AU)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 011323
Title: THIRTEEN STEPS DOWN : A Novel
Author: Rendell, Ruth
Format/Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Used - Very Good +
Jacket Condition: Very Good +
Edition: First American Edition
ISBN 10: 1400098424
ISBN 13: 9781400098422
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Place of Publication: New York
Date Published: 2005
Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9&f
Keywords: CRIME FICTION, MODERN FIRST EDITIONS, SERIAL MURDERS FICTION
Bookseller catalogs: Fiction-First Editions; Fiction- Crime;

Terms of Sale

Diversity Books, IOBA

Diversity Books - Terms of Sale: All PRICES quoted are in Australian DOLLARS. Books may be returned within seven days of receipt if found to be incorrectly described. Australian buyers: We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and direct deposit to Commonwealth Bank account. International buyers: We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express. International buyers have the choice of FAST AIRMAIL [approx.3-10 business days, depending on destination]or STANDARD AIRMAIL [approx. 10-25 business days, depending on destination] Please EMAIL regarding ARTICLE FOR SALE, AVAILABILITY, PAYMENT and POSTAGE/HANDLING OPTIONS.

About the Seller

Diversity Books, IOBA

This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.

Biblio member since 2005

Korumburra, Victoria

Ask Seller a Question

About Diversity Books, IOBA

We offer a diverse range of interesting, good quality second-hand books for sale.

Glossary
Frequently asked questions

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Spine: The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Leaves: Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...
Jacket: Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
Remainder: Book(s) which are sold at a very deep discount to alleviate publisher overstock. Often, though not always, they have a remainder...