The Mystery of Agatha Christie: An Intimate Biography of the First Lady of Crime

A hardcover copy in fine condition. Bound in deep red faux leather with gilt lettering and ornate gilt embellishments to the spine and covers, complete with yellow ribbon bookmark. Pages are crisp and unmarked throughout. The Mystery of Agatha Christie: An Intimate Biography of the First Lady of Crime by Gwen Robyns. Produced by Edito-Service S.A., Geneva, distributed in Canada by Omniprose Ltd., Scarborough, Ontario, 1981. Originally published by Doubleday & Co. Inc., 1978. Winner of the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. This is Volume 41 and the final volume of the Heron Books Agatha Christie Collected Works, a 41-volume series in uniform red faux leather binding with gilt trim — described as very rarely seen even in complete sets. This Canadian Omniprose edition, produced by Edito-Service S.A. in Geneva as a luxury collector's edition, is considered superior to the standard Heron edition in physical production, with thicker covers and paper. Gwen Robyns was a London-based New Zealand journalist and biographer who in 1953 travelled for four months with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on their Commonwealth tour, and who had personal friendships with Princess Grace of Monaco and Dame Margaret Rutherford.