A signed first edition of one of Brookmyre's most original mysteries First Edition, First Printing | Signed by the Author

A superb Fine/Fine signed first edition of one of Christopher Brookmyre's most acclaimed and inventive novels, boldly signed by the author on the title page and complete with the original unclipped dust jacket. A superb collector's copy, exceptionally well preserved and increasingly desirable among readers of modern Scottish crime fiction.

Widely regarded as one of Brookmyre's most distinctive achievements, A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil combines a murder mystery with a wonderfully nostalgic, sharply observed exploration of school life, friendship, memory and the lingering effects of childhood.

The novel centres on a group of former schoolmates whose lives are thrown into turmoil when a suspicious death reopens old wounds and long-buried secrets. Moving seamlessly between the classroom and adulthood, Brookmyre paints an unforgettable portrait of schooldays in all their humour, awkwardness and cruelty, while gradually revealing the truth behind a mystery that has its roots decades in the past. The result is a gripping detective story, a coming-of-age novel and a social comedy all rolled into one.

Rich in wit, nostalgia and insight, this is Brookmyre at his most accomplished, delivering not only a compelling mystery but also one of the most accurate and entertaining literary depictions of growing up and surviving school ever written.

An ideal acquisition for collectors of signed modern first editions, Scottish crime fiction, contemporary mysteries and readers of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Stuart MacBride and Mina. Equally appealing to anyone assembling a comprehensive Christopher Brookmyre collection.

Condition: Fine book / Fine unclipped dust jacket. First Edition, First Printing. Little, Brown, London, 2006. A beautiful collector's copy of one of Brookmyre's finest and most original novels.

344 pp.