Description: First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Fine / Fine. 8vo. Deluxe limited edition. Number 12 of an exceptionally small run of only 75 copies printed. Signed by Reginald Hill directly onto the limitation page. Features an exclusive introductory appreciation written by award-winning Canadian mystery writer Eric Wright. Bound in the publisher's original blue quarter-leather over multi-coloured marbled paper boards blending pale blue, dark blue, white, terracotta, and sand tones. Spine features bright gilt lettering. Issued without a traditional paper dust wrapper, this rare edition features the original clear protective acetate jacket. Condition: A spectacular, investment-grade copy. The blue leather spine is immaculate, perfectly vibrant, and completely free of rubbing or edge wear. The marbled boards are clean, brightly coloured, and square with razor-sharp corners. The internal pages are crisp, white, and entirely free of foxing, toning, or previous owner marks. The author's signature is bold and distinct. The clear acetate jacket is in pristine condition, showing no splits, chips, or surface scuffing. A flawless, collection-defining copy of the 14th Dalziel and Pascoe mystery. Synopsis: When a young village constable inexplicably vanishes from the picturesque Yorkshire valley of Enscombe, Detective Peter Pascoe and Sergeant Edgar Wield suspect trouble brewing beneath the community's idyllic surface. Their concerns are dismissed by the bullish Andy Dalziel until a darker, complex tapestry of ancient family feuds, frustrated desires, and modern greed begins to unravel. Spanning two highly charged days and structured with clever nods to Jane Austen's prose, the investigation pieces together a delicate web of lust and deception. The tension steadily builds toward Lady Day and the traditional Squire's Reckoning, where hidden secrets erupt into a bloody climax that will alter the detectives' lives forever.