An exceptional and increasingly elusive Christopher Brookmyre collection comprising a signed first edition, first impression hardback in Near Fine condition with Near Fine dust jacket, accompanied by the considerably scarcer publisher's bound uncorrected proof, signed and in Very Good condition.
Rarely encountered as a pair, this offering brings together both the pre-publication and published states of Brookmyre's landmark debut novel. The hardback is signed directly to the title page by the author, while the bound proof is likewise signed, creating a highly desirable association set from the book that launched both Brookmyre's career and his celebrated Jack Parlabane series.
Quite Ugly One Morning is not merely an early Brookmyre title. It is the author's first novel, the work that announced a major new voice in British crime fiction and introduced readers to investigative journalist Jack Parlabane, one of the most distinctive protagonists in modern Scottish crime writing. The novel went on to establish the sharp, darkly comic style that would become Brookmyre's trademark and remains one of the most sought-after titles in his bibliography.
The scarcity value of this set lies particularly in the proof copy. Publisher's bound proofs were produced in far smaller numbers than the commercial edition and distributed primarily to reviewers, booksellers and members of the trade prior to publication. Surviving examples are uncommon; signed examples are scarcer still. The opportunity to acquire a signed proof alongside a signed first edition of Brookmyre's debut novel is increasingly rare. Dealer offerings of signed proof copies reflect the importance attached to this issue by collectors of modern first editions.
Summary: Set in Glasgow, the novel opens with a gruesome murder discovered in a tenement flat and quickly develops into a darkly comic, fast-paced thriller. Journalist Jack Parlabane becomes embroiled in a web of corruption, conspiracy, organised crime, and political intrigue as he investigates the killing. Combining sharp satire, memorable characters, and a vividly realised Scottish setting, Quite Ugly One Morning announced Brookmyre as a major new voice in crime fiction and launched one of the genre's most popular series.
