Something In The Shadows.

VIN PACKER

Publication: Gold Medal, 1961, New York

First edition. PBO. GM s1146. Near fine in pictorial wrappers. The 15th Packer novel [there were 16, all Gold Medal PBOs] published by this talented & prolific writer in a period of less than 10 years--during which she also wrote and edited, as Ann Aldrich, a pioneering series of Lesbian nonfiction titles, all but one of them published by Gold Medal. At their best, Packer's crime novels--dark tales of psychological terror in suburban & small-town settings--compare quite favorably with those of David Goodis, for example, or her one-time housemate Patricia Highsmith, & deserve to be brought back into print. [A number of them, in fact, were slated for publication in Barry Gifford's distinguished Black Lizard series, before its sale to Vintage]. Anthony Boucher called Packer "consistently the most sensitive & illuminating writer of paperback originals." No faint praise from a man who was an early champion of Jim Thompson's PBOs. This is the only book with the name Meaker for a character, the author once said. Vin Packer is the pseudonym of Marijane Meaker. Cover art by Leo & Diane Dillon. When Maggie married him, she knew that he was different. It was as though a part of him was kept hidden, concealed, warped. Only when the newlyweds moved to an isolated farmhouse did Maggie begin to realize just how different her husband was!!!

Inventory Number: 12847