Last Bus To Woodstock.

COLIN DEXTER

Publication: Macmillan, 1975, London

First edition. Author's first book. Inscribed by the author on the front free fly leaf in the year of publication to Joan Spencer: "Bless you for supporting me, Joan! / Best wishes / Colin Dexter / Xmas 1975." Ms. Spencer was a colleague of Dexter's at the Oxford and Cambridge Joint Examination Board where she ran the Modern Languages section. A tremendous contemporary association. Pages uniformly tanned throughout, else fine in a bright dust jacket with light professional restoration to top of front cover. Housed in a cloth clamshell case with a leather spine label and titles stamped in gilt. An attractive presentation. "Set against the backdrop of Oxford, the story begins with two women hitchhiking from Oxford to Woodstock. One of them, Sylvia Kaye, is later found murdered outside a pub in Woodstock, leading Morse and Lewis into a complex investigation. The narrative unfolds as Morse and Lewis delve into the circumstances surrounding Sylvia's death. Their investigation reveals a web of relationships and secrets among Sylvia's acquaintances, including her involvement with John Sanders, a young man with a penchant for pornography. The case becomes a labyrinth of red herrings and mis directions, challenging Morse's deductive skills and patience. The novel is noted for its intricate plotting and the gradual revelation of clues that lead to the unexpected resolution."