H.R.F. Keating — The Hard Detective

London, Macmillan, 2000. First edition. Hardback. An excellent, scarcely found signed first edition of H.R.F. Keating's detective novel. This scarcely found signed first edition of celebrated author of detective fiction H.R.F. Keating's novel 'The Hard Detective' features Keating's hero DCI Harriet Martens in her first published investigation as she races to solve the gruesome murders of her fellow officers perhaps being killed to punish Harriet's 'hard' approach to crime and punishment. Keating wrote an extensive number of celebrated novels, including those concerning his most famous hero, Inspector Ghote, and was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger by the Crime Writer's Association in 1996. First edition, in unclipped dustwrapper. Author's signature to the title page. A thrilling novel of revenge and justice, Keating's 'The Hard Detective' explores disturbing consequences and an unyielding woman in an unyielding world. In the publisher's original binding. Externally, very smart, with only some minor shelf wear to the tail of the spine. The dustwrapper is very smart with only some very minor shelf wear to the head of the spine and very minor handling marks to the rear cover. Internally, firmly bound, but strained at the title page. The pages are bright and clean. Fine . Ill.: None. Fine/Fine.