Identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
Identified via the cover and copyright page. While the copyright date is 1986, the ISBN (1-56865-233-X) and the absence of a number line or 'First Edition' statement strongly indicate that this is a Book Club Edition reprint rather than a true first edition.
Story
Sue Grafton (1940–2017) was a highly influential American author best known for her alphabet series featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone. 'C is for Corpse' is the third installment, originally published in 1986 by Henry Holt and Company. The distinctive dust jacket designs from the early books in the series are highly recognizable to mystery fans. Sue Grafton's 'Alphabet Series' is a staple of modern detective fiction.
Maker / Origin
Sue Grafton
Condition & Value
For Book Club Editions, value is heavily dependent on the condition of the dust jacket and the integrity of the binding. The seller notes the presence of the iconic yellow radiology folder dust jacket. The dust jacket shows minor edge wear and a modern retail barcode sticker on the front cover.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Sue Grafton's 'Alphabet Series' is a staple of modern detective fiction. While true first editions of her earliest books ('A' through 'E') command significant premiums from serious collectors, Book Club Editions and later printings are abundant. The secondary market for these BCEs is primarily driven by casual readers looking to complete their reading sets, resulting in steady movement but at low, commodity-like price points.
▲ Early entry in the highly popular and recognizable Kinsey Millhone mystery series
▲ Presence of the original dust jacket with the classic radiology folder design
▼ Book Club Edition status limits collector appeal and firmly caps the value at reading-copy levels
Best Venue
Given the low individual value of a BCE, consider bundling this with other Sue Grafton or similar vintage mystery novels to optimize shipping costs and appeal to readers building a series. If selling individually, list on eBay or Amazon as a reading copy with a competitive Buy-It-Now price around $8-$10.
Upside Potential
If the book is unexpectedly signed or inscribed by Sue Grafton, the value would shift into the $40-$60 range, aligning with the signed comp.
Also found — market-range context
Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.