0582 The Scarlet Ruse

Title: The Scarlet Ruse Language: English Country: USA Format: Paperback Year: 1975 Publisher: Fawcett Collection: Gold Medal Collection #: Q3222 ISBN-10: 0449032221 ISBN-13: 9780449032220 Cover Price: $1.50 Cover Artist: Robert McGinnis

A really good cover for a really good story. I don’t know how many reviews I’ve read whining and moaning about all the detail MacDonald provides of the arcane art of rare stamps, but I love it. It shows how JDM researched every aspect of his stories and it all rings true. The scam is cleverly worked out.

Combine that with a great action ending, pictured above by the inimitable Robert McGinnis, and we have a winner. The postage stamp frame and the everybody-has-to-show-the-red-hat are icing on the cake.

Milk Carton

Have you seen me? I am the 23rd printing of The Scarlet Ruse, printed in 1982 by Fawcett as Gold Medal 1-3952-2 (ISBN-10 0449139522, ISBN-13 9780449139523). My cover price is $2.95 and I have a McGinnis cover, but not today’s cover. It has a big red hat (surprise!) floating by a lily pad like this edition. I probably pimp Free Fall in Crimson.