SAIGON SINGER

New York: Doubleday & Co., 1946. Hardcover. About Very Good/Good Plus to Very Good. The 15th novel in Van Wyck Mason's highly popular, mid-20th century mystery-thriller series featuring U.S. Army Intelligence Maj. Hugh North, this time ordered to the far east to hunt for a young woman known only as the "Black Chrysanthemum," who had escaped Manila during recapture of the Phillipines from the Japanese by the U.S. Army in 1944. She has in her possession a dossier with the names of British and American men who betrayed their countries for huge rewards from the Japanese. Book Club edition (dustjacket states book club edition, though book itself states "first edition" on copyright page.). About 5 3/4 x 8 1/4 inches, 312 pages in maroon paper-covered boards with gold lettering on spine and gold floral symbol stamped on front cover. Pictorial dustjacket's yellow front panel shows young blonde woman holding sheaf of papers with far east landscape in background. Dj's spine shows small picture of dancing couple. Black lettering on front cover and spine. Back panel has b & w photo of author along with short bio noting Van Wyck Mason's career as an Army officer in both World Wars before settling down to a bestselling career as historian and author. This copy shows bumped corners and spine ends and lightly soiled text edges, o/w complete, clean and unmarked. Dj is likewise soiled with fair amount of wear and tear around edges (worst is half-inch tear on top edge of back panel). Overall, dj is 95% or better whole with no loss or damage to art or graphic elements. A solid reading copy or placeholder.