The God Keepers (a Harper Novel of Suspense)

New York: Joan Kahn for Harper & Row, 1970 Hardcover, with dust jacket, in mylar cover, 181 pp. Detective Sergeant Ross Hogan of the LAPD is called to investigate the death of a junkie found on the beach. The corpse turns out to be a former colleague's ex-wife, and solving what looks like a murder opens a path toward redemption for the alcoholic ex-policeman. After enjoying the success of an Edgar Award for his first novel, Silver Street, published in 1968, author E. Richard Johnson had followed up with a number of other successful titles. Around the time of this publication, however, the convicted murderer and armed bank robber was on a personal downward spiral. As one biographer wrote, "the success and acclaim had not been enough to keep him out of trouble. Drugs, a prison escape, a return to crime on the outside, recapture, meant the hope of a reduction in his sentence evaporated. Condition: Very Good, with a Very Good dust jacket. Some fading to spine and spotting to fore edge of text block, as well as a remainder mark on top edge. Dust jacket unclipped, but showing some shelf- and edge wear, and a one half inch tear on rear of jacket. A relatively scarce title, this is the author's fifth novel, written from his cell in Stillwater Prison.. First edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good.