THE LIGHT OF DAY

New York: Ballantine Books, 1978. Mass Market Paperback. Good Plus to Very Good. This book won Ambler, best known for his spy-thrillers, the Edgar Award for best mystery novel in 1964. It is the story of Arthur Simpson, a small-time thief wanted by police for minor crimes in various European countries, who is recruited by a gang of international thieves planning a major, multi-million dollar robbery at Topkapi Palace in Turkey. Simpson is hired to drive a car load of guns and explosives across the Turkish border for use in the robbery. But things do not go well for Simpson and it isn't long before both the gang members and the police want his head on a platter. First edition thus (originally published in 1962), first Ballantine edition (as stated on copyright page). Mass market paperback, 215 pages in pictorial wrappers showing an antique dagger against a white background with red and black lettering on both covers and spine. A one-word blurb of praise from The London Times on back cover. Back cover shows a tiny dent and a diagonal crease and spine ends are bumped. Text edges are lightly soiled and there is a touch of age-tanning in margins, o/w book is complete, clean and unmarked, binding firm and square. A quite decent copy of this award-winning novel which was also the basis for the film "Topkapi," startting Merline Mercouri, Maximillian Schell and Robert Morley.