The back cover (see photo) states 'The finest writer in the English language of the pure, classical puzzle whodunit. Among the Crime Queens, Ngaio Marsh stands out as an Empress'.
Here are some additional quotes from the inside back dust jacket:
'This brilliant New Zealander Ngaio Marsh claims a high level as to sheer writing and still more as a view of humanity' (Elizabeth Bowen)
'Her work is as nearly flawless as makes no odds. Character, plot, wit, good writing and sound technique' (Sunday Times)
'Ngaio Marsh is among the most brilliant of those authors who are transforming the detective story fro a mere puzzle into a novel with many other qualities (Times Literary Supplement)
'Nobody begins to touch Ngaio Marsh's skill at creating corpses and suspects...her dialogue is a continuous delight (New York Herald Tribune)
As for condition, the inside pages (the actual novel) are entirely readable. However, there are a few issues, most of which can be seen in the photos. There is a tear in the plastic coating of the back dust jacket cover. There is also an odd picture of a convict (!) taped to the dust cover at the bottom of the spine. Inside, the first page has some damage that looks like a label was removed. Finally, on the back of the title page, there is a library stamp.
The condition of the book may not be perfect, but the story is great! If you haven't read any Ngaio Marsh books, this might be a good place to start!
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.