Lawrence Sanders (March 15, 1920 – February 7, 1998) was an American novelist and short story writer. Lawrence Sanders was born in Brooklyn in New York City. After public school he attended Wabash College, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then returned to New York and worked at Macy's Department Store. In 1943 he joined the United States Marine Corps and was discharged in 1946. Sanders was a former magazine editorial writer and later turned to full-time fiction writing. He wrote his first novel The Anderson Tapes in 1970 at the age of 50. It deals with a plot by a group of criminals to rob a luxury apartment building. In 1971, Sanders received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best first novel.

When the Damaretion, the prized Greek coin from Archibald Havistock's collection, disappears and appraiser Mary Lou ""Dunk"" Bateson comes under suspicion, Bateson, a cop, and an insurance investigator set out to solve the crime. Reissue.