The Coach Draws Near paperback cover 1972

This is a paperback cover by Robert McGinnis, and it’s just *chef’s kiss*. Look at the girl, draped in patterned fabric, backed into a corner near a grandfather clock. It’s all tight angles and looming shadow. The beauty of this cover lies in what it *doesn't* show. It makes me think about what McGinnis was trying to say, what he was thinking as he was making it. The paint is thin, almost like watercolor, and the washes of color create a mood of unease and maybe even claustrophobia. The girl's gaze meets ours, inviting us into the mystery, while also keeping us at a distance. Her eyes are big and round, they say 'Help me.' McGinnis was a master of this kind of visual storytelling, and it shows here. The way the shadows and light play off each other, the way the girl is positioned in the frame, it all adds up to something more than just a pretty picture. It’s a glimpse into another world, a world of suspense and intrigue and… well, I want to read this book!