Bøger af Edgar Wallace

I mange år har en forbryderbande haft succes med at trykke falske pengesedler, som er så dygtigt lavet, at det næsten ikke er til at skelne dem fra de ægte. Politiet mener, de ved, hvem hjernen bag falskmøntneriet er, men de kan ikke bevise noget. Da den øjensynligt harmløse embedsmand Reeder tilfældigvis kommer på sporet af sagen, kommer der endelig skub i den. Han viser sig nemlig at være mindst lige så skarp til at opklare forbrydelser, som politiet er.Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

Betty Carew er hele sin barndom igennem blevet holdt i et frygtens jerngreb af dr. Joshua Laffin, der selv nu, hvor hun er blevet en ung smuk kvinde, ikke vil slippe sin kontrol over hende. Han tvinger Betty til at sidde i fire timer hver dag ved et skrivebord i et butiksvindue og lade, som om hun skriver. Hun skal vente på, at nogen tager kontakt til hende. Men hvem er det, dr. Laffin venter på skal opsøge hende? Og er det hele bare et mærkeligt skridt i hans syge leg med Bettys psyke? Da Bill Holbrook sætter sig for at finde ud af mere om pigen ved skrivebordet, finder han ud af, at skrivebordet har tilhørt en butler, der er blevet henrettet for mordet på sin kone …Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

Henry Arthur Milton – også kendt som Ringeren – er en legende blandt politiet og i Londons kriminelle underverden for sine hævnmord. Inspektør Wembury åndede derfor lettet op, da han fik nyheden om, at Ringeren var død i Australien, ikke mindst fordi Ringerens lillesøster i mellemtiden var blevet fundet druknet i Themsen. Da den legendariske morder imidlertid dukker op i London i levende live, frygter Wembury, at byen vil blive badet i blod, så snart Ringeren finder frem til sin søsters morder.Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

Brødrene Lexington og Socrates Smith er eksperter i at analysere fingeraftryk og blodpletter. Da de en aften er på besøg hos Peter Mandle og hans steddatter, får de øje på et lys, der blinker en morsekode: "Kom til de tre ege". De ser en uhyggelig skikkelse fare over plænen, og næste morgen finder de et lig bundet til en egegren med et lilla mærke ved skudhullet …Brødrene går i gang med at efterforske det besynderlige mord. Én ting er de overbeviste om – det hele hænger sammen med den mystiske besked og den skikkelse, de så den aften.Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

Jesse Trasmere er en pengepurer, der ikke stoler på banker. Han har tjent en formue på forretninger i Kina, og alle pengene har han gemt i sit hus, der efterhånden minder om en mellemting mellem en bankboks og et fængsel. En dag bryder Trasmere sin strenge rutine og fortæller sin tjener, at han forlader byen for en tid for at undgå at rende ind i et gammelt bekendtskab, der for nyligt er ankommet til byen. Men hvordan kan det så lade sig gøre, at Trasmeres lig kort tid efter bliver fundet i en aflåst boks?Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

Abel Bellamy har arvet familiens slot, Garr Castle, efter hans bror Michael Bellamy er blevet beskyldt for mord og dræbt på vej til fængslet. Forsikringsefterforsker Spike Holland får mistanke om, at Abel bruger slottet som hovedkvarter for sin bande af juveltyve, og at han måske endda har kidnappet Michaels enke for at holde sin forbryderiske virksomhed hemmelig. Samtidig sniger den sagnomspundne grønne bueskytte, som det siges hjemsøger slottet, sig omkring om natten til alles skræk og rædsel. Hvis side er han på, hvis han da overhovedet er virkelig?Edgar Wallaces krimi "Den grønne bueskytte" er en klassiker og blev lavet til en serie af stumfilm i 1925. I 1940 blev den igen lavet til en serie af 15 film denne gang med tale.Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

Jim Morlake havde i ti år forsøgt at opklare mysteriet om den ukendte sømand, der blev fundet døden nær på en landevej. I løbet af disse ti år havde Den Sorte begået dristige røverier, uden at det var lykkedes nogen at stoppe ham. Men det var ikke kun disse to mysterier, der optog Jim Morlake. Han interesserede sig også i høj grad for den forretningsmand, der foretog lyssky handler i Marokko og i øvrigt dristede sig til at tro, at han ved at købe lord Carstons gods også kunne få hans datter, lady Joan, med i købet. Efterhånden gik det op for Jim Morlake, at det ikke var tre forskellige mysterier, han skulle opklare, men ét …Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

Tim Jordan har fået hædersnavnet ”Tigeren” under sit ophold i Afrika, og også i dag er han kendt som en dygtig og respekteret politimand. Han bliver sat på en mærkelig sag på godset Clench House, hvor butlerens mystiske natlige ekspeditioner falder sammen med en del uforklarlige dødsfald i områderne omkring godset. Da Tigeren finder ud af at en af godsets beboere har forbindelse til en tyvebande, der hærger hele landet, kommer hans eget liv pludselig i fare…Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

Døren med de syv låse gemmer på en hemmelighed, som mestertyven Lew Pheeney er fuldt opsat på at afsløre. Da det kommer til stykket, viser det sig imidlertid, at selv den garvede, snedige tyv bliver så bange for dørens uhyggelige vogter, at han må flygte i rædsel. Kort efter bliver han fundet dræbt, og politiet er overbeviste, om at hans mord hænger sammen med den gådefulde dør med de syv låse …Den engelske forfatter Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) levede et dramatisk og omflakkende liv. Som soldat i Boerkrigen blev Edgar Wallace ved et tilfælde korrespondent for Reuters og Daily Mail og begyndte samtidig at skrive digte og noveller. Edgar Wallaces første bestseller var en føljeton om de overgreb, han selv bevidnede, den belgiske kong Leopold lod gennemføre over for de indfødte i Congo. Siden er det blevet til dusinvis af udgivelser, der har gjort Edgar Wallaces navn til synonym med spændende romaner, der gemmer på langt mere, end man forventer af den klassiske føljeton.

The Three Just Men, is a classical and a rare book, that has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we at Alpha Editions have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and redesigned. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work, and hence their text is clear and readable. This remarkable book falls within the genres of Language and Literatures, English literature

Between 1904 and 1918, Wallace collected tales about life in the British Army and the escapades and adventures of the troops. These led him to create the eponymous character, ‘Smithy.’ The second book in the series ‘Smithy Abroad’ sees the eponymous soldier and his two mates, Nobby Clark and Spud Murphy, trying to scheme, connive, and bluff their way out of anything resembling hard graft. However, their plans have a tendency to backfire... A light-hearted and sometimes zany read for fans of humorous historical fiction.Smithy seriesInitially published in the Daily Mail, the ´Smithy´ series features a bunch of short stories about the everyday life of the soldiers in the British military.Born in London, Edgar Wallace (1875 – 1932) was an English writer so prolific, that his publisher claimed that he was responsible for a quarter of all books sold in England.Leaving school at the age of 12, Wallace made his first steps into the literary world by selling newspapers on the corner of Fleet Street.He worked as a war correspondent after joining the army at age 21, which honed his writing abilities. This led to the creation of his first book, ‘The Four Just Men.’Wallace is best remembered as the co-creator of ‘King Kong,’ which has been adapted for film 12 times (most notably directed by ‘Lord of the Rings’ director, Peter Jackson, and starring Jack Black and Naomi Watts).However, he leaves behind an extensive body of work, including stories such as ‘The Crimson Circle’ and ‘The Flying Squad.’

Tam o' the Scoots is a fast-paced thriller from popular British author Edgar Wallace. Set in London, the story follows the adventures of a young woman named Jeannie Dean who becomes embroiled in a dangerous criminal underworld. With plenty of suspense, action, and plot twists, this book is a true page-turner.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

In this thrilling sequel to Sanders of the River, author Edgar Wallace once again takes readers on a exciting journey through the wilds of colonial Africa. Follow the intrepid Commissioner Sanders as he battles poachers, smugglers, and other nefarious characters on behalf of the British Empire. With vivid descriptions of African landscapes and colorful characters, Bones is a must-read for anyone who loves tales of adventure and diplomatic intrigue in exotic locales.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Night had come to the West End, but though the hour was late, though all Suburbia might at this moment be wrapped in gloom-a veritable desert of deadness relieved only by the brightness and animation of the busy public-houses-the Strand was thronged with a languid crowd all agape for the shady mysteries of the night world, which writers describe so convincingly, but the evidence of which is so often disappointing. Deserted Suburbia had sent its quota to stare at the evil night-life of the Metropolis. That it was evil none doubted. These pallid shop girls clinging to the arms of their protecting swains, these sedate, married ladies, arm in arm with their husbands, these gay young bloods from a thousand homes beyond the radius-they all knew the significance of those two words: "West End.

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was born on the 1st April 1875 in Greenwich, London. Leaving school at 12 because of truancy, by the age of fifteen he had experience; selling newspapers, as a worker in a rubber factory, as a shoe shop assistant, as a milk delivery boy and as a ship's cook. By 1894 he was engaged but broke it off to join the Infantry being posted to South Africa. He also changed his name to Edgar Wallace which he took from Lew Wallace, the author of Ben-Hur. In Cape Town in 1898 he met Rudyard Kipling and was inspired to begin writing. His first collection of ballads, The Mission that Failed! was enough of a success that in 1899 he paid his way out of the armed forces in order to turn to writing full time. By 1904 he had completed his first thriller, The Four Just Men. Since nobody would publish it he resorted to setting up his own publishing company which he called Tallis Press. In 1911 his Congolese stories were published in a collection called Sanders of the River, which became a bestseller.

From the 1950's Ward, Lock Dust Jacket: Jack O' Judgment, that light-hearted, insouciant, masked mystery man, who sets out to expose a gang of daring crooks who are amassing millions regardless of their methods, is a book to read at a sitting. We are carried, spell-bound, through every page of what can justly be described as one of the late Edgar Wallace's best and most exciting thrillers....... Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 - 10 February 1932) was an English writer. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, Wallace left school at age 12. He joined the army at age 21 and was a war correspondent during the Second Boer War, for Reuters and the Daily Mail. Struggling with debt, he left South Africa, returned to London, and began writing thrillers to raise income, publishing books including The Four Just Men (1905). Drawing on his time as a reporter in the Congo, covering the Belgian atrocities, Wallace serialised short stories in magazines such as The Windsor Magazine and later published collections such as Sanders of the River (1911). He signed with Hodder and Stoughton in 1921 and became an internationally recognised author. After an unsuccessful bid to stand as Liberal MP for Blackpool (as one of David Lloyd George's Independent Liberals) in the 1931 general election, Wallace moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a script writer for RKO studios. He died suddenly from undiagnosed diabetes, during the initial drafting of King Kong (1933). Wallace was such a prolific writer that one of his publishers claimed that a quarter of all books in England were written by him. As well as journalism, Wallace wrote screen plays, poetry, historical non-fiction, 18 stage plays, 957 short stories, and over 170 novels, 12 in 1929 alone. More than 160 films have been made of Wallace's work. He is remembered for the creation of King Kong, as a writer of 'the colonial imagination', for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, and for the The Green Archer serial. He sold over 50 million copies of his combined works in various editions, and The Economist describes him as "one of the most prolific thriller writers of [the 20th] century", although few of his books are still in print in the UK.Wallace was born at 7 Ashburnham Grove, Greenwich, to actors Richard Horatio Edgar and Mary Jane "Polly" Richards, née Blair.[4][5][6] Wallace's mother was born in 1843, in Liverpool, to an Irish Catholic family. Mary's family had been in show business, and she worked in the theatre as a stagehand, usherette, and bit-part actress until she married in 1867. Mary's husband, Captain Joseph Richards, was also born in Liverpool, in 1838; he was also from an Irish Catholic family. He and his father John Richards were both Merchant Navy captains, and his mother Catherine Richards came from a mariner family. When Mary was eight months pregnant, in January 1868, her husband died at sea. After the birth, destitute, Mary took to the stage, assuming the stage name "Polly" Richards. In 1872, Polly met and joined the Marriott family theatre troupe, managed by Mrs. Alice Edgar, her husband Richard Edgar, and their three adult children, Grace Edgar, Adeline Edgar, and Richard Horatio Edgar.......

It is a time when the major world powers are vying for colonial honors, a time of juju, witch doctors, and an uneasy peace with Bosambo, the impressive chief of the Ochori. When Commissioner Sanders goes on leave, the trusty Lieutenant Hamilton takes over administration of the African territories. However, yet again, the trouble-prone Bones, while meaning to assist, only manages to spread his own unique style of innocent and endearing mischief.

EXTRAIT: Le jury ne peut admettre l'accusation de chantage portée contre M. Noé Stedland selon laquelle ce dernier aurait soi-disant soutiré une grosse somme d'argent au prisonnier: pareille allégation ne s'appuie sur aucun témoignage, il n'a été fourni aucune preuve des tractations auxquelles fait allusion la défense... Celle-ci ne nous dit même pas la nature des menaces dont se serait servi Stedland... La fin de l'exposé demeura conforme aux meilleures traditions de la magistrature et le jury sans se retirer rendit un verdict de culpabilité . La salle s'agita un instant et quelques paroles s'échangèrent à mi-voix tandis que le juge, ajustant son pince-nez, se mettait à écrire. Le prisonnier jeta alors un regard sur une jeune femme dont le visage pâle et tiré s'était tourné vers lui et il l'encouragea d'un sourire. Sans pâlir, il laissa aller ses yeux graves vers le personnage à perruque blanche qui, en robe puce, écrivait si laborieusement. Que pouvait bien écrire un juge en de telles circonstances, se demandait-il ? Pas un résumé du crime, assurément. Et maintenant il était impatient d'en finir avec toute cette salle, avec tous ces gens entassés dans la tribune réservée au public, avec l'avocat indifférent et, surtout, avec ces deux hommes qui, assis non loin du défenseur, l'examinaient si attentivement !

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 - 10 February 1932) was an English writer. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, Wallace left school at 12. Joining the army at 21, he was a war correspondent during the Second Boer War for Reuters and The Daily Mail. Struggling with debt, he left South Africa, returned to London and began writing thrillers to raise income, publishing books such as The Four Just Men (1905). Drawing on time as a reporter in the Congo, covering the Belgian atrocities, Wallace serialised short stories in magazines, later publishing collections such as Sanders of the River (1911). He signed with Hodder and Stoughton in 1921 and became an internationally recognised author. In this book: The Standard History of the War, Vol. I The Standard History of the War, Vol. II The Standard History of the War, Vol. III The Standard History of the War, Vol. IV

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 - 10 February 1932) was an English writer. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, Wallace left school at age 12. He joined the army at age 21 and was a war correspondent during the Second Boer War, for Reuters and the Daily Mail. Struggling with debt, he left South Africa, returned to London, and began writing thrillers to raise income, publishing books including The Four Just Men (1905). Drawing on his time as a reporter in the Congo, covering the Belgian atrocities, Wallace serialised short stories in magazines such as The Windsor Magazine and later published collections such as Sanders of the River (1911). He signed with Hodder and Stoughton in 1921 and became an internationally recognised author. After an unsuccessful bid to stand as Liberal MP for Blackpool (as one of David Lloyd George's Independent Liberals) in the 1931 general election, Wallace moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a script writer for RKO studios. He died suddenly from undiagnosed diabetes, during the initial drafting of King Kong (1933). Wallace was such a prolific writer that one of his publishers claimed that a quarter of all books in England were written by him. As well as journalism, Wallace wrote screen plays, poetry, historical non-fiction, 18 stage plays, 957 short stories, and over 170 novels, 12 in 1929 alone. More than 160 films have been made of Wallace's work. He is remembered for the creation of King Kong, as a writer of 'the colonial imagination', for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, and for The Green Archer serial. He sold over 50 million copies of his combined works in various editions, and The Economist describes him as "one of the most prolific thriller writers of [the 20th] century", although few of his books are still in print in the UK. Parents and birth: Wallace was born at 7 Ashburnham Grove, Greenwich, to actors Richard Horatio Edgar and Mary Jane "Polly" Richards, née Blair. Wallace's mother was born in 1843, in Liverpool, to an Irish Catholic family. Mary's family had been in show business, and she worked in the theatre as a stagehand, usherette, and bit-part actress until she married in 1867. Mary's husband, Captain Joseph Richards, was also born in Liverpool, in 1838; he was also from an Irish Catholic family. He and his father John Richards were both Merchant Navy captains, and his mother Catherine Richards came from a mariner family. When Mary was eight months pregnant, in January 1868, her husband died at sea. After the birth, destitute, Mary took to the stage, assuming the stage name "Polly" Richards. In 1872, Polly met and joined the Marriott family theatre troupe, managed by Mrs. Alice Edgar, her husband Richard Edgar, and their three adult children, Grace Edgar, Adeline Edgar, and Richard Horatio Edgar. Richard Horatio Edgar and Polly had a "broom cupboard" style sexual encounter during an after-show party. Discovering she was pregnant, Polly invented a fictitious obligation in Greenwich that would last at least half a year and obtained a room in a boarding house where she lived until her son's birth, on 1 April 1875. During her confinement she had asked her midwife to find a couple to foster the child. The midwife introduced Polly to her close friend, Mrs Freeman, a mother of ten children, whose husband George Freeman was a Billingsgate fishmonger. On 9 April 1875, Polly took Edgar to the semi-literate Freeman family, and made arrangements to visit often......

Room 13 was written in the year 1924 by Edgar Wallace. This book is one of the most popular novels of Edgar Wallace, and has been translated into several other languages around the world.

Abel Bellamy, ein undurchsichtiger amerikanischer Industrieller, kauft ein altes englisches Schloss. gerüchten zufolge soll dort der "grüne Bogenschütze" spuken. Bellamy glaubt nicht an Gespenster. Bis er erleben muss, dass zwei Menschen durch grüne Pfeile getötet werden.

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 - 10 February 1932) was an English writer. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, Wallace left school at 12. Joining the army at 21, he was a war correspondent during the Second Boer War for Reuters and The Daily Mail. Struggling with debt, he left South Africa, returned to London and began writing thrillers to raise income, publishing books such as The Four Just Men (1905). Drawing on time as a reporter in the Congo, covering the Belgian atrocities, Wallace serialised short stories in magazines, later publishing collections such as Sanders of the River (1911). He signed with Hodder and Stoughton in 1921 and became an internationally recognised author. In this book: Sanders of the River The People of the River The River of Stars Bosambo of the River Lieutenant Bones Bones in London Bones, Being Further Adventures in Mr. Commissioner Sanders' Country The Keepers of the King's Peace Tam O' The Scoots

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was born on the 1st April 1875 in Greenwich, London. Leaving school at 12 because of truancy, by the age of fifteen he had experience; selling newspapers, as a worker in a rubber factory, as a shoe shop assistant, as a milk delivery boy and as a ship's cook. By 1894 he was engaged but broke it off to join the Infantry being posted to South Africa. He also changed his name to Edgar Wallace which he took from Lew Wallace, the author of Ben-Hur. In Cape Town in 1898 he met Rudyard Kipling and was inspired to begin writing. His first collection of ballads, The Mission that Failed! was enough of a success that in 1899 he paid his way out of the armed forces in order to turn to writing full time. By 1904 he had completed his first thriller, The Four Just Men. Since nobody would publish it he resorted to setting up his own publishing company which he called Tallis Press. In 1911 his Congolese stories were published in a collection called Sanders of the River, which became a bestseller. He also started his own racing papers, Bibury's and R. E. Walton's Weekly, eventually buying his own racehorses and losing thousands gambling. A life of exceptionally high income was also mirrored with exceptionally large spending and debts. Wallace now began to take his career as a fiction writer more seriously, signing with Hodder and Stoughton in 1921. He was marketed as the 'King of Thrillers' and they gave him the trademark image of a trilby, a cigarette holder and a yellow Rolls Royce. He was truly prolific, capable not only of producing a 70,000 word novel in three days but of doing three novels in a row in such a manner. It was in, estimating that by 1928 one in four books being read was written by Wallace, for alongside his famous thrillers he wrote variously in other genres, including science fiction, non-fiction accounts of WWI which amounted to ten volumes and screen plays. Eventually he would reach the remarkable total of 170 novels, 18 stage plays and 957 short stories. Wallace became chairman of the Press Club which to this day holds an annual Edgar Wallace Award, rewarding 'excellence in writing'. Diagnosed with diabetes his health deteriorated and he soon entered a coma and died of his condition and double pneumonia on the 7th of February 1932 in North Maple Drive, Beverly Hills. He was buried near his home in England at Chalklands, Bourne End, in Buckinghamshire.

A real classic. A basic pillar of the how-done-it variant in mystery fiction. After reading the infinity of far-fetched solutions to "impossible crimes" provided by many "specialists", the simplicity of the final outcome is a gratifying reading experience to the authentic connoisseur. A nourishing mental delicatessen. A suggestion: try to solve the candles enigma comfortably sitting in an armchair while you listen Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Good reading!