Anthony Berkeley

Born in Watford in 1893, he was educated at University College London and went on to become one of the standout figures of the Golden Age of detective fiction. He wrote traditional puzzle mysteries as Anthony Berkeley, but he also used the name Francis Iles for books that took a more unsettling, psychological turn.

He is especially remembered for founding the Detection Club, the famous circle of British mystery writers that included many of the genre's biggest names. His work stood out for its wit, formal inventiveness, and willingness to play with readers' expectations about how a crime novel should work.

Across a long writing career, he produced novels, stories, and criticism that left a lasting mark on crime fiction. Even now, his books feel interesting for the way they move between fair-play detection, satire, and suspense.