author
Francis Everton
1883–1956
A British crime writer who brought an engineer’s eye for detail to classic detective fiction, he published mysteries under a pen name while working in industry. His books are part of the Golden Age tradition, with careful plotting and a cool, methodical style.
1 Audiobook
The Dalehouse murder
by Francis Everton
About the author
Francis Everton was the pen name of Francis William Stokes (1883–1956), a British crime novelist. Sources describe him as an engineer by training who held senior roles in his family’s business in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, including work with Stokes Castings.
That practical background seems to have shaped his fiction. He wrote detective novels in the late 1920s and 1930s, and he is especially associated with Detective Inspector Allport of Scotland Yard. His mysteries are remembered for their solid construction and for the way technical and professional knowledge quietly supports the storytelling.
Though not as widely known today as some of his contemporaries, Francis Everton belongs to the rich tradition of British Golden Age crime writing. Readers who enjoy carefully built puzzles, understated suspense, and vintage detective work may find his novels a rewarding discovery.