Frederick C. (Frederick Clyde) Davis

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1902, Frederick Clyde Davis became a professional writer while still a young man. He was educated at Dartmouth College and went on to write extensively for the pulps, building a reputation for brisk, entertaining storytelling.

Davis is especially associated with detective and mystery fiction, including novels featuring Professor Cy Hatch. He also wrote under pseudonyms including Stephen Ransome, Murdo Coombs, and Curtis Steele, and his work appeared in both book and magazine form over several decades.

His writing career stretched from the 1920s into the 1960s, and some of his stories also reached the screen. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1977, leaving behind a large body of popular fiction that still appeals to readers who enjoy classic crime, suspense, and pulp adventure.