Gaston Leroux

Before he became a novelist, Gaston Leroux worked as a journalist and court reporter in France. That background helped shape the brisk, investigative style of his fiction, which often feels as if a clever reporter is guiding the reader through a mystery.

He is best known today for The Phantom of the Opera (1910), but he also played an important role in early detective fiction. His novel The Mystery of the Yellow Room introduced the young reporter Joseph Rouletabille and became especially admired for its ingenious locked-room puzzle.

Born in Paris on May 6, 1868, Leroux studied law before turning fully to writing. He died in Nice on April 15, 1927, leaving behind novels that still appeal to readers who enjoy eerie settings, elaborate plots, and a strong sense of dramatic suspense.