Lebbeus Mitchell

Lebbeus Horatio Mitchell was an American author born in Judsonia, Arkansas, on December 13, 1879, and he died in November 1963. Sources on his career describe him as a reporter and drama critic as well as a novelist, with work in Cedar Rapids, Kansas City, and New York.

His books show a striking range. He wrote children’s stories such as Bobby in Search of a Birthday (1916) and The Circus Comes to Town, both of which have remained accessible through public-domain and audiobook libraries. He also wrote adult fiction, including the 1933 mystery The Parachute Murder, remembered for its unusual opening and classic crime-fiction feel.

What makes his work appealing today is its mix of clear storytelling and curiosity. Whether writing about childhood wonder or a puzzling crime, he seems drawn to unusual situations, vivid setups, and stories that move briskly without losing their charm.