author
Philip MacDonald
1900–1980
A master of Golden Age suspense, this British-born novelist and screenwriter is remembered for intricate mysteries, wartime tension, and a gift for keeping readers off balance. His books range from classic detective puzzles to darker thrillers that helped carry his work from London to Hollywood.
1 Audiobook
The rasp
by Philip MacDonald
About the author
Born in London on November 5, 1900, Philip MacDonald came from a notably literary family: he was the son of writer Ronald MacDonald and the grandson of George MacDonald. During World War I he served with the British cavalry in Mesopotamia, and that experience later fed into some of his fiction.
He became best known for crime novels and thrillers, especially the Anthony Gethryn mysteries, which began with The Rasp in 1924. He also wrote under other names, including Martin Porlock and W. J. Stuart, and his work ranged beyond detective fiction into suspense, war stories, and screenwriting.
MacDonald moved into film work after settling in California in the early 1930s. He contributed to Hollywood as a screenwriter and adaptor, with credits connected to works such as Rebecca, while novels like Patrol and The List of Adrian Messenger helped secure his reputation as a versatile and inventive storyteller. He died in Woodland Hills, California, on December 10, 1980.