author

R. A. J. (Robert Alfred John) Walling

1869–1949

A journalist turned mystery writer, he built a strong following with clever detective stories featuring Philip Tolefree, an investigator who often posed as an insurance man. His books sit comfortably in the classic British crime tradition, with brisk plotting and a sharp eye for human motives.

1 Audiobook

George Borrow, the Man and His Work

George Borrow, the Man and His Work

by R. A. J. (Robert Alfred John) Walling

About the author

Born in Exeter in 1869, Robert Alfred John Walling was an English journalist as well as a crime novelist. He worked in the newspaper world before turning to fiction, and that background shows in the direct, efficient style of his storytelling.

Between 1927 and 1949 he published a long run of detective novels. He is best known for the series built around Philip Tolefree, a private investigator whose undercover role as an insurance representative gave the stories an unusual twist.

Walling died in 1949. Although he is not as widely remembered as some of his Golden Age contemporaries, his mysteries still appeal to readers who enjoy traditional British crime fiction with steady suspense and neatly worked-out puzzles.