John Bude was the pen name of Ernest Carpenter Elmore (4 November 1901 – 8 November 1957), a versatile English figure recognized as a theatre producer, director, and author of crime and fantasy novels.
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About John Bude/Ernest Elmore
Born in Maidstone, Kent in 1901, Elmore’s early education took place at Mill Hill School until 1919, after which he pursued studies at a secretarial college in Cheltenham. Subsequently, he ventured into a career as a games master at St Christopher School, Letchworth.
With a passion for dramatics, Elmore became the stage manager for the Lena Ashwell Players, touring the country with the theatrical company. It was during his spare time in dressing rooms that much of his early writing unfolded. In 1933, he married Betty in Maidstone and relocated to Beckley, Sussex, where he transitioned into a full-time writing career.
Under the pseudonym John Bude, Elmore authored 30 crime novels, with Inspector William Meredith featuring prominently in most of them. The first two, The Lake District Murder and The Cornish Coast Murder, were published in 1935, followed by The Sussex Downs Murder the next year. Notably, these three novels have been reprinted by the British Library. In 1953, Elmore played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Norfolk-based Crime Writers’ Association. His contributions to the world of crime fiction continue to be celebrated for their engaging narratives and intricate plots.
Bibliography
Superintendent William Meredith Series
Also see: Series in Order: Superintendent William Meredith by John Bude
- The Cornish Coast Murder (1935)
- The Lake District Murder (1935)
- The Sussex Downs Murder (1936)
- The Cheltenham Square Murder (1937)
- Loss of a Head (1938)
- Hand on Alibi (1939)
- Death on Paper (1940)
- Death of a Cad (1940)
- Slow Vengeance (1941)
- Death Knows No Calendar (1942)
- Death Deals a Double (1943)
- Death in White Pyjamas (1944)
- Death in Ambush (1945)
- Trouble A-Brewing (1946)
- Death Makes a Prophet (1947)
- Dangerous Sunlight (1948)
- Murder in Montparnasse (1949)
- A Glut of Red Herrings (1949)
- Death Steals the Show (1950)
- The Constable and the Lady (1951)
- When the Case was Opened (1952)
- Death on the Riviera (1952)
- Twice Dead (1953)
- So Much in the Dark (1954)
- Two Ends to the Town (1955)
- A Shift of Guilt (1956)
- A Telegram from Le Touquet (1956)
- Another Man’s Shadow (1957)
- A Twist of the Rope (1958)
- The Night the Fog Came Down (1958)
Writing as Ernest Elmore
- The Steel Grubs (1928)
- This Siren Song (1930)
- The Baboon and The Fiddle (1932)
- Green in Judgement (1939)
- Snuffly Snorty Dog (1946) (children’s book)
- Christmas at Gillybrook (1949)
- The Lumpton Gobbelings (1954)
The Book Decoder 