Moray Dalton is the pen name of a renowned English author of the mid-20th century named Katherine Mary Deville Dalton Renoir. She was particularly famous for writing detective fiction, crime thriller, and mystery novels. The highlight of her writing career was the creation of the chief protagonist Inspector Hugh Collier.
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About Moray Dalton
Dalton was born on May 06, 1881 in London and died on February 22, 1963, in Worthing, Sussex. She had written more than 20 adventure thriller novels and was quite popular for her work. However, she is now included among the forgotten mystery writers.
Dalton wrote a series of detective novels, with many of her works featuring the character of Inspector Hugh Collier. Her novels were often set in England and are considered part of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, a period roughly spanning the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by the popularity of intricate and puzzle-like mystery novels.
While Dalton initially gained recognition for early novels like Olive in Italy (1909) and The Sword of Love (1920), her foray into crime fiction began in 1924. Over the next few decades, she published twenty-nine mysteries, concluding her crime fiction career in 1951.
One of her most notable works is The Strange Case of Harriet Hall, published in 1927. This novel is particularly praised for its clever plot and engaging characters. Moray Dalton’s writing style is known for its emphasis on intricate plots, atmospheric settings, and well-developed characters.
While Dalton was active during a time when many mystery writers gained widespread acclaim, her works have not received as much attention in modern times. However, for enthusiasts of classic mystery fiction, Moray Dalton remains a notable figure from the Golden Age. Her books are sought after by collectors and readers who appreciate the vintage charm of early 20th-century detective stories.
Bibliography
Inspector Hugh Collier
- One By One They Disappeared (1929)
- The Night of Fear (1931)
- The Belfry Murder (1933)
- The Harvest of Tares (1933)
- The Belgrave Manor Crime (1935)
- The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman (1936)
- The Strange Case of Harriet Hall (1936)
- Death in the Dark (1938)
- Death in the Forest (1939)
- The Longbridge Murders (1945)
- The Condamine Case (1947)
- The Case Of The Dark Stranger (1948)
- Inquest On Miriam (1949)
- Death of a Spinster (1951)
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