born April 1, 1875, Greenwich, London, Eng.
died Feb. 10, 1932, Hollywood, Calif., U.S.
British novelist, playwright, and journalist.
He held odd jobs, served in the army, and was a reporter before producing his first success, The Four Just Men (1905). With works such as Sanders of the River (1911), The Crimson Circle (1922), The Flying Squad (1928), and The Terror (1930), he virtually invented the modern "thriller"; the plots of his detective and suspense stories are complex but clearly developed, and they are known for their exciting climaxes. His output (including 175 books) was prodigious and his rate of production so great as to be the subject of humour. His literary reputation has suffered since his death.