born April 23, 1895, Christchurch, N.Z.
died Feb. 18, 1982, Christchurch
New Zealand writer of detective stories.
Originally an artist, she later acted in and produced Shakespearean repertory theatre (1938–64). She is known for her mystery stories featuring Inspector Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard. With novels such as Overture to Death (1939), Final Curtain (1947), Death of a Fool (1956), and Dead Water (1963), she helped make the detective story a respectable literary genre.