Conrad Allen/Edward Marston

If you haven’t read Conrad Allen’s series featuring George Dillman and Genevieve Masefield, a duo that does its sleuthing aboard early 20th Century cruise ships, you’re in for a treat. Conrad Allen is just one of the pen names of Edward Marston (or is it Keith Miles?), who writes crime novels set in various time periods. “The books (by Conrad Allen) are enormous fun to research and write,” says the author . I say they’re also enormous fun to read. You may have to special order the books from a chain bookstore or visit a mystery bookstore to find them – they’re not as readily available as they should be – but they’re definitely worth taking the extra time. Murder  on the Salsette was great read … a book that will be enjoyed by all mystery enthusiasts, not just fans of historicals.

Books

Author Profile

Edward Marston is the author of forty crime novels, set in four distinct periods of history.

  • Domesday Books explore the crimes and misdemeanours surrounding the compilation of Domesday in the late 11th century.
  • Nicholas Bracewell series features an Elizabethan theatre company.
  • Christopher Redmayne mysteries look at the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666.
  • Inspector Robert Colbeck series deals with major crimes committed on Victorian railways.

Edward Marston was born and brought up in Wales. He read Modern History at Oxford then lectured in the subject for three years before becoming a full-time freelance writer.

His first historical mystery, THE QUEEN'S HEAD, was published in 1988, launching the Nicholas Bracewell series.

This year sees the publication of THE PRINCESS OF DENMARK, the sixteenth novel about the turbulent life of an Elizabethan theatre troupe.

Marston has worked as an actor and director, and once ran his own professional fringe theatre company. He has also taught drama in a prison and worked as a story editor for a film company at Pinewood. He has written over forty original plays for radio, television and the theatre, and hundreds of episodes of drama series.

But he now concentrates on developing the various series of crime novels that have come from his pen. Under the pseudonym of Conrad Allen, he has written six nautical mysteries, set during the Edwardian era. The first, MURDER ON THE LUSITANIA, came out in 1999.

Under the name of Keith Miles, he is the author of six crime novels whose protagonist, Alan Saxon, is a professional golfer. All the titles have a contemporary setting, each book taking Saxon to a different country. The latest, HONOLULU PLAY-OFF, was published in 2004.

Keith Miles is also the author of MURDER IN PERSPECTIVE and SAINT'S REST, two architectural mysteries, set in America in the 193O's and featuring Merlin Richards.

Robber barons, Elizabethan actors, Restoration rakes, Victorian villains, Edwardian adventures, America skullduggery or corruption in the world of professional golf - take your pick. All are on offer.

Profile and photo from author website. Used with permission

Author’s website: www.edwardmarston.com