The street scene reminded him of something one of the hard-boiled detective writers, maybe Raymond Chandler, had written: "California, the department store."

He was also a miner, metalsmith, graphic artist, science fiction and detective writer, publisher, musician (banjo and swing guitar).

As one of the many Nick Carters, he's been a famous detective writer.

Gladys Mitchell, the detective writer and creator of Mrs Bradley, lived in the village at the end of her life.

She was one of the earliest female detective writers in the world.

All she had discovered was that the detective writer Vivian Elmsley was being held by an armed man at Thornfield Reservoir.

The young Georges Simenon, later to become a well-known detective writer, is known to have attended some Locard lectures in 1919 or 1920.

"You weren't a detective," Johns exclaimed, "you were a detective writer."

He probably remains more well known in Scandinavia, where he used to be among the most famous detective writers, although his reputation is fading also there.

The creator of the "Spenser" novels "collaborates" with the classic detective writer by completing Chandler's last book.