John Creasey

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John Creasey (September 17, 1908 – June 9, 1973) was born in Southfields, Surrey, England and died in New Hall, Bodenham, Salisbury Wiltshire, England. He was the seventh of nine children in a working class home. He became an English author of crime thrillers, published 562 books under 28 different pseudonyms, keeping to a consistently high standard of quality throughout. He invented many famous characters who would appear in a whole series of novels. Probably the most famous of these is Gideon of Scotland Yard, the basis for the television program Gideon's Way but others include Department Z, Dr. Palfrey, The Toff, Inspector Roger West, and The Baron. In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Gideon's Fire, written under the pen name J. J. Marric. And in 1969 he was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.

After publishing a book in 1930 and a crime thriller in 1932 he was able to turn to full time writing by 1935. He had one son from his first marriage. He later married Jean and had 2 more sons. He also married a further 2 times.

In 1967, he founded the All Party Alliance.