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John Creasey (1908–1973)

Author of Gideon's Day

663+ Works 8,467 Members 146 Reviews 7 Favorited

About the Author

John Creasey was born in Southfields, Surrey on September 17, 1908. He was educated at Fulhan Elementary School and Sloane School, both in London. From 1923 to 1935 he worked in various clerical, factory, and sales jobs while trying to establish himself as a writer. His first book was published in show more 1930 and first crime novel, Seven Times Seven, was published in 1932. In 1935 he became a full-time writer. He published 29 books in 1937 alone. In 1953, Creasey was a main force behind the founding of the British Crime Writers Association. He won the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1962. He also was several times an unsuccessful candidate for Parliament, and in 1967 he founded the All-Party Alliance movement, urging voters to choose the best candidate regardless of party. During his lifetime, he published 562 books under 28 pseudonyms. His novel Gideon's Day was adapted into a movie in 1958, directed by John Ford. He also wrote plays, short stories, and juvenile books. He died on June 9, 1973. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: j marric, Abel Mann, J J Marric, J. J. Maric, Gordon Ashe, Krizi Dzhon, John Creasy, J.J> Marric, John Creasy, J. J. Marric, John Greasey, John Creasey, Norman Deane, John Creasey, Marric J. J., John Creasey, Creasey John, Morton Anthony, Robert Caine Frazer, Robert Caine Frazier, Robert Crane Frazier, Henry St. John Cooper, John Creasey (JJ Marric), Marric,J.J. Creasey John, York,Jeremy Creasey John, Creasey,John Marric J. J., Jeremy York (John Creasey), John) J. J. (creasey Marric, J. J. Marric (John Creasey), John Creasey as Gordon Ashe, Norman Deane (John Creasey), John Creasey as J.J. Marric, Creasey,John Morton Anthony, John AKA Gordon Ashe Creasy, Jeremy John as York Creasey, John as Gordon Ashe Creasey, JOHN AKA J J MARRIC CREASEY, John aka Marric Creasey, J J, Jeremy York aka john creasey, John Creasey as J. J. Marric, J. J. John as Marric Creasey, Anthony John; Morton Creasey, J. J. aka John Creasey Marric, John Creasey (Anthony Morton), John Creasy as Anthony Morton, John Creasey as Anthony Morton, (Anthony Morton) John Creasely, and Creasey J. J. Marric, John, John Creasey as Anthony Morton, JOHN as ANTHONY MORTON CREASEY, John Creasey as Anthony Morton, John Creasy ( Anthony Morton ), John AKA Anthony Morton Creasey, JOhn Morton Anthony aka Creasey, Anthony morton aka john creasey, John J.J. Marric aka John Creasey, Michael halliday aka john creasey, J. J. Marric (pseud. John Creasey), John Creasey writing as J.J. Marric, Creasey John Writing As Jeremy York, William Vivian Butler as J.J. Marric, John Creasey writing as J. J. Marric, writing as J. J. Marric John Creasey, John Creasey writing as Anthony Morton, pseud. för John Creasey J. J. Marric, J J MARRIC JOHN CREASEY AS LESLIE CHARTERIS ASHE, John Title Gideon's mo J. J. Author Creasey Maric, Very clean Marric J J (John Creasey); very good-fine condition

Also includes: Charles Hogarth (2), Richard Martin (15), Michael Halliday (1), Jeremy York (2), Kyle Hunt (1), Anthony Morton (1)

Disambiguation Notice:

aka Gordon Ashe, M E Cooke, Norman Deane, Robert Caine Frazer, Patrick Gill, Michael Halliday, Charles Hogarth, Brian Hope, Colin Hughes, Kyle Hunt, Abel Mann, Peter Manton, J J Marric, Richard Martin, Rodney Mattheson, Anthony Morton, Jeremy York
John Creasey wrote under too many names to list here, so see this page (Click on "The Book Collection" then "Books by Author").
Note: The Baron Goes EAST & The Baron Goes FAST are similarly titled but separate entries in The Baron Series and should not be combined.

Image credit: Courtesy of John Creasey Literary Management Limited

Series

Works by John Creasey

Gideon's Day (1955) 157 copies, 7 reviews
Gideon's Week (1956) 109 copies, 5 reviews
Gideon's Fire (1961) 102 copies, 5 reviews
Gideon's Night (1957) 96 copies, 5 reviews
Gideon's Ride (1963) 95 copies, 2 reviews
Gideon's Month (1958) 92 copies, 3 reviews
Gideon's Risk (1960) 89 copies, 2 reviews
Gideon's Lot (1965) 87 copies, 3 reviews
Gideon's Vote (1964) — Author — 84 copies, 1 review
Gideon's Wrath (1967) 82 copies, 1 review
Gideon's Power (1969) 81 copies, 2 reviews
Gideon's March (1962) 80 copies, 1 review
Gideon's River (1968) 76 copies, 2 reviews
Gideon's Sport (1970) 72 copies, 2 reviews
The Toff and the Deadly Parson (1944) 69 copies, 1 review
Gideon's Fog (1974) 69 copies
Gideon's Staff (1959) 69 copies, 1 review
Gideon's Art (1971) 68 copies, 1 review
A Bundle for the Toff (1967) 66 copies, 1 review
Gideon's Drive (1976) 63 copies, 1 review
The Masters of Bow Street (1974) 62 copies, 3 reviews
Gideon's Men (1972) 61 copies, 1 review
The Toff Goes to Market (1942) 59 copies
Gideon's Badge (1966) 57 copies
Death of a Postman (1956) 57 copies, 1 review
The Baron on Board (1964) 56 copies
Stars for the Toff (1968) 55 copies
The Baron and the Missing Old Masters (1968) 55 copies, 1 review
The Toff and the Golden Boy (1969) 53 copies
The Toff on Fire (1957) 52 copies
The Toff at the Fair (1954) 52 copies
Gideon's Press (1973) 48 copies, 1 review
Here Comes the Toff (1940) 48 copies, 1 review
The Figure in the Dusk (1951) 47 copies
Inspector West Cries Wolf (1950) 46 copies, 1 review
Inspector West Makes Haste (1955) 46 copies
The Beauty Queen Killer (1954) 44 copies
The Toff and the Toughs (1961) 44 copies
Triumph for Inspector West (1948) 42 copies
Follow the Toff (1961) 40 copies
Inspector West at Home (1944) 39 copies, 1 review
Puzzle for Inspector West (1951) 39 copies
Kill the Toff (1950) 38 copies, 2 reviews
Inspector West Alone (1950) 38 copies, 1 review
Inspector West Takes Charge (1942) 38 copies, 1 review
Nest Egg for the Baron (1954) 36 copies
Murder, London-New York (1958) 36 copies, 1 review
The Toff Proceeds (1941) 36 copies, 1 review
The Baron in France (1953) 35 copies
Theft of Magna Carta (1973) 35 copies
The Toff and the Fallen Angels (1970) 35 copies, 1 review
The Scene of the Crime (1961) 35 copies
Meet the Baron (1937) 34 copies, 1 review
The Touch of Death (1954) 34 copies
Murder, London-Australia (1965) 34 copies, 3 reviews
Introducing the Toff (1938) 33 copies, 1 review
Holiday for Inspector West (1946) 33 copies, 3 reviews
Send Superintendent West (1953) 33 copies
The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle (1964) 33 copies, 1 review
Affair for the Baron (1967) 33 copies, 2 reviews
Black for the Baron (1959) 33 copies
Murder, London-South Africa (1966) 33 copies, 1 review
Inspector West At Bay (1952) 33 copies
Give a Man a Gun (1953) 32 copies
Hang the Little Man (1955) 32 copies
The Terror (1962) 32 copies
The Toff in New York (1956) 32 copies, 1 review
The Toff on the Farm (1958) 32 copies
Two for Inspector West (1955) 31 copies, 2 reviews
Alibi (1971) 31 copies
Death of a Racehorse (1959) 30 copies, 2 reviews
The Flood (1956) 30 copies
The Toff and Old Harry (1949) 30 copies
Double for the Toff (1959) 30 copies
A Splinter of Glass (1972) 30 copies
Gideon's Force (1978) 29 copies
The Baron Returns (1937) 29 copies
Salute the Toff (1941) 29 copies
The Plague of Silence (1958) 29 copies
A Knife for the Toff (1951) 28 copies
Danger for the Baron (1953) 28 copies
The Depths (1963) 28 copies, 1 review
Accident for Inspector West (1957) 28 copies
So Young to Burn (1968) 27 copies
Poison for the Toff (1946) 27 copies
Hide the Baron (1956) 27 copies
Inspector West Regrets (1945) 27 copies
Look Three Ways at Murder (1964) 27 copies
The Death Miser (Department Z) (1932) 27 copies, 1 review
Last Laugh for the Baron (1970) 27 copies
Battle for Inspector West (1948) 27 copies
Help from the Baron (1955) 27 copies
A Rope for the Baron (1948) 26 copies, 1 review
Model for the Toff (1957) 26 copies
Death in Cold Print (1961) 26 copies, 1 review
Murder on the line (1960) 26 copies
Find Inspector West (1957) 25 copies
The killing strike (1958) 25 copies, 1 review
A Kind of Prisoner (1954) 24 copies, 2 reviews
A Six for the Toff (1955) 24 copies, 1 review
Inspector West Leaves Town (1943) 24 copies
Cry for the Baron (1950) 24 copies
The Double Frame (1957) 24 copies
The Inferno (1965) 24 copies
A Part for a Policeman (1970) 24 copies, 1 review
Inspector West Kicks Off (1949) 24 copies, 1 review
The Famine (1967) 24 copies, 1 review
The Baron Goes East (1953) 24 copies
The Crime-Haters (1961) 23 copies
Gideon's Law (1981) 23 copies
A Rocket for the Toff (1960) 23 copies
Versus the Baron (1940) 23 copies
Sport for the Baron (1966) 23 copies
Make-up for the Toff (1956) 22 copies
Murder with Mushrooms (1950) 22 copies
Murder, London-Miami (1969) 22 copies
Blood Red (1958) 22 copies
Salute for the Baron (1960) 22 copies
Traitor's Doom (1942) 22 copies
The Drought (1959) 22 copies
Shadow the Baron (1951) 22 copies, 1 review
The Toff at Butlin's (1954) 22 copies, 1 review
The Toff on board (1949) 22 copies, 1 review
A Mask for the Toff (1951) 21 copies
The Executioners (1967) 21 copies
First Came a Murder (1934) 21 copies, 2 reviews
Alias the Baron (1939) 21 copies
The Baron Again (1938) 21 copies, 1 review
The Baron Branches Out (1961) 21 copies
Call for the Baron (1940) 21 copies
The House of the Bears (1946) 20 copies
The Toff and the Spider (1965) 20 copies
Fool the Toff (1950) 20 copies
The Black Spiders (1957) 20 copies
Accuse the Toff (1943) 20 copies
The Toff down under (1953) 20 copies
Policeman's Dread (1962) 20 copies
Hunt the Toff (1952) 20 copies
The Baron Goes Fast (1954) 20 copies
A Nest of Traitors (1970) 19 copies, 1 review
The Baron at Bay (1938) 19 copies
The Baron at large (1939) 19 copies
The Big Call (1964) 19 copies
A Clutch of Coppers (1967) 19 copies
The Baron Comes Back (1943) 19 copies, 1 review
The Smog (1970) 19 copies, 1 review
The Toff and the Lady (1975) 19 copies
Attack the Baron (1951) 19 copies
Books for the Baron (1949) 19 copies
A blast of trumpets (1975) 19 copies
The toff in town (1947) 18 copies
Gideon's Raid (1986) 18 copies
A Scream of Murder (1970) 18 copies
A Doll for the Toff (1959) 18 copies
A Case for the Baron (1945) 18 copies
A Prince for Inspector West (1956) 18 copies
Wait for Death (1957) 18 copies
The Blight (1968) 18 copies, 1 review
Trap the Baron (1950) 18 copies
Leave it to the Toff (1962) 18 copies
Feathers for the Toff (1945) 17 copies
Let's Kill Uncle Lionel (1947) 17 copies
The Baron goes a-buying (1971) 17 copies
Gideon at Work (1957) 17 copies, 1 review
The Pack of Lies (1958) 17 copies
Call the Toff (1953) 17 copies
The Unbegotten (1971) 17 copies
Gideon's Way (1983) 17 copies
Gideon London Omnibus (1972) 17 copies
Menace (1938) 17 copies, 2 reviews
The League of Dark Men (1947) 17 copies
Hammer the Toff (1975) 16 copies
Death on Demand (1939) 16 copies
The Mists of Fear (1955) 16 copies
As Merry As Hell (1973) — some editions; Author, some editions — 16 copies
A Sharp Rise in Crime (1978) 16 copies
Burgle the Baron (1973) 16 copies
The Kidnapped Child (1955) 16 copies
The Toff Takes Shares (1948) 16 copies
Warn The Baron (1952) 16 copies
A Life for a Death (1972) 16 copies
Man Who Was Not Himself (1976) — some editions; Author, some editions — 15 copies
Blame the Baron (1948) 15 copies
A Herald of Doom (1973) 15 copies
Vote for the Toff (1971) 15 copies
The Toff among the millions (1943) 15 copies
Panic! (1939) 15 copies, 1 review
The Killers of Innocence (1952) 15 copies
The Mark of the Crescent (1935) 15 copies
Go Away Death (1941) 15 copies
The Insulators (1972) 15 copies, 1 review
A rabble of rebels (1971) 15 copies
Reward for the Baron (1945) 14 copies
Department of Death (1949) 14 copies
Death in the Rising Sun (1945) 14 copies
Run away to murder (1947) 14 copies
The Baron and the Beggar (1947) 14 copies
Double for death (1954) 14 copies
The Legion of the Lost (1943) 14 copies
Sons of Satan (1948) 14 copies
A Plague of Demons (1976) 14 copies
A Promise of Diamonds (1965) 14 copies, 1 review
Murder Too Late (1947) 14 copies
A Taste of Treasure (1966) 14 copies
Death in the Trees (1954) 14 copies
Career for the Baron (1946) 14 copies
Dark harvest (1947) — some editions — 14 copies
The Long Search (1954) 14 copies
This Man Did I Kill? (1974) — some editions; Author, some editions — 14 copies
The Toff is Back (1942) 14 copies, 1 review
Gideon's Fear (1990) 14 copies
The Baron, King-Maker (1975) 13 copies
The Toff Breaks In (2014) 13 copies
The Oasis (1969) 13 copies
Mark Kilby Stands Alone (1962) 13 copies
There Goes Death (1942) 13 copies
Sabotage (1941) 13 copies
No Darker Crime (1943) 12 copies
Death Round the Corner (1935) 12 copies
Shadow of Doom (1946) 12 copies
Lame Dog Murder (1952) — some editions; some editions — 12 copies
The Man Who Shook the World (1950) 12 copies, 1 review
The Peril Ahead (1946) 12 copies
Kill or be Killed (1949) 12 copies
Murder Must Wait (Department Z) (1939) 12 copies, 1 review
Redhead (1933) 12 copies, 2 reviews
The Toff in Wax (1966) 12 copies
Kill Once, Kill Twice (1946) 12 copies
The Sleep (1964) 12 copies
Two Men Missing (1943) 12 copies
Mystery Motive (1947) 12 copies
A Shadow of Death (1968) 11 copies
Cruel as a Cat (1968) — some editions; Author, some editions — 11 copies
Rogues Rampant (1944) 11 copies
Death from Below (1963) 11 copies
The Withered Man (1940) — some editions — 11 copies
Murder Came Late (1946) 11 copies, 1 review
Carriers of Death (1937) 11 copies
The Voiceless Ones (1973) 11 copies
Dangerous Quest (1944) 11 copies
Kill My Love (1972) 10 copies
Invitation to adventure (1945) 10 copies
Death in a hurry (2024) 10 copies, 1 review
Engagement with Death (1948) 10 copies
The Quiet Fear (1963) 10 copies
'Ware Danger (1941) 10 copies
The Enemy Within (1950) 10 copies, 1 review
The Extortioners (1974) 10 copies
Missing or Dead (1951) 10 copies
Murder In the Stars (1953) — some editions; some editions — 10 copies
Unknown mission (1940) 10 copies
Runaway (1972) 10 copies
Dangerous Journey (1939) 10 copies
Prophet of Fire (1951) 10 copies, 1 review
Death in Flames (1943) 10 copies
The Toff Steps Out (2015) 10 copies
Give Me Murder (1947) 9 copies
Terror by Day (1970) 9 copies
The Hollywood Hoax (1961) 9 copies
Death on the Move (1945) 9 copies
Death Stands By (1938) 9 copies
Death in High Places (1973) 9 copies
Rogues' Ransom (1962) 9 copies
Dark Mystery (1948) 9 copies
Men, Maids and Murder (1972) 9 copies, 2 reviews
Dark Peril (1944) 9 copies
Days of danger (1937) 9 copies
The Thunder Maker (1976) 9 copies
The Hounds of Vengeance (1945) 9 copies
A Puzzle in Pearls (1949) 9 copies
Thunder in Europe (1936) 9 copies
The Day of Disaster (Department Z) (1942) 9 copies, 1 review
The Perilous Country (1943) 9 copies
Wicked As the Devil (1966) — some editions; some editions — 9 copies, 1 review
The terror trap (1936) 9 copies, 1 review
Island of Peril (1940) 8 copies, 1 review
Close the Door on Murder (1948) 8 copies
Murder in the family (Superintendent Folly mysteries) (1944) — some editions — 8 copies
I Am the Withered Man (1941) — some editions — 8 copies
Find the Body (1945) 8 copies
Love for the Baron (1979) 8 copies
Two Meet Trouble (1975) 8 copies
The Wings of Peace (1948) 8 copies
As Lonely As the Damned (1971) — some editions; some editions — 8 copies
Three for Adventure (2013) 7 copies
The League of Light (1949) 7 copies
The Mystery Bedside Book (1960) — Contributor — 7 copies
The Man Who Stayed Alive (1955) 7 copies
Look at Murder (1952) — some editions — 7 copies
The Dark Circle (1950) 7 copies
Secret Errand (1939) — some editions — 7 copies
Out of the Shadows (1973) 7 copies
Kill a wicked man (1957) 7 copies
Take a Body (1951) — some editions; some editions — 7 copies
Here is Danger (1946) 7 copies
The Gallows Are Waiting (1949) 7 copies
The Toff Goes On (1939) 7 copies
Murder Most Foul (1941) 7 copies
The Secret Murder (1940) 6 copies
Incense of Death (1954) 6 copies
Death Out of Darkness (1954) — some editions — 6 copies
The Man I Killed (1950) 6 copies
Man on the Run (1953) — some editions; some editions — 6 copies
Cunning as a Fox (1965) — some editions; some editions — 6 copies
Seven Times Seven (1932) 6 copies
Sly As a Serpent (1967) — some editions; Author, some editions — 6 copies
As Empty As Hate (1972) — some editions; some editions — 6 copies
So soon to die (1955) 6 copies
First a Murder (1947) — some editions; some editions; some editions; some editions — 6 copies
Murder Ahead (1953) 6 copies
Quarrel with Murder (1951) 6 copies
A Period of Evil (1970) — some editions; some editions — 6 copies
Gideon's Press / Inspector West at Home (1973) — Author; Author — 6 copies
The silent house (1947) 6 copies
To Kill a Killer (1973) 6 copies, 1 review
How Many to Kill (1960) 6 copies
Sleepy Death (2025) 5 copies
Come Home to Crime (1945) 5 copies
Gateway to Escape (1944) 5 copies
The man I killed (1963) 5 copies
Mark Kilby Takes a Risk (1962) 5 copies
Two for the Money (1962) 5 copies, 1 review
Play for Murder (1946) 5 copies
No Hurry to Kill (1950) 5 copies
Seeds of murder (1956) 5 copies
The Third Mystery Bedside Book (1962) — Editor — 5 copies
Death to My Killer (1950) 5 copies
Sight of Death (1956) 5 copies
Le baron, tome 3 (1997) 4 copies
The Riviera connection (2013) 4 copies
Hide and kill (1959) 4 copies
Death of a Stranger (1955) 4 copies
Le baron, tome 1 (1993) 4 copies
To Kill or Die (1960) 4 copies
Too Good to Be True (1969) 4 copies
Hilda Take Heed (1955) 4 copies
The Whirlwind (1979) 4 copies
The Foothills of Fear (1968) 4 copies
The mountain of the blind (1968) 4 copies
Double for murder (1951) 4 copies
Thicker Than Water (1962) 4 copies
No Need to Die (1955) 4 copies
Murder Assured (1975) 4 copies
Crimes Across the Sea (1964) 4 copies
Guilt of innocence (1968) 3 copies
By Persons Unknown (1941) — Author — 3 copies
Sentence of Death (1950) 3 copies
Hate to Kill 3 copies
Keys to crime (1947) 3 copies
Adrian and Jonathan (1972) 3 copies
Dying Witnesses (1973) 3 copies
Who Killed Rebecca? (1949) 3 copies
Cat and mouse 3 copies
Death in the Spanish sun (1954) 3 copies
Introducing mr brandon (1944) 3 copies
Danger woman (1966) 3 copies
Intent to murder (1973) 3 copies
Children of Despair (1968) 3 copies
Why Murder? (1948) 3 copies
An uncivilised election (2011) 3 copies
The Dawn of Darkness (1949) 3 copies
Heir to murder 3 copies
No alibi (1943) 3 copies
Sunny Ducrow (1920) 3 copies
Travelling crimes (2010) 3 copies
The mask of Sumi (2013) 3 copies
A backwards jump (2013) 3 copies
The Flying Stowaways (1938) 2 copies
Le baron, tome 2 (1994) 2 copies
Schatten über London (1962) 2 copies
Safari with fear (1953) 2 copies
The Black Biplane (1937) 2 copies
The Air Marauders (1937) 2 copies
Lend a hand to murder (1948) 2 copies
Smukke lig (2016) 2 copies
Mordgrossisten (2015) 2 copies
Gideon a rapporto (1978) 2 copies
Mr Quentin investigates (1943) 2 copies
Murder in the Highlands (1939) 2 copies
Murder at King's Kitchen (1943) 2 copies
Golden Death 2 copies
Murder At End House (1955) 2 copies
To nail a serial killer (2013) 2 copies
Blazing the Air Trail (1936) 2 copies
The Mystery Flight (1937) 2 copies
Thugs and economies (2013) 2 copies
Apostle of gloom (2012) 2 copies
Blood diamond (2013) 2 copies
Gideon combats influence (2011) 2 copies
Good and justice (2013) 2 copies
Darkness & confusion (2013) 2 copies
A Sword For The Baron (2013) 1 copy
A WOMAN"S WAY (1935) 1 copy
THE CALL OF LOVE. (1936) 1 copy
The Imaginary Marriage (2010) 1 copy
LE BARON SONNE LES FLICS 1 copy, 1 review
Stranger on the Shore 1 copy, 1 review
The Seeds of Murder (1956) 1 copy
Hellstorm 1 copy, 1 review
Le Baron Risque Tout (1972) 1 copy
Piège pour le Baron (1986) 1 copy
Why Murder? 1 copy
Central Party (1970) 1 copy
LE PRINCE ET LES BARBUS 1 copy, 1 review
LE PRINCE EN CROISIERE 1 copy, 1 review
LE PRINCE EN UNIFORME 1 copy, 1 review
24H DE LA VIE D'UN FLIC 1 copy, 1 review
LE PRINCE HORS LA LOI 1 copy, 1 review
LE PRINCE SONNE L'HALLALI 1 copy, 1 review
CLARISSA ET LES TODUS 1 copy, 1 review
UN MORT DE TROP 1 copy, 1 review
LE BARON ET LE POGNARD 1 copy, 1 review
Mlha děsu (1992) 1 copy
3x John Creasey (1992) 1 copy
The Toff at Camp (2015) 1 copy
Man I Didn't Kill (1973) 1 copy
Farligt spel 1 copy
The Toff On The Trail (1942) 1 copy
Let's Look at America (1956) 1 copy
L'eclat de verre (1973) 1 copy
TERREUR A MIDI 1 copy, 1 review
No end to danger (1972) 1 copy
Murder by the way (1973) 1 copy
Murder Week-End (1950) 1 copy
The Crooked Killer (1959) 1 copy
The Sixth Mystery Bedside Book (1965) — Editor — 1 copy
Vote for murder (1973) 1 copy
Voyage with murder (1975) 1 copy
Du Sang Sur Les Rails (1970) 1 copy
La Peine de mort (1971) 1 copy
Dræb hende! 1 copy
Mistænkt (2015) 1 copy
Broderkærlighed (2015) 1 copy
Blodige spor (2015) 1 copy
Syndebuk (2015) 1 copy

Associated Works

Murder by the Book: Mysteries for Bibliophiles (2021) — Contributor — 281 copies, 17 reviews
Murder on the Menu: Cordon Bleu Stories of Crime and Mystery, Volume 1 (1984) — Contributor — 211 copies, 2 reviews
The Long Arm of the Law (2017) — Contributor — 113 copies, 8 reviews
Masterpieces of Mystery : The Grand Masters (1976) — Contributor — 84 copies, 1 review
Great Tales of Crime and Detection (1992) — Contributor — 43 copies
Mysterious Pleasures (2003) — Contributor — 39 copies, 2 reviews
Ellery Queen's All-Star Lineup (1968) — Contributor — 19 copies
Great Stories of Mystery and Suspense 1977 Volumes 1 & 2 (1977) — Contributor — 13 copies
Ellery Queen's Anthology : 1976 Fall-Winter, Volume 32 (1976) — Contributor — 12 copies
Gideon of Scotland Yard [1958 film] (1958) — Original book — 6 copies
Three Days' Terror (1938) — some editions — 6 copies
Circle of Justice (1938) — some editions — 5 copies
Evening Standard Detective Book (1950) — Contributor — 5 copies
Planned Departures (1958) — Contributor — 4 copies
De bedste mord (1970) — Author, some editions — 3 copies, 1 review
John Creasey's Mystery Bedside Book (1971) (1970) — Contributor — 3 copies
Best Crime Stories 2 (1966) — Contributor — 2 copies
No Escape From Murder (1953) — some editions; some editions — 2 copies
Did It Happen? (1956) — Contributor — 1 copy
The Greyvale school mystery — some editions — 1 copy
The Crime Syndicate (1939) — some editions — 1 copy

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Other names
Morton, Anthony
Ashe, Gordon
Marric, J. J.
Martin, Richard
Cooke, Margaret
Cooke, M. E. (show all 27)
Fecamps, Elise
Ranger, Ken
Riley, Tex
Wilde, Jimmy
Riley, William K.
York, Jeremy
Cooper, Henry St. John
Credo
Deane, Norman
Frazer, Robert Caine
Gill, Patrick
Halliday, Michael
Hogarth, Charles
Hope, Brian
Hunt, Kyle
Mann, Abel
Manton, Peter
Marsden, Janes
Mattheson, Richard
St. John, Henry
Richard, Martin
Birthdate
1908-09-17
Date of death
1973-06-09
Gender
male
Education
Fulham Elementary School, London, England, UK
Sloane School, London, England, UK
Occupations
crime novelist
Organizations
Liberal Party
Awards and honors
MWA Grand Master (1969)
Agent
Fleming Literary Management LLP
Relationships
Creasey, Richard (son)
Short biography
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 in excess of 600 books under 28 different pseudonyms. 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 (which was also made into a television series). 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.
Nationality
UK
Birthplace
Southfields Surrey, England, UK
Places of residence
Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK
Place of death
Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK
Burial location
St Andrew's Nunton Churchyard Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK
Map Location
England, UK
Disambiguation notice
aka Gordon Ashe, M E Cooke, Norman Deane, Robert Caine Frazer, Patrick Gill, Michael Halliday, Charles Hogarth, Brian Hope, Colin Hughes, Kyle Hunt, Abel Mann, Peter Manton, J J Marric, Richard Martin, Rodney Mattheson, Anthony Morton, Jeremy York
John Creasey wrote under too many names to list here, so see this page (Click on "The Book Collection" then "Books by Author").
Note: The Baron Goes EAST & The Baron Goes FAST are similarly titled but separate entries in The Baron Series and should not be combined.

Members

Reviews

160 reviews
In this book people have trouble with being in love with the wrong people. Or are they the right people? Or are they in love with the right person, then the wrong person, then the right person again?
It gets slightly ridiculous, but probably not as much as it sounds.

Marjorie is in love with Tom, but her aunt/guardian already has a husband picked out for her: the dependable and handsome Hugh. Hugh is in love with Marjorie, but when he sees how set she is upon marrying Tom, he offers to tell show more her aunt that he is already secretly married and thus not an eligible suitor. Marjorie jumps at the offer and suggests a name for his "wife."
Unfortunately, the name she picks happens to be the name of a REAL PERSON, a friend from her school years. Silly girl.
The aunt is shocked by this revelation, but wants to dig further and find out why Hugh is estranged from his "wife." She invites Joan (the school friend who has unconsciously been placed in the role of wife) to her house and tries to reconcile the couple. Joan is outraged by what she perceives as an unbelievable insult.
Hugh unintentionally heaps insult upon insult on Joan over the next few weeks, trying to make things better, but not succeeding. Before too long he realizes he is in love with her. What happens from there on out is connected to the dastardly schemes of Joan's former employer, a creep who has started to smell scandal and is set on figuring out what the deal is with this rumored marriage. He's at least as interested in that as in getting Joan to marry him.
Throw into the mix some new neighbors for Joan, and you have many many many opportunities for love polygons (I'm pretty sure it's more than a triangle at some points).
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Most of the multiple storylines in this book were well handled, and I liked that Parsons got to go to Italy and meet face to face with his counterparts from another country while working a murder case. But I wish Gideon’s crew didn’t have to track down rapists, or that at least Marric didn’t feel the need to describe any of the scenes. I skipped a few pages because I didn’t want to read them. There was also the sadly-usual-to-these-books sexualization of young women and kind of show more treating it as a given that women and girls will be sexually harassed. So why do I keep reading these books? Well, apart from the everyday life of the Scotland Yard crew, I like Gideon and his wife, Kate, and their now-adult children; the Gideons are a stable family unit and Gideon is not a bitter, depressed divorcee with substance use issues like so many modern detectives. I also liked that in this book, Gideon was offered the position of assistant commissioner and had to decide what he wanted with his career. This was a particularly timely situation for me to be reading about, and I supported Gideon’s decision. show less
½
A study of disintegration

This is not the usual John Creasey fare where the story centres around brave and dashing young men (and, occasionally, girls) winning out against fearful odds. The protagonist here, Corliss, is a man consumed by hatred who seeks revenge against his country, and in particular his country's secret service, who he blames for the death of his father during the war. Working for a mysterious group of Russians, Corliss is thrown into the path of Department Z in such a way show more that they are certain to snap him up as a valuable recruit. This happens as planned and Corliss becomes the enemy within Department Z.

Corliss is a deeply unpleasant individual whose character disintegrates as the book progresses. The twists at the end took me by surprise — I was expecting something to turn things around, but not what actually happened.

Not a bad read, but I don't want to spend any more time in Corliss' company, so I won't be re-reading this one.
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The main plot, involving smuggling and potential robberies on the river, was great. The subplot involving the teenager abducted for sexual reasons was terrible, especially because characters (male AND female) expressed the repellent view of some girls being attractive in a way that men “can’t help” responding to. Way to completely absolve men of any responsibility, ugh. Not recommended, probably going in the recycle bin rather than the donation bin.
½

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