Description

James Hadley Chase was born in London and initially worked as a book wholesaler. His real name was Rene Brabazon Raymond, also writing under the name of Raymond Marshall. His first novel, written apparently over some weekends in 1938 was “No Orchids for Miss Blandish”, which achieved remarkable popularity, was made into a film in 1948, toured as a stage play and was remade as a film entitled Grissom in 1971.

He was heavily influenced by American crime and gangster writers and his own books fall within that genre, with many of them based in the U.S. despite the fact that he only ever went there on short visits and much of his detail came from encyclopaedias, maps and dictionaries. During his career he published 80 books, and while he was villified critically during his lifetime he had an enormous worldwide following, being translated and published throughout Europe, India and Africa.

Chase developed a number of series characters, with several books dedicated to each and all are fast moving tales of murder, intrigue, blackmail and espionage. Characters include ex commando Brick-Top Corrigan, Californian private eye Vic Malloy, former C.I.A. agent Mark Girland, and millionaire Don Miclem.

Hailed as ” the thriller maestro of the generation “, Chase died in 1985