James Hadley Chase

Chase was born in London and educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent. He left home at the age of 18 and worked as children encyclopedia salesman and book wholesaler before devoting himself to writing. He wrote his first book No Orchids for Miss Blandish in the age of 33. During his career Chase published some 80 books. Although many of his stories are located in the US, he paid there only two brief visits, one to Miami and one in New Orleans. Most of the author's knowledge of America was derived from encyclopedias, maps and slang dictionaries.