Elizabeth Daly

Elizabeth Daly (1878-1967) published her first mystery novel at the age of sixty-two, then went on to write fifteen more mysteries in a charming series set in 1940s New York, in a style reminiscent of the British Golden Age: They feature a gentleman sleuth who is a rare books expert and handwriting specialist and who solves crimes in his free time. Among her fans was Agatha Christie, who was noted to have declared Daly her favorite American author. As well as satisfying classic mysteries, Daly's novels serve as astute depictions of New York society at the time, a world on the point of vanishing. She received an Edgar award in 1960 for her body of work.