Mona A. Radford

Mona Augusta Radford (born Mangan) (1894-1990) with her husband Edwin Isaac Radford (1891-1973) made up the writing duo E. & M.A. Radford. Mona Augusta Mangan married Edwin Radford in 1939. Mona was a popular leading lady in musical-comedy and revues until her retirement from the stage. Mona wrote poetry as well as works for the stage. Edwin worked as a journalist, holding many editorial roles on Fleet Street in London, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. The couple turned to crime fiction when they were both in their early fifties. Edwin described their collaborative formula as: “She kills them off, and I find out how she done it.” Their primary series detective was Harry Manson who they introduced in 1944. Between 1944 and 1972 the two wrote thirty novels, all published in England. They also edited the Encyclopaedia of Superstitions and wrote on folk lore and the origins of words and phrases. The Radfords spent their final years living in Worthing on the English South Coast. - from Dean Street Press