Peter Cheyney

Who was Peter Cheyney?

Reginald Evelyn Peter Southouse Cheyney — known as Peter Cheyney — was a British crime fiction writer who flourished between 1936 and 1951. Cheyney is the author of hard-boiled short stories and novels in the American style, most famously a series of ten novels about agent/detective Lemmy Caution, which, starting in 1953, were adapted into a series of French movies, all starring Eddie Constantine.

His other memorable creation is Slim Callaghan, a somewhat disreputable private detective most at home in the less savoury sections of London.

Although Cheyney's novels sold in the millions during his lifetime, he is almost forgotten today, and his works are mostly out of print.