Elizabeth Daly was an American author, born in New York City, who is best known for her Henry Gamadge series of books. Daly received an education at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, and Columbia University. She worked as a French and English tutor and was awarded an Edgar for her debut Henry Gamadge series. The first book in the series, Unexpected Night, was published in 1940, and over the course of her career, Daly would publish a total of 16 books in the series.
Daly's writing is characterized by its superbly plotted stories, which have a timeless appeal that continues to attract modern readers. Her books provide a clear picture of society in her time, and her writing style is reminiscent of Jane Austen's, in which a person's family history, general type, and personal quirks are used to convey everything worth knowing about them. While some contemporary readers may find Daly's writing elitist and facile, fans of classic movies and whodunits will appreciate the focus on polished surfaces, which can reveal hidden secrets and things unsaid.
Daly's main character, Henry Gamadge, is a bibliophile, bookish author, and an amateur sleuth, who is an expert on rare books and manuscripts. This makes her books particularly appealing to fans of the bibliomystery genre. Daly's writing style is polished and refined, and her plots are meticulously crafted, making her books a joy to read. It is a shame that she is now sadly forgotten by many, as all her books are superbly crafted and plotted. Agatha Christie was one of her fans, and Daly published sixteen books, all of which featured her main series character, Henry Gamadge. The bibliography of her works follows the US editions, which are the true firsts, with some discrepancies between UK and US releases, some being published out of sequence. Murder Listens In and Shroud for a Lady are re-titled reissues of earlier books.