Hampton Charles

Roy Peter Martin is a renowned English author, famous for his historical titles and detective fiction. Over the course of his life, he has written a significant number of novels, which have been published under various pseudonyms. One of his most well-known pseudonyms is Hampton Charles, under which he has written several detective novels set in Japan.

Martin's interest in Japan and Japanese culture is a recurring theme in his work, and it has played a significant role in shaping his career. He has written a total of thirteen detective novels that are set in Japan, featuring characters such as Superintendent Otani. His fascination with Japan also led him to write a book on Japanese cooking with his second wife, Joan Martin.

In addition to writing under the pseudonym Hampton Charles, Martin has also written under the name James Melville. As James Melville, he has written a series of detective novels set in Japan, as well as a historical novel titled 'The Imperial Way' about the February 26 Incident. Moreover, he has also written three of the 'Miss Seeton' novels under the pseudonym Hampton Charles.

Martin's academic background includes studying philosophy at Birkbeck College, and he has also served in the Royal Air Force. Before becoming an author, he had a career in education. His diverse background and experiences have no doubt contributed to his rich and varied body of work, which has captivated readers for decades.
Tetsuo Otani Books (as James Melville)
# Title Year
1 The wages of Zen 1979
2 The Chrysanthemum Chain 1980
3 A Sort of Samurai 1981
4 The Ninth Netsuke 1982
5 Sayonara, Sweet Amaryllis 1983
6 Death of a Daimyo 1984
7 Go Gently, Gaijin 1986
8 Kimono for a Corpse 1987
9 The Reluctant Ronin 1988
10 A Haiku for Hanae 1989
11 The Bogus Buddha 1990
12 The Body Wore Brocade 1992
13 The Death Ceremony 1993
Miss Seeton Books
# Title Year
1 Picture Miss Seeton (By: Heron Carvic) 1968
2 Miss Seeton Draws the Line (By: Heron Carvic) 1969
3 Miss Seeton, Bewitched / Witch Miss Seeton (By: Heron Carvic) 1971
4 Miss Seeton Sings (By: Heron Carvic) 1973
5 Odds on Miss Seeton (By: Heron Carvic) 1975
6 Miss Seeton by Appointment 1990
7 Advantage Miss Seeton 1990
8 Miss Seeton at the Helm 1990
9 Miss Seeton Cracks the Case ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1991
10 Miss Seeton Paints the Town ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1991
11 Hands Up, Miss Seeton ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1992
12 Miss Seeton by Moonlight ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1992
13 Miss Seeton Rocks the Cradle ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1992
14 Miss Seeton Goes to Bat ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1993
15 Miss Seeton Plants Suspicion ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1993
16 Starring Miss Seeton (By: Hamilton Crane) 1994
17 Miss Seeton Undercover ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1994
18 Miss Seeton Rules ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1994
19 Sold to Miss Seeton (By: Hamilton Crane) 1995
20 Sweet Miss Seeton ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1996
21 Bonjour, Miss Seeton ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1997
22 Miss Seeton's Finest Hour ( By: Hamilton Crane) 1999
23 Miss Seeton Quilts the Village ( By: Hamilton Crane) 2017
24 Miss Seeton Flies High (By: Hamilton Crane) 2018
25 Watch the Wall, Miss Seeton ( By: Hamilton Crane) 2019
Lazenby Books (as James Melville)
# Title Year
1 Diplomatic Baggage 1995
2 The Reluctant Spy 1995