John Harris

John Harris was a British author best known for his crime novels featuring Inspector Pel and his war-themed works. Writing under his own name and the pseudonym Mark Hebden, Harris gained recognition for his 1953 novel "The Sea Shall Not Have Them," which was adapted into a feature film the following year. His Inspector Pel series, continued by his daughter Juliet Harris under the name Juliet Hebden, remains a notable contribution to the crime genre. Harris's body of work spans multiple genres, reflecting his versatility as a writer.

Beyond fiction, Harris collaborated with Richard Wilbourn on historical research, particularly focusing on the Rudolf Hess affair. Their meticulous investigations, spanning decades, resulted in several authoritative books, including "Rudolf Hess: A New Technical Analysis" (2014) and "Rudolf Hess: Treachery and Deception" (2016). Their work, characterized by detailed archival research and firsthand visits to key historical sites, culminated in "Rudolf Hess: Truth at Last" (2018) and subsequent publications like "Conspiracy, Calamity and Cover Up" (2023). Harris and Wilbourn's collaborative efforts established them as leading experts on this historical event.

Harris's dual career as both a novelist and historian demonstrated his broad intellectual range. While his fiction entertained readers with compelling narratives, his historical works contributed significantly to the understanding of 20th-century events. His legacy continues through both his published works and the ongoing Inspector Pel series maintained by his daughter.