Miles Burton

Cecil John Charles Street, who wrote under the pen names Miles Burton, John Rhode, and Cecil Waye, was a prolific British author of detective fiction. Best known for his two long-running series, he created the forensic scientist Dr. Priestley in the John Rhode novels and the amateur investigator Desmond Merrion in the Miles Burton series. His works, including "The Figure of Eight" and "Murder at Monk's Barn" under the Cecil Waye pseudonym, were celebrated for their intricate puzzles and scientific approach to crime-solving, predating modern forensic procedurals.

Street began his career as an artillery officer in the British Army before transitioning to military intelligence during World War I, serving as a propagandist for MI7. After the war, he worked as an Information Officer in Dublin during the Irish War of Independence before dedicating himself to writing. Critic Julian Symons categorized him as a leading figure in the "Humdrum" school of detective fiction, known for methodical plotting over literary flair. Street's Dr. Priestley novels were among the earliest to emphasize forensic details, such as analyzing soil samples, influencing later crime fiction. He passed away in January 1965, leaving behind a substantial legacy in the genre.