Ralph Carter Woodthorpe was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 2 April 1886.

After his education he held a number of teaching posts in a variety of schools. He later entered journalism, becoming an assistant to Hamilton Fyfe during the latter's lively editorship of the 'Daily Herald'.

On the 'Daily Herald' he spent nearly three years contributing all kinds of things from leaders to wireless notes, and writing a daily humorous column as a by-line.

He had his first mystery novel 'The Public School Murder' published in 1932 and it was greeted by the critics as a fresh note in detective fiction and it set an example which was extensively followed thereafter. It was noted that he was 'a writer of comic detective novels'.

He went on to write a further seven detective novels and one non-detective novel, the latter being 'London is a Fine Town', a book that he regarded as his favourite among his books.

He received the detective writer's award of merit in that he was elected to the Detection Club.

He was unmarried and latterly lived in Sussex.

He died in Portsmouth in the December quarter of 1971, ie October, November or December - exact date not known therefore 1 December entered as this is a required field.