Walter S. Masterman

Walter S. Masterman was an English novelist and short story writer, primarily active in the early decades of the 20th century. He is best remembered for his contributions to the mystery and detective fiction genre, producing works that often featured intricate plots and logical deductions in the tradition of Arthur Conan Doyle and G. K. Chesterton. His novel "The Wrong Letter" (published circa 1910) is a representative example of the Edwardian-era crime story, focusing on a mistaken identity and a cleverly concealed criminal scheme. Masterman also wrote other mysteries such as "The Curious Mr. Tarrant" and "The Green Label," which were well-received in their time but have since become relatively obscure. While not a towering figure in literary history, Masterman's work reflects the popular taste for rational puzzles and gentleman detectives that defined the golden age of British crime fiction before World War I.