Arthur J. Rees

Arthur John Rees (1872-1942) was an Australian mystery writer who achieved recognition for his detective fiction during the early 20th century. Here's a summary of his writing career:

• Australian Roots: Born in Melbourne, Australia, Rees worked for a short time on the Melbourne Age newspaper before venturing to New Zealand, where he joined the staff of the New Zealand Herald.
• Shift to England: In his early twenties, Rees likely moved to England, where he established himself as a writer of crime and mystery stories.
• Critical Acclaim: Dorothy Sayers, a renowned detective fiction writer, praised Rees's work in the introduction to her anthology "Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror" (1928). This recognition indicates the quality of his writing within the genre.
• Inspector Crewe Series: Two of his most notable works are "The Hampstead Mystery" (1916) and "The Mystery of the Downs" (1918), both featuring Inspector Crewe as the central detective figure. These novels might offer a good starting point to explore Rees's writing style and themes.
• Genre Contributions: Rees's stories were translated into French and German, indicating a broader European readership for his work. While the full extent of his bibliography isn't definitively known, his contributions to the development of detective fiction during the early 20th century are noteworthy.

Overall, although information about his personal life is scarce, Arthur J. Rees's recognized talent for crafting suspenseful crime narratives leaves a mark on the history of detective fiction. Here are some additional points to consider:

• Limited Availability of Works: Finding physical copies of Rees's novels might be challenging due to their age and potential rarity. However, some online resources or libraries might offer digital versions or excerpts from his works.
• Shifting Landscape of Detective Fiction: It's important to remember that detective fiction has evolved considerably since Rees's time. While his work is appreciated for its historical context, the portrayal of characters, plots, and social issues might differ from contemporary detective fiction.

If you're interested in learning more about Arthur J. Rees and his work, exploring online literary databases, library catalogs, or used book websites might be your best options for finding his novels or critical analyses of his work.