James Hadley Chase

Chase, James Hadley

24 featured booksChase, James Hadley

René Lodge Brabazon Raymond was born on 24th December 1906 in London, England, the son of Colonel Francis Raymond of the colonial Indian Army, a veterinary surgeon. His father intended his son to have a scientific career, was initially educated at King's School, Rochester, Kent. He left home at the age of 18 and became at different times a children's encyclopedia salesman, a salesman in a bookshop, and executive for a book wholesaler before turning to a writing career that produced more than 90 mystery books. His interests included photography (he was up to professional standard), reading and listening to classical music, being a particularly enthusiastic opera lover. Also as a form of relaxation between novels, he put together highly complicated and sophisticated Meccano models. In 1932, Raymond married Sylvia Ray, who gave him a son. They were together until his death fifty three years later. Prohibition and the ensuing US Great Depression (1929–1939), had given rise to the Chicago gangster culture just prior to World War II. This, combined with her book trade experience, made him realise that there was a big demand for gangster stories. He wrote as R. Raymond, James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Ambrose Grant and Raymond Marshall. During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force, achieving the rank of Squadron Leader. Chase edited the RAF Journal with David Langdon and had several stories from it published after the war in the book Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology. Raymond moved to France in 1956 and then to Switzerland in 1969, living a secluded life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, on Lake Geneva, from 1974. He eventually died there peacefully on 6 February 1985.

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Display name
James Hadley Chase
Personal name
Chase, James Hadley
Source identifier
OL425291A

Featured books

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Daulat Aai Maut Lai
Representative edition published 2020
Open Work
Apni Maut Apne Hath
Representative edition published 2020
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Khoon Ka Badla
Representative edition published 2020
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Sanki Katil
Representative edition published 2020
Open Work
A coffin from Hong Kong
Representative edition published 2020
Open Work
Miss Callaghan Comes to Grief
Representative edition published 2018
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No Business of Mine / Miss Shumway Waves a Wand
Representative edition published 2018
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Lady- here's your wreath
Representative edition published 2018
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Negde spri͡atatʹsi͡a zolotym rybkam
Representative edition published 2014
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Kogda preryvaetsi͡a filʹm
Representative edition published 2014
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Na chto sposobny zhenshchiny
Representative edition published 2014
Open Work
I hold four aces
Representative edition published 2014
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Have a change of scene
Representative edition published 2014
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Just a matter of time
Representative edition published 2014
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The dead stay dumb
Representative edition published 2013
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Believed Violent
Representative edition published 2013
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Want to stay alive?
Representative edition published 2013
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A can of worms
Representative edition published 2013
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Tell it to the birds
Representative edition published 2013
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The vulture is a patient bird
Representative edition published 2013
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Well now, my pretty
Representative edition published 2013
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You Must Be Kidding
Representative edition published 2013
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You have yourself a deal
Representative edition published 2013
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Believe This ... You?'ll Believe A
Representative edition published 2013
Open Work