Christianna Brand

Christianna Brand, born as Mary Christianna Milne in 1907 in Malaya, was a renowned crime writer and children's author who also wrote under various pseudonyms such as Mary Ann Ashe, Annabel Jones, Mary Roland, and China Thomson. She spent her early years in India and later returned to England, where she attended a Franciscan convent school. Due to her father's financial misfortunes, Brand was forced to work several low-paying jobs as a young adult, including governess, salesgirl, model, shop assistant, and dancer.

Brand's literary career began while she was working as a salesgirl, with the publication of her first novel, "Death in High Heels." She gained significant recognition in 1941 with the introduction of her beloved character, Inspector Cockrill of the Kent County Police, in the book "Heads You Lose." Inspector Cockrill appeared in seven of her novels, with "Green for Danger" being Brand's most famous work. The novel, set in a World War 2 hospital, was adapted into a film by Eagle-Lion Films in 1946, featuring Alastair Sim as the Inspector. Brand later shifted her focus to various genres and short stories, earning three Edgar Award nominations for her work.

In addition to her Inspector Cockrill series, Brand is also known for her children's series "Nurse Matilda," which was adapted into the film "Nanny McPhee" in 2005. A collection of her Inspector Cockrill short stories and a previously unpublished Cockrill stage play were published in "The Spotted Cat and Other Mysteries from Inspector Cockrill's Casebook" in 2002. Brand was also active in the writer community and served as the chair of the Crime Writers Association between 1972 and 1973.