Mavis Doriel Hay was a novelist who was born in 1894 in Potters Bar, Middlesex, and spent her early life in north London. She was born into a middle-class family and went on to attend St Hilda's, Oxford, around the same time that Dorothy L Sayers was at Somerville. Hay's writing career was relatively brief, but she made a significant contribution to the golden age of British crime fiction.
Hay published only three detective novels during her lifetime: 'Murder Underground' (1934), 'Death on the Cherwell' (1935), and 'The Santa Klaus Murder' (1936). These titles were all well-received on publication and are still regarded as classics of the genre today. In addition to her mystery novels, Hay was also an expert on rural handicraft and wrote several books on the subject, including 'Rural Industries of England and Wales' with co-author Helen Elizabeth Fitzrandolph.
In 1929, Hay married Archibald Menzies Fitzrandolph, a member of a wealthy and influential family of loyalist Canadians. Archibald joined the RAF but was killed in a flying accident in 1943, one of a number of tragedies that struck Hay. One of her brothers was killed aged 19 when his ship was sunk during the Battle of Jutland in 1916, her youngest sibling was killed when his Tiger Moth crashed in a Malayan jungle in 1939, and in 1940 a third brother lost his life working on the notorious Thailand-Burma railway after being captured by the Japanese.
After setting aside her mystery novels, Hay took up a role as a researcher for the Rural Industries Bureau, which was established to encourage craft industries in deprived areas. She was said to be so well-connected that she was able to arrange exhibitions in the homes of the aristocracy, connections that had probably come about from one of Archibald's cousins marrying Sir John Dashwood and the fact that the cousin then became a lady-in-waiting at the court of King George V. Hay's final book, 'Quilting', was published in 1972, just seven years before her death, which occurred in the village of Box in Gloucestershire.
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Murder Underground
1934
2
Death on the Cherwell
1935
3
The Santa Klaus Murder
1936
British Library Crime Classics Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Notting Hill Mystery
1862
2
The Notting Hill Mystery (By: Charles Warren Adams)
1862
3
The Poisoned Chocolates Case (By: Anthony Berkeley)
1929
4
The Poisoned Chocolates Case
1929
5
It Walks by Night
1930
6
It Walks by Night (By: John Dickson Carr)
1930
7
The Secret of High Eldersham / The Mystery of High Eldersham (By: Miles Burton)
1930
8
The Secret of High Eldersham / The Mystery of High Eldersham
1930
9
Castle Skull
1931
10
Castle Skull (By: John Dickson Carr)
1931
11
Mystery in the Channel
1931
12
Murder of a Lady / The Silver Scale Mystery (By: Anthony Wynne)
1931
13
The Incredible Crime
1931
14
Mystery in the Channel (By: Freeman Crofts)
1931
15
Murder of a Lady (By: Anthony Wynne)
1931
16
The Incredible Crime (By: Lois Austen-Leigh)
1931
17
Murder of a Lady
1931
18
The Lost Gallows (By: John Dickson Carr)
1931
19
The Lost Gallows
1931
20
The Z Murders
1931
21
The Z Murders (By: J. Jefferson Farjeon)
1931
22
The Corpse in the Waxworks / The Waxworks Murder (By: John Dickson Carr)
1932
23
The Corpse in the Waxworks / The Waxworks Murder
1932
24
The Division Bell Mystery
1932
25
The Division Bell Mystery (By: Ellen Wilkinson)
1932
26
Portrait of a Murderer
1933
27
Portrait of a Murderer (By: Anne Meredith)
1933
28
Death in Fancy Dress (By: Anthony Gilbert)
1933
29
Death in Fancy Dress
1933
30
Family Matters
1933
31
Family Matters (By: Anthony Rolls)
1933
32
The Hog's Back Mystery
1933
33
The Hog's Back Mystery (By: Freeman Crofts)
1933
34
The Mysterious Mr. Badman (By: William Fryer Harvey)
1934
35
Scarweather
1934
36
Murder Underground
1934
37
Death of an Airman
1934
38
Scarweather (By: Anthony Rolls)
1934
39
The Spy Paramount
1934
40
Death of an Airman (By: Christopher Sprigg)
1934
41
The Spy Paramount (By: E. Phillips Oppenheim)
1934
42
The 12.30 from Croydon
1934
43
The Chianti Flask
1934
44
The 12.30 from Croydon (By: Freeman Crofts)
1934
45
The Chianti Flask (By: Marie Belloc Lowndes)
1934
46
The Lake District Murder
1935
47
Weekend at Thrackley (By: Alan Melville)
1934
48
Quick Curtain (By: Alan Melville)
1934
49
The Cornish Coast Murder
1935
50
The Lake District Murder (By: John Bude)
1935
51
The Traitor
1936
52
Death on the Cherwell
1935
53
The Sussex Downs Murder
1936
54
The Cornish Coast Murder (By: John Bude)
1935
55
Death in the Tunnel / Dark in the Tunnel
1936
56
The Traitor (By: Sydney Horler)
1936
57
Mystery in White
1937
58
The Santa Klaus Murder
1936
59
The Sussex Downs Murder (By: John Bude)
1936
60
Bats in the Belfry
1937
61
The Cheltenham Square Murder
1937
62
Death of Anton (By: Alan Melville)
1936
63
The Wheel Spins / Passengers / The Lady Vanishes (By: Ethel Lina White)
1936
64
Excellent Intentions
1938
65
Murder in the Museum
1938
66
Death in the Tunnel / Dark in the Tunnel (By: Miles Burton)
1936
67
Murder in Piccadilly (By: Charles Kingston)
1936
68
Antidote to Venom
1938
69
Thirteen Guests
1938
70
Mystery in White (By: J. Jefferson Farjeon)
1937
71
The Port of London Murders
1938
72
Bats in the Belfry (By: E.C.R. Lorac)
1937
73
The Cheltenham Square Murder (By: John Bude)
1937
74
The Arsenal Stadium Mystery
1939
75
Seven Dead
1939
76
Excellent Intentions (By: Richard Hull)
1938
77
Verdict of Twelve
1940
78
Murder in the Museum (By: John Rowland)
1938
79
Antidote to Venom (By: Freeman Crofts)
1938
80
A Scream in Soho
1940
81
Death of a Busybody
1942
82
Thirteen Guests (By: J. Jefferson Farjeon)
1938
83
The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack
1942
84
The Port of London Murders (By: Josephine Bell)
1938
85
The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (By: Leonard R. Gribble)
1939
86
Somebody at the Door
1943
87
Seven Dead (By: J. Jefferson Farjeon)
1939
88
Murder's a Swine: A Second World War Mystery
1943
89
Verdict of Twelve (By: Raymond Postgate)
1940
90
Checkmate to Murder
1944
91
A Scream in Soho (By: John G. Brandon)
1940
92
Fell Murder
1944
93
Murder by Matchlight
1945
94
Death of a Busybody (By: George Bellairs)
1942
95
The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack (By: George Bellairs)
1942
96
Trouble on the Thames
1945
97
Somebody at the Door (By: Raymond Postgate)
1943
98
Fire in the Thatch
1946
99
Murder's a Swine (By: Nap Lombard)
1943
100
Death Makes a Prophet
1947
101
Checkmate to Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac)
1944
102
Smallbone Deceased
1950
103
Fell Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac)
1944
104
Calamity in Kent
1950
105
Murder by Matchlight (By: E.C.R. Lorac)
1945
106
Death Has Deep Roots
1951
107
Trouble on the Thames (By: Victor Bridges)
1945
108
The Danger Within / Death in Captivity
1952
109
Fire in the Thatch (By: E.C.R. Lorac)
1946
110
Murder in the Mill-Race
1952
111
Crossed Skis
1952
112
Death Makes a Prophet (By: John Bude)
1947
113
Death on the Riviera
1952
114
Smallbone Deceased (By: Michael Gilbert)
1950
115
The Colour Of Murder
1957
116
Calamity in Kent (By: John Rowland)
1950
117
Death Has Deep Roots (By: Michael Gilbert)
1951
118
The Christmas Egg
1958
119
The Progress of a Crime
1960
120
Last Seen Wearing (By: Hillary Waugh)
1952
121
The Danger Within / Death in Captivity (By: Michael Gilbert)
1952
122
The Spoilt Kill
1961
123
Murder in the Mill-Race (By: E.C.R. Lorac)
1952
124
The Body in the Dumb River
1961
125
Due to a Death
1963
126
Crossed Skis (By: Carol Carnac)
1952
127
Surfeit of Suspects
1964
128
Death on the Riviera (By: John Bude)
1952
129
Murder As a Fine Art (By: Carol Carnac)
1953
130
The Belting Inheritance
1965
131
The Last Best Friend
1967
132
The Man Who Didn't Fly (By: Margot Bennett)
1955
133
The Colour Of Murder (By: Julian Symons)
1957
134
The End of the Web
1976
135
Capital Crimes: London Mysteries
2015
136
The Christmas Egg (By: Mary Kelly)
1958
137
Resorting to Murder
2015
138
The Progress of a Crime (By: Julian Symons)
1960
139
Silent Nights
2015
140
Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm (By: Gil North)
1960
141
Murder at the Manor
2016
142
The Spoilt Kill (By: Mary Kelly)
1961
143
Serpents in Eden
2016
144
The Body in the Dumb River (By: George Bellairs)
1961
145
Crimson Snow
2016
146
Due to a Death (By: Mary Kelly)
1963
147
Foreign Bodies
2017
148
Surfeit of Suspects (By: George Bellairs)
1964
149
The Long Arm of the Law
2017
150
The Belting Inheritance (By: Julian Symons)
1965
151
Miraculous Mysteries
2017
152
The Last Best Friend (By: George Sims)
1967
153
Continental Crimes
2017
154
London Particular (By: Christianna Brand)
1972
155
The End of the Web (By: George Sims)
1976
156
Blood on the Tracks
2018
157
Capital Crimes (By: Martin Edwards, Richard Marsh)
2015
158
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories
2018
159
Golden Age of Detection Puzzle Book
2018
160
Resorting to Murder (By: Martin Edwards)
2015
161
Silent Nights (By: Martin Edwards)
2015
162
Deep Waters: Murder on the Waves
2019
163
Murder at the Manor (By: Martin Edwards)
2016
164
The Measure of Malice
2019
165
Serpents in Eden (By: Martin Edwards)
2016
166
Settling Scores: Sporting Mysteries
2020
167
Crimson Snow (By: Martin Edwards, Fergus Hume)
2016
168
A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries
2020
169
Two-Way Murder
2021
170
Foreign Bodies (By: Martin Edwards, Palle Rosenkrantz)
2017
171
Guilty Creatures: A Menagerie of Mysteries
2021
172
The Long Arm of the Law (By: Martin Edwards)
2017
173
Miraculous Mysteries (By: Martin Edwards)
2017
174
Continental Crimes (By: Martin Edwards)
2017
175
Blood on the Tracks (By: Martin Edwards)
2018
176
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories (By: Martin Edwards)
2018
177
Golden Age of Detection Puzzle Book (By: Kate Jackson)
2018
178
Deep Waters (By: Martin Edwards)
2019
179
The Measure of Malice (By: Martin Edwards)
2019
180
Settling Scores (By: Martin Edwards)
2020
181
A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries (By: Martin Edwards)
2020
182
Two-Way Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac)
2021
183
Guilty Creatures (By: Martin Edwards)
2021
184
Death of an Author ( By: E.C.R. Lorac)
2024
185
Crimes of Cymru (By: Martin Edwards)
2024
186
The Wheel Spins (By: Ethel Lina White)
2025
187
Lessons in Crime (By: Martin Edwards)
2025
188
Tea on Sunday (By: Lettice Cooper)
2026
Mavis Doriel Hay Anthologies
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Capital Crimes
2015
2
Capital Crimes: London Mysteries
2015
3
Resorting to Murder
2015
4
Silent Nights
2015
5
Murder at the Manor
2016
6
Serpents in Eden
2016
7
Crimson Snow
2016
8
Foreign Bodies
2017
9
The Long Arm of the Law
2017
10
Miraculous Mysteries
2017
11
Continental Crimes
2017
12
Blood on the Tracks
2018
13
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories
2018
14
The Measure of Malice
2019
15
Settling Scores: Sporting Mysteries
2020
16
Settling Scores
2020
17
A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries