Carter Brown ​

Alan Geoffrey Yates, better known by his pen name Carter Brown, was a British-Australian author of detective fiction, credited with over 330 novels. His novels were largely featuring American characters and settings, and were greatly popular in the United States.

Quick Facts ​

• Wrote over 150 novels.
• Many of his works have been adapted for the screen, such as the Al Wheeler series for French cinema.
• His books have been published in several languages.
• Best known for writing detective novels with a strong element of seduction and mystery.
• His real name was Alan Geoffrey Yates, but he wrote under various pseudonyms, with Carter Brown being the most famous one.

Background ​

Carter Brown was the pseudonym for the British-born author Alan Geoffrey Yates. Born in 1923 in Ilford, Essex, Yates moved to Australia in 1948 where he worked as a film technician, a producer's assistant, and later, a television scriptwriter. In 1953, under the name "Carter Brown," Yates began writing a series of detective novels, which led to international success. His first novel, The Lady is Transparent, was published in 1954. Flying the banner "Get 'em young, keep 'em keen and short," the Carter Brown books were full of snappy dialogue and breathtaking plot twists. His books had risque covers and were filled with Hollywood-style glamor, and many were adapted for radio and television. He continued to write under the Carter Brown pseudonym until his death in 1985.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Known for his fast-paced and saucy crime novels, Brown's writing is characterized by witty dialogue, convoluted plots, and tongue-in-cheek humor. His work was often racy and laced with sexual tension, a style which was controversial for its time. Despite the mostly formulaic nature of his books, they were very popular and had a significant role in shaping the pulp fiction genre in the mid-20th century.

Notable Works ​

• The Seduction of Cindy (1973)
• Nude with a View (1974)
• The Windshield Weepers (1975)
• The Stripper (1980)
• Blonde on a Broomstick (1981)
• No Blonde Is an Island (1981)