Dennis Yates Wheatley (1897–1977) was an English author whose prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling writers from the 1930s through the 1960s. His Gregory Sallust series was one of the main inspirations for Ian Fleming's James Bond stories.Born in South London, he was the eldest of three children of an upper-middle-class family, the owners of Wheatley & Son of Mayfair, a wine business. He admitted to little aptitude for schooling, and was expelled from Dulwich College. Soon after his expulsion Wheatley became a British Merchant Navy officer cadet on the training ship HMS Worcester. During the Second World War, Wheatley was a member of the London Controlling Section, which secretly coordinated strategic military deception and cover plans. His literary talents gained him employment with planning staffs for the War Office. He wrote numerous papers for the War Office, including suggestions for dealing with a German invasion of Britain. During his life, he wrote more than 70 books which sold over 50 million copies.

One of the most popular storytellers of the century.

• Introduction1. Strange Conduct of a Girl Unknown2. Colonel Crackenthorp’s Technique3. The Mysterious Recluse4. Enter the Wicked Marquis5. Battle of Flowers and Battle of Wits6. The Christina of the Dark Hours7. Night Must Fall8. Kidnapped?9. Illegal Entry10. ‘Once Aboard the Lugger... ?’11. The Marquis Calls the Tune12. The Fight in the Château13. Prison for One14. The Black Art15. Chamber of Horrors16. Dead Men Tell No Tales17. The Mystery of The Grange18. Within the Pentacle19. The Saga of a Satanist20. The Secret Base21. The Pact with Satan22. The Devil’s Altar23. The Cave of the Bats