Charles J. Dutton (1888 - 1964)

Charles J. Dutton was an American clergyman and author of mystery and detective stories. He was educated at Brown University and later studied at Albany Law School and the Defiance Theological Seminary. After graduation he worked for a while as a newspaper columnist. After living much of his life in New England (where many of his books are set) he later settled in Des Moines, Iowa around 1930 where he lived out his remaining years as a minister for the First Unitarian Church while frequently contributing articles to Reader's Digest.