“Dick Donovan” was the pseudonym of James Edward Preston Murdock (1843–1934), an author of mysteries, thrillers, and horror stories. For a time, his popularity rivaled that of Arthur Conan Doyle—and he was certainly more prolific than Doyle. Between 1889 and 1922, he published nearly 300 mystery stories (many in series that were collected as books, such as this one.) Many of Muddock’s mystery stories feature the character Dick Donovan, a Glasgow Detective, named for one of the 18th Century Bow Street Runners. The character was so popular that later stories were published under this pen name. Muddock also wrote true crime stories, horror, and 37 novels, most as “Dick Donovan.” His non-fiction included four history books, seven guidebooks for areas in the Alps and his autobiography. His stories were used by The Strand magazine in months when there were no Sherlock Holmes stories available.

A Detective's Triumphs by James Edward Muddock is about the party of Lord Blank and the mysterious crime that occurs there. Excerpt: "ON that most sensational, or at any rate one of the most sensational of Derby days, what was known as 'Hermit's Derby,' a party of ladies and gentlemen, who, if not justly entitled to claim to walk in the exclusive ranks of the upper ten,' were not far removed from them, so far as their mode of life and habits were concerned, went down to the race-course from London in a splendidly-appointed drag, drawn by four magnificent bays that were tooled by young Lord Blank."