Charles Kingston O'Mahony facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Kingston O'Mahony
Born	Charles Kingston O'Mahony c. 1884 Mitchelstown, Ireland
Died	9 November 1944 (aged 59–60) Surrey, England
Nationality	Irish
Occupation	Journalist and author
Known for	Detective novels set in London

Charles Kingston O'Mahony (born around 1884 – died 9 November 1944) was an Irish writer. He used the pen name Charles Kingston. He became famous in England during the 1920s and 1930s. This time was known as the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.

Many of his mystery novels were set in London. He wrote a series of seven books about a detective named Chief Inspector Wake. This character worked for Scotland Yard. People said his stories were well-written and showed he knew a lot about London's criminal world.

Charles Kingston also wrote many popular non-fiction books. These books collected true stories about fraudsters, murderers, and other interesting characters. He also wrote about famous legal cases and judges. His first book was a history of the leaders of Ireland, called The Viceroys of Ireland, published in 1912.

Early Life and Family

Charles Kingston O'Mahony was born in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland. This was around the year 1884. In 1908, he lived in London. He married Julia Christine Ellis in 1910.

Charles Kingston's Writing Career

O'Mahony worked as a journalist and writer. His first book, The Viceroys of Ireland, came out in 1912. He wrote it using his real name, Charles O'Mahony.

Later, he started using the name Charles Kingston. He wrote many popular non-fiction books. These included Remarkable Rogues (1921) and Society Sensations (1922). He also wrote books about law and courts. Examples are Famous Judges and Famous Trials (1923) and Dramatic Days at the Old Bailey (1923).

In 1921, he published his first novel, Stolen Virtue. After that, he mostly wrote detective stories. Many of these were set in London. Some popular titles include The Portland Place Mystery (1926) and Poison in Kensington (1934).

He created the character Chief Inspector Wake. This detective appeared in seven of his novels. The first one was Murder in Piccadilly in 1936. His books were published by well-known companies like John Lane and Ward Lock.

What People Thought of His Books

When Charles Kingston's book Remarkable Rogues came out in 1921, a newspaper called The Saturday Review said it was entertaining. They described it as a collection of lively stories.

Another review in The Bookman in 1922 said his books were easy to read. They noted that many people enjoyed his stories. They found his writing style clear and strong.

His detective novel The Portland Place Mystery (1926) was described as a smooth, classic mystery. Murder in Piccadilly (1936) was re-released in 2015. A crime writer named Martin Edwards said O'Mahony's work was traditional. He also noted it had good plots and a quiet sense of humor.

Death and Legacy

Charles Kingston O'Mahony passed away in Surrey, England, on 9 November 1944. He lived in Esher at the time. His last book, Fear Followed On, was published after he died in 1945. It was part of the Chief Inspector Wake series.

Selected Publications

Fiction Books

1920s Novels

• Stolen Virtue. Stanley Paul, London, 1921.
• A Miscarriage of Justice. Stanley Paul, London, 1925.
• The Portland Place Mystery. Federation Press, London, 1926.
• The Highgate Mystery. John Lane, London, 1928.
• The Guilty House. John Lane, London, 1928.
• The Infallible System. John Lane, London, 1929.

1930s Novels

• The Great London Mystery. John Lane, London, 1931.
• Poison in Kensington. Ward Lock, London, 1934.
• The Brighton Beach Mystery. Ward Lock, London, 1936.
• Murder in Piccadilly. Ward Lock, London, 1936.
• The Circle of Guilt. Ward Lock, London, 1937.
• The Rigdale Puzzle. Ward Lock, London, 1937.
• Murder in Disguise. Ward Lock, London, 1938.
• Burning Conscience. Ward Lock, London, 1938.
• I Accuse. Mellifont, London, 1939.
• Slander Villa. Ward Lock, London, 1939.
• The Secret Barrier. Ward Lock, London, 1939.

1940s Novels

• Six Under Suspicion. Ward Lock, London, 1940.
• The Delacott Mystery. Ward Lock, London, 1941.
• Vain Pride. Ward Lock, London, 1941
• Mystery in the Mist. Ward Lock, London, 1942.
• Murder Tunes In. Ward Lock, London, 1942.
• Death Came Back. Stanley Paul, London, 1944.
• Fear Followed On. Stanley Paul, London, 1945.

Non-Fiction Books

• The Viceroys of Ireland. John Long, London, 1912.
• Famous Morganatic Marriages. Stanley Paul, London, 1919.
• Remarkable Rogues: The careers of some notable criminals of Europe and America. John Lane, London, 1921.
• Royal Romances and Tragedies. Stanley Paul, London, 1921.
• Society Sensations. Stanley Paul, London, 1922.
• Famous Judges and Famous Trials. Stanley Paul, London, 1923.
• Dramatic Days at the Old Bailey. Stanley Paul, London, 1923.
• A Gallery of Rogues. Stanley Paul, London, 1924.
• The Bench and the Dock. Stanley Paul, London, 1925.
• The Judges and the Judged. John Lane, London, 1926.
• Enemies of Society. Stanley Paul, London, 1927.
• Rogues and Adventuresses. John Lane, London, 1928.
• Law-Breakers. John Lane, London, 1930.
• The Shadow of Monte Carlo and other Stories of the Principality. Grant Richards, London, 1931.
• Literary Associations of Esher and Thames Ditton, Wolsey Press, Esher, 1943.