Sexton Blake

Sexton Blake is actually a character, not an author, and first appeared in 1893 in the boys’ magazine The Halfpenny Marvel. He was the creation of a man named Harry Blythe, who eventually sold the rights to the character to a publisher named Alfred J. Harmsworth. Harmsworth, in turn, hired other authors to write Blake stories. Over the next seventy years or so, over 200 authors wrote thousands of Blake stories, and the character starred in countless magazine stories, several stage plays, radio programs, silent movies, and TV shows.

Blake stories are frequently just B-grade Sherlock Holmes rip-offs, but some of the better stories are definite Wordcandy. There are some deliciously evil villains (what’s not to like about a bad guy called Monsieur Zenith the Albino?), and lots of would-be Mrs. Blakes (including Princess Lara, who, sadly, had been kidnapped by the evil Grand Vizier Ahmed Pasha and had to escape from a seraglio).

Aftertaste:
None.

Availability:
Try Google.

Other Recommendations:
Sherlock Holmes, obviously.

Website:
http://www.sextonblake.co.uk/ -