William Murdoch Duncan (1909-1976) was a prolific Scots writer. He was born in Glasgow and educated at the University of Glasgow. He married Marion Hughes and served in the British Army during WW2. He also wrote as John Cassells, John Dallas, Neill Graham, Martin Locke, Peter Malloch and Lovat Marshall. His series characters were The Dreamer (Superintendent D Reamer), Superintendent Gaylord, Mr Gilly, Laurie Hume and Superintendent MacNeill, Superintendent Flagg, The Picaroon (Ludovic Saxon), James “Solo” Malcolm, Mr Sandyman and Sugar Kane.