William Murdoch Duncan

William Murdoch Duncan (born 18 November 1909 in Glasgow – died 19 April 1976, also in Glasgow, from cancer) was a prolific Scottish thriller writer, who wrote some 220 crime novels, 53 under his own name and the rest under various pseudonyms - including John Cassells, Neill Graham, Peter Malloch and Lovat Marshall. Among these works, he had the following series characters: "The Dreamer" (Superintendent D. Reamer), Superintendent Gaylord, Mr Gilly, Greensleeves, Laurie Hume, Superintendent Leslie, Superintendent Macneill, Inspector (later Superintendent) Flagg, "The Picaroon" (Ludovic Saxon), James "Solo" Malcolm, and Sugar Cane.

He was educated at the University of Glasgow (where he obtained a Master's degree in history) and served in the British Army during World War II. Willie and Marion (née Hughes) Duncan lived at Loup Cottage, near Tarbert, Argyll, Scotland. He sent his manuscripts to a lady in Wales for typewriting; then looked the result over and once or twice a year (reluctantly) went to London with half a dozen or so novels.