Gladys Mitchell (1901-1983) was one of the most distinctive voices of the Golden Age of detective fiction. Best known for her long-running series featuring the eccentric psychoanalyst sleuth Mrs. Beatrice Adela Lestrange Bradley, Mitchell wrote more than sixty novels over five decades. Often compared to her contemporaries Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Margery Allingham, Mitchell stood apart for her dark humor, psychological depth, and fearless exploration of unconventional themes. A teacher by profession, she was also fascinated by folklore, witchcraft, and Freud's theories-all of which found their way into her writing.