Called "a leading crime writer" of his day by mystery critic Donald C. Ireland, Lionel Black is a versatile mystery writer, uneven at times but nevertheless representative of his period with its revolution in gender relationships. Black strives for authenticity of time and place, provides thoroughly English settings and situations, and enjoys the give and take of pairs of contrary characters or characters with different backgrounds and perspectives. It is his detective teams that stand out in his works as distinctive and memorable.

Lionel Black was born Dudley Raymond Barker in London on 25 March 1910. His parents were Theodore Edwin and Katie Bradgate Barker. Educated at Bournemouth School from 1920 to 1929, he obtained his bachelor's degree from Oriel College, Oxford, in 1933, graduating with honors. Black began his career in journalism in 1933, working for the Evening Standard (London), serving as reporter and news editor during his seven years with that paper...