James Melville
(Roy Peter Martin)
(1931 - 2014)aka Hampton Charles
James was born in London and educated in North London.
He read philosophy at Birkbeck College before being conscripted into the RAF, then took up school-teaching and adult education. Most of his subsequent career was spent overseas in cultural diplomacy and educational development, and it was in this capacity that he came to know, love, and write about Japan and the Japanese.
His Superintendent Otani crime novels combined superb story-telling with a fascinating insight into modern Japanese life. He has also written an historical novel set in Japan, The Imperial Way.
He read philosophy at Birkbeck College before being conscripted into the RAF, then took up school-teaching and adult education. Most of his subsequent career was spent overseas in cultural diplomacy and educational development, and it was in this capacity that he came to know, love, and write about Japan and the Japanese.
His Superintendent Otani crime novels combined superb story-telling with a fascinating insight into modern Japanese life. He has also written an historical novel set in Japan, The Imperial Way.
Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Thriller, Historical
Series
Otani
1. The Wages of Zen (1979)
2. The Chrysanthemum Chain (1980)
3. A Sort Of Samurai (1981)
4. The Ninth Netsuke (1982)
5. Sayonara, Sweet Amaryllis (1983)
6. Death Of A Daimyo (1984)
7. The Death Ceremony (1985)
8. Go Gently, Gaijin (1986)
9. Kimono For A Corpse (1987)
10. The Reluctant Ronin (1988)
11. A Haiku For Hanae (1989)
12. The Bogus Buddha (1990)
13. The Body Wore Brocade (1992)
1. The Wages of Zen (1979)
2. The Chrysanthemum Chain (1980)
3. A Sort Of Samurai (1981)
4. The Ninth Netsuke (1982)
5. Sayonara, Sweet Amaryllis (1983)
6. Death Of A Daimyo (1984)
7. The Death Ceremony (1985)
8. Go Gently, Gaijin (1986)
9. Kimono For A Corpse (1987)
10. The Reluctant Ronin (1988)
11. A Haiku For Hanae (1989)
12. The Bogus Buddha (1990)
13. The Body Wore Brocade (1992)
Series contributed to
Miss Seeton
6. Miss Seeton, by Appointment (1990) (as by Hampton Charles)
7. Advantage Miss Seeton (1990) (as by Hampton Charles)
8. Miss Seeton at the Helm (1990) (as by Hampton Charles)
6. Miss Seeton, by Appointment (1990) (as by Hampton Charles)
7. Advantage Miss Seeton (1990) (as by Hampton Charles)
8. Miss Seeton at the Helm (1990) (as by Hampton Charles)
James Melville recommends
Do Not Exceed The Stated Dose (1998)
(Peter Diamond)
Peter Lovesey
"Peter Lovesey's short stories are little gems."
The Trumpet Shall Sound (1997)
Aline Templeton
"Aline Templeton has a wondrously deft, unpretentiously beautiful style, full of good things."
Anthologies containing stories by James Melville
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