The fate of the author of this novel is no less mysterious than many of its plots. Day Keene is a pseudonym for an American writer whose real name remains unknown even to meticulous researchers of detective literature. We do not know when he was born, and the date of death - around 1969 - is established only on the basis of indirect sources. Nevertheless, over a three-decade literary career, Day Keane has gained recognition as one of the most popular, most widely read and prolific crime writers. He has created more than 40 novels and many short stories. And in recent years, his books have been published again and again, and subsequent generations of readers in the USA and around the world have become devoted fans of D. Keene's talent.