Henry Kane was born May 18, 1908, in New York City. He earned a law degree from Brooklyn Law School, but quickly turned to writing instead, publishing over 60 novels in his lifetime. About half of his books feature private detective Peter Chambers, but Kane also turned out radio, movie and TV screenplays, including an original novel featuring Peter Gunn. A jazz enthusiast, he wrote How to Write a Song in 1962, featuring interviews with Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael and many other musical greats. Kane also ghostwrote an "Ellery Queen" novel, as well as penning many pseudonymous works. His last published novel was in 1982. Kane died in Lido Beach, New York, on October 10, 1988.