Archibald Thomas Pechey
Encyclopedia
Archibald Thomas Pechey often credited simply as Valentine, was a British lyricist and novelist. The pen name Valentine was derived from his mother's family the Vallentins, who were London distillers. Pechey's maternal grandfather Sir James Vallentin (1814–1870) was Knight Sheriff of London, and Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers
. By the 1880s Pechey's uncle Grimble Vallentine was running the business in Lambeth. His cousin John Franks Vallentin
(1882–1914) was awarded the V.C.
Pechey as 'Valentine' often wrote lyrics in conjunction with composer James W. Tate
. Songs written by Valentine include "Love Will Find a Way" and "A Paradise for Two" (both 1917, from The Maid of the Mountains
).
Pechey wrote stories, such as "The Adjusters" (1922) and "An Exploit of The Adjusters: The Man Who Scared The Bank" (1929), under the name Valentine. "The Adjusters" and its sequels are about a group of amateur crime fighters with complementary talents, who "adjust" the results of the law, often tricking criminals into trapping themselves using a logical analysis of the crime, so that the guilty are punished and the good are protected, released or compensated. The Adjusters characters are Daphne Wrayne, a sporting society girl; Sir Hugh Williamson, a noted African explorer; James Treviller, a handsome young nobleman; Martin Everest, a handsome lawyer; and Alan Sylvester, an actor.
Pechey married Bijou Sortain Hancock, and was the father of well known television cook Fanny Cradock
. His wife’s extravagance and his own susceptibility to gambling left him with sizeable debts. He seems to have tried to avoid the debts by moving around the country. He left Herne Bay
in Kent and moved to Swanage
in Dorset, then to Bournemouth
in Hampshire, where his brother Richard Francis Pechey (1872–1963) had become the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church in 1919. He finally moved to Wroxham
in Norfolk, c1927, where his debtors caught up with him and by 1930 he was appearing in Norfolk's bankruptcy court faced with debts of £3,500.
Once out of debt, Pechey moved to Somerset, switched his pseudonym to Mark Cross and wrote over 45 crime novels under that name between 1934 and 1961, many of them about the Adjusters. The novels include the thrillers "The Shadow of the Four" and "Who killed Henry Wickenstrom". Pechey also drew the cover art for some stories.
Worshipful Company of Distillers
The Worshipful Company of Distillers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Distillers were incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1638. They were empowered to regulate and supervise the production of spirits and liquors. Now, however, it does not retain such powers...
. By the 1880s Pechey's uncle Grimble Vallentine was running the business in Lambeth. His cousin John Franks Vallentin
John Franks Vallentin
John Franks Vallentin VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
(1882–1914) was awarded the V.C.
Pechey as 'Valentine' often wrote lyrics in conjunction with composer James W. Tate
James W. Tate
James William Tate was a songwriter, accompanist, and composer and producer of revues and pantomimes in the early years of the 20th century...
. Songs written by Valentine include "Love Will Find a Way" and "A Paradise for Two" (both 1917, from The Maid of the Mountains
The Maid of the Mountains
The Maid of the Mountains, called in its original score a musical play, is an operetta or musical comedy in three acts. The music was by Harold Fraser-Simson, with additional music by James W...
).
Pechey wrote stories, such as "The Adjusters" (1922) and "An Exploit of The Adjusters: The Man Who Scared The Bank" (1929), under the name Valentine. "The Adjusters" and its sequels are about a group of amateur crime fighters with complementary talents, who "adjust" the results of the law, often tricking criminals into trapping themselves using a logical analysis of the crime, so that the guilty are punished and the good are protected, released or compensated. The Adjusters characters are Daphne Wrayne, a sporting society girl; Sir Hugh Williamson, a noted African explorer; James Treviller, a handsome young nobleman; Martin Everest, a handsome lawyer; and Alan Sylvester, an actor.
Pechey married Bijou Sortain Hancock, and was the father of well known television cook Fanny Cradock
Fanny Cradock
Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey , better known as Fanny Cradock, was an English restaurant critic, television cook and writer who mostly worked with her then common-law husband Johnnie Cradock, adopting his surname long before they married. She was the daughter of the novelist and lyricist Archibald...
. His wife’s extravagance and his own susceptibility to gambling left him with sizeable debts. He seems to have tried to avoid the debts by moving around the country. He left Herne Bay
Herne Bay, Kent
Herne Bay is a seaside town in Kent, South East England, with a population of 35,188. On the south coast of the Thames Estuary, it is north of Canterbury and east of Whitstable. It neighbours the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver and is part of the City of Canterbury local government district...
in Kent and moved to Swanage
Swanage
Swanage is a coastal town and civil parish in the south east of Dorset, England. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck, approximately 10 km south of Poole and 40 km east of Dorchester. The parish has a population of 10,124 . Nearby are Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks,...
in Dorset, then to Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
in Hampshire, where his brother Richard Francis Pechey (1872–1963) had become the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church in 1919. He finally moved to Wroxham
Wroxham
Wroxham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The civil parish of Wroxham has an area of 6.21 square kilometres and in 2001 had a population of 1532 in 666 households. The village is situated within the Norfolk Broads on the south side of a loop in the middle reaches of...
in Norfolk, c1927, where his debtors caught up with him and by 1930 he was appearing in Norfolk's bankruptcy court faced with debts of £3,500.
Once out of debt, Pechey moved to Somerset, switched his pseudonym to Mark Cross and wrote over 45 crime novels under that name between 1934 and 1961, many of them about the Adjusters. The novels include the thrillers "The Shadow of the Four" and "Who killed Henry Wickenstrom". Pechey also drew the cover art for some stories.
Selected novels
- The Shadow of the Four (1934)
- The Grip of the Four (1934)
- The Hand of the Four (1935)
- The Mark of the Four (1936)
- The Way of the Four (1936)
- The Four Strike Home (1937)
- Surprise for the Four (1937)
- The Four Get Going (1938)
- The Four Make Holiday (1938)
- Challenge to the Four (1939)
- The Four at Bay (1939)
- Find the Professor (1940)
- It Couldn't Be Murder (1940)
- How Was it Done (1941)
- Murder in the Pool (1941)
- The Green Circle (1942)
- The Mystery of Gruden's Gap (1942)
- Murder as Arranged (1943)
- Murder in the Air (1943)
- Murder in Black (1944)
- The Mystery of Joan Marryat (1945)
- The Secret of the Grange (1946)
- The Strange affair at Greylands (1948)
- Missing from His Home (1949)
- Other Than Natural Causes (1949)
- On the Night of the 14th (1950)
- Who Killed Henry Wickenstrom (1951)
- The Jaws of Darkness (1952)
- The Black Spider (1953)
- The Circle of Freedom (1953)
- The Strange Case of Pamela Wilson (1954)
- The Best Laid Schemes (1955)
- Murder Will Speak (1954)
- In the Dead of Night (1955)
- The Mystery of the Corded Box (1956)
- When Thieves Fall Out (1956)
- Desperate Steps (1957)
- Foul Deeds Will Arise (1958)
- Over Thin Ice (1958)
- Not Long to Live (1959)
- Third Time Unlucky (1959)
- When Danger Threatens (1959)
- Once Too Often (1960)
- Wanted for Questioning (1960)
- Once Upon a Crime (1961)
- Perilous Hazard (1961)