Lionel Davidson

Lionel Davidson (March 31, 1922 – October 21, 2009) was a British author of highly acclaimed spy thrillers who won an unequaled three Gold Dagger awards for his novels, signifying the best crime novel of the year. No other author in the history of the awards, which were inaugurated in 1955 by the British Crime Writers Association, has won more than two. The first came with his very first novel, the 1960 The Night of Wenceslas, set in Prague, then continued with 1966's A Long Way to Shiloh, and the 1978 The Chelsea Murders.