The master mystery-story teller presents an omnibus of his spine-chilling stories. âThe Edgar Wallace Reader of Mystery and Adventureâ is a collection of short stories that include âOn the Witney Roadâ, âThe Pick-Upâ, âKid Glove Harryâ, and thirteen others. Edgar Wallace was a British novelist, playwright, and journalist who produced popular detective and suspense stories and was in his time âthe kingâ of the modern thriller. Wallaceâs literary output â 175 books, 24 plays, and countless articles and review sketches â have undermined his reputation as a fresh and original writer. Moreover, the author was a wholehearted supporter of Victorian and early Edwardian values and mores, which are now considered in some respects politically incorrect.