John P. Marquand (1893–1960) was a Pulitzer Prize–winning author, best known for his satirical novels lampooning New England high society. Marquand was also a regular contributor to the Saturday Evening Post, where, in the serialized Your Turn, Mr. Moto (originally titled No Hero) he debuted the wildly successful Moto character. Though the author thought of these popular adventure novels as less serious works than his satirical writing, it was with them that he cemented his position in the history of mystery fiction; to this day they are revered for their portrayal of the political atmosphere between America, Japan, and China in the years before WWII, as well as for their top-notch suspense and intrigue.