Pamela Jean Branch (née Byatt, 1920–1967) was a British author of four comic murder mystery novels. She was born on her parents' tea plantation in

Ceylon Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

. She was educated in England, studied art in Paris, and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She married the solicitor Newton Branch, and they moved together to Cyprus. She divorced Branch in the late 1950s. In 1962, she married James Edward Stuart-Lyon. In 1967, she died from cancer, aged 47. In 2009, ''The Wooden Overcoat'' was made into a one-hour BBC Radio 4 drama, adapted by

Mark Gatiss Mark Gatiss (; born 17 October 1966) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer and novelist. His work includes writing for and acting in the television series ''Doctor Who'', '' Sherlock'', and '' Dracula''. Together with ...

, and starring David Tennant.

Bibliography

Novels

*''The Wooden Overcoat''. Robert Hale: London, 1951 *''Lion in the Cellar''. Robert Hale: London, 1951 *''Murder Every Monday''. Robert Hale: London, 1954 *''Murder's Little Sister''. Robert Hale: London, 1958

Stage Plays

*''Murder Every Monday'' (adapted from the novel) by Pamela Branch and Philip Dale. First performed in 1964

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Branch, Pamela Jean 1920 births 1967 deaths British women novelists British crime writers British expatriates in Sri Lanka British expatriates in France