Mary Roberts Rinehart

Mary Roberts Rinehart was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie, although her first mystery novel was publishedyears before Christies first novel in 1922.

Mary Roberts Rinehart was born Mary Ella Roberts in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now a part of Pittsburgh. Her father was a frustrated inventor, and throughout her childhood, the family often had financial problems. Lefthanded at a time when that was considered inappropriate, she was trained to use her right hand instead.

Source: Wikipedia