Cecil John Charles Street, MC, OBE (3 May 1884 – 8 December 1964), known to his colleagues, family and friends as John Street, began his military career as an artillery officer in the British army. He later earned his living as a prolific writer of detective novels.
John Street produced two long series of novels; one under the name of John Rhode, the majority featuring the academic Dr. Lancelot Priestley, another under the name of Miles Burton, the majority featuring the retired naval officer Desmond Merrion; and a third under the name Cecil Waye.
The Dr. Priestley novels were among the first after Dr Thorndyke to feature scientific detection of crime, such as analysing the mud on a suspect's shoes. Desmond Merrion is an amateur detective who works with Scotland Yard's Inspector Arnold.[1]
Street was a member of the Detection Club.