Zenith Jones Brown

Zenith Jones Brown (December 8, 1898 – August 25, 1983) was an American crime fiction writer who also wrote for a time in England. She wrote under the pseudonyms David Frome, Leslie Ford, and Brenda Conrad. She is perhaps best known for her novels featuring the fictional Grace Latham and John Primrose, though some of her earlier standalone work has been praised.[1]

She was born Zenith Jones in Smith River, California[2] and grew up in Tacoma, Washington. Brown was educated at the University of Washington,[3] and worked there as a teaching assistant from 1921 to 1923. She was also assistant to the editor and circulation manager for Dial magazine from 1922 to 1923.[4] Brown began writing as “David Frome” in 1929 while staying in London with her husband.[5] She returned to the United States in 1931, and the couple settled in Annapolis, Maryland. Brown used the pen name “Leslie Ford” for her mystery novels published in the United States. During World War II, she wrote several novels about nurses under the name “Brenda Conrad”.[3] Brown was also a war correspondent for the United States Air Force in England[6] and the Pacific.[4]

Her books often appeared in serial format in The Saturday Evening Post before being published.[2] Brown also wrote short stories, which were published in various periodicals and anthologies.[4]

She married Ford K. Brown, a professor,[5] in 1921.[4] The couple had one daughter.[2]

Brown died at the Church Home and Hospital in Baltimore at the age of 84.[2]