Edgar Box (1925-2012) was the pseudonym used by American critic and novelist Gore Vidal for his three excursions into detective fiction. Despite the pseudonym, Vidal's authorship appears to have been an open secret. There is little about the books to indicate their distinguished authorship, however: they are stereotypical medium-boiled political investigations featuring publicist Peter Cutler Sargeant II.

Source: Wikipedia

Eugene Luther Gore Vidal (1925-2012), was born in West Point, New York, the son of Eugene Vidal and Nina Gore. His birth took place at the United States Military Academy where his father was an aeronautics instructor. Vidal later adopted as his first name the surname of his maternal grandfather, Thomas P. Gore, Democratic Senator from Oklahoma.

Vidal was brought up in the Washington, D.C., area. It was there that he attended St. Albans School. His grandfather Gore was blind, and the young Vidal both read aloud to him and frequently acted as his guide, thereby gaining unusual access for a child to the corridors of power. Senator Gore's isolationism has been one of the guiding beliefs of Vidal's political philosophy, which has always been unwaveringly critical of what he perceives to be American imperialism. After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy, Vidal joined the US Army Reserve in 1943. Details of his life and writings can be found here.

Vidal died at his home in Hollywood Hills, California, at about 6:45 p.m. on July 31, 2012 of complications from pneumonia.

Detective Bibliography

Death in the Fifth Position (1952)

Death Before Bedtime (1953)

Death Likes It Hot (1954)