Malcolm Afford (1906-1954), known as Max Afford, was born and educated in South Australia.  He worked as a reporter at the News and Mail from 1926 to 1931. He published his first story in Smith's Weekly in 1928, and later joined radio station 5DN as a producer and continuity writer. He wrote many plays and radio plays, as well as non-fiction books, and a series of detective novels featuring amateur sleuth Jeffrey Blackburn. Afford moved to Sydney in 1936. In 1938 he married Thelma May Thomas, a costume designer. Afford died of cancer on 2 November 1954 at Mosman, Sydney.

For a detailed biography see The Australian Dictionary of Biography.

Bibliography:

Blood On His Hands! (1936) apa An Ear for Murder

Death's Mannikins (1937) apa The Dolls of Death

The Dead are Blind (1937)

Fly by Night (1942) apa Owl of Darkness

Lady in Danger (1944) [later revised in collaboration with Alexander Kirkland; published: 1946]

Sinners in Paradise (1946)

The Sheep and the Wolves (1947)