Leo Bruce is a pseudonym for Rupert Croft-Cooke (1903-1979). Under this name, Bruce wrote several mystery novels. He created two series, one which featured Sergeant Beef, a British police officer, and one that features Carolus Deane, a schoolteacher who acts as an amateur sleuth. Most of his books are out of print now. Croft-Cooke also wrote some books under his own name, including a collection of short stories entitled Pharaoh and His Waggons and Other Stories.