Carolyn Wells (1862–1942) wrote more than 170 books, including mystery novels, children’s stories, and poetry. She gained popularity in the early 20th century for her detective fiction, particularly those featuring Fleming Stone, her intellectual and unassuming investigator. Wells also edited several anthologies and promoted literary taste through her wide reading and refined sense of structure. Though her work reflects the social norms of her time, she remains a noteworthy contributor to early American crime fiction.