Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. She also published using the pseudonyms Juliet Astley and Peter Curtis. Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England. Many of her novels, including her Suffolk Trilogy, follow the history of a specific house and the residents that lived in it. She wrote over fifty books specialising in historical fiction, but she also wrote non-fiction and short stories. The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.Norah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author. The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches (1966). You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. Several of her novels were turned into films. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions.

Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of 'Wessex' and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in 'Yoknapatawpha County,' Mississippi. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Norah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author.

White Hell of Pity by Norah Lofts