Who wrote the two baffling mystery novels, The Woman in White and The Moonstone?

William Wilkie Collins who was the son of William Collins, the painter. Born in London January 8, 1824, he studied law and was called to the Bar in 1851. He was already writing and in 1850 his novel Antonina had appeared but his high rank in literature stands on his two well-known mystery novels.

Wilkie Collins was a close friend of Charles Dickens who admired his writing and helped him to strengthen his characterisation. Collins died in London on September 23, 1889.