Mary Burchell

Mary Burchell was the pen name of Ida Cook and published all her novels under this name from 1936 to 1985. Ida Cook was born on 24 August 1904 at 37 Croft Avenue, Sunderland, England. With her older sister (Mary) Louise Cook (b. 1901), she attending the Duchess' School in Alnwick. Later the sisters took civil service jobs in London, and developed a passionate interest in opera. A constant presence at Covent Garden, the pair became close to some of …