The works of Scottish politician, statesman and thriller writer John Buchan examined the nature of good and evil and explored the shifting boundaries between civilization and anarchy. Buchan published the best-selling The Thirty-Nine Steps in 1915, one of 40 novels of his long career, which also included 60 works of non-fiction.

This comprehensive companion to Buchan's mystery fiction includes entries on the characters, novels, short fiction, films, themes and symbols with special attention to the serialized secret agent Richard Hannay, Buchan's most famous character. Also included are photographs, chronologies, appendices, a brief biography, a bibliography and a thorough index.