[1] Philips was born in Northfield, Massachusetts, and traveled widely before completing his education and graduating from Columbia University in 1925.
Perhaps the best known is Pierre Chambrun, the suave manager of a New York luxury hotel who often has to solve murders among the rich and famous.
In 1973, Philips received the Grand Master Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Mystery Writers of America.
In the mid 1960s he hosted a program about events in Connecticut's "Northwest Corner" on radio station WTOR in Torrington, CT (610kh 1 kW day 500w night DA) which attracted a following.
[2] He was survived by his wife, Norma Burton Philips; three sons, David, of Cranston, Connecticut; John, of Washington,[which?