News of the death of actress Patricia Neal has sparked interest in her ex-husband, the late author Roald Dahl. The Brit had a fascinating background, including a connection to the spy world during World War II. He charmed America's society women as he tried to promote British interests -- not a bad gig if you can get it. Dahl was best-known for his fantasic children's books, including "James and the Giant Peach," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Danny the Clampion of the World" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

But he also was an accomplished mystery writer, whose tales often carried a bizarre twist. In one, "Lamb to the Slaughter," a woman beats her husband with a leg of lamb, and then roasts it and serves it to the cop investigating the murder. With that tragic sense of humor (or is it humourous sense of tragedy), it's fitting that Dahl was a three-time winner of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award -- named for Baltimore's own Edgar Allan Poe.

Dahl's later work was created from the bedtime stories he told to the five children he had with Neal, his first wife, according to his on-line bio. The death of Olivia at age seven may have heightened his sense of tragedy. He had a good share of that in his life.