The Fortieth Door is the story of intrigue and adventure in Egypt involving an American archaeologist, a masked ball in Cairo, an elusive young woman and the unexplained disappearance of a Frenchman. Mary Hastings Bradley was a traveler and author of mysteries, travel books, short fiction and novels. She wrote The Palace of Darkened Windows and The Fortieth Door after traveling to Egypt detailing the life of the veiled and secluded women of Egypt. She was a war correspondent for Colliers Magazine in 1945 reporting on women in the military in Italy, France, and Germany.