Author of books on body language

Julius Fast, 89, who was best known for his books on body language but was also a well-regarded mystery writer, died Dec. 16 in Kingston, N.Y., the New York Times reported. He suffered a stroke last year, the paper said.

Fast, the younger brother of novelist Howard Fast, published “Body Language” (1970), which discussed the largely unconscious messages sent out by the human body.

That book inspired several sequels, including “The Body Language of Sex, Power and Aggression” (1976).

A native of Manhattan, Fast earned a bachelor’s degree at New York University and spent three years in the Army.

He edited a collection of science fiction stories, “Out of This World” (1944), while in the service and then turned to crime fiction.

His first novel, “Watchful at Night,” was awarded the first Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1946 for the best first novel published the previous year.

Fast later wrote “The Beatles: The Real Story” (1968), and books on how to quit smoking.