Inspector French Books
From the Collins Crime Club archive, the first Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’. THE FIRST INSPECTOR FRENCH MYSTERY At the offices of the Hatton Garden diamond merchant Duke and Peabody, the body of old Mr Gething is discovered beside a now-empty safe. With multiple suspects, the robbery and murder is clearly the work of a master criminal, and requires a master detective to solve it. Meticulous as ever, Inspector Joseph French of Scotland Yard embarks on an investigation that takes him from the streets of London to Holland, France and Spain, and finally to a ship bound for South America . . .
From the Collins Crime Club archive, the second Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’. THE RETURN OF INSPECTOR FRENCH When young Maxwell Cheyne discovers that a series of mishaps are the result of unwelcome attention from a dangerous gang of criminals, he teams up with a young woman who is determined to help him outwit them. But when she disappears, he finally decides to go to Scotland Yard for help. Concerned by the developing situation, Inspector Joseph French takes charge of the investigation and applies his trademark methods to track down the kidnappers and thwart their intentions . . .
From the Collins Crime Club archive, the third Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’. THREE CORPSES FOR INSPECTOR FRENCH A chance invitation from friends saves Ruth Averill’s life on the night her uncle’s old house in Starvel Hollow is consumed by fire, killing him and incinerating the fortune he kept in cash. Dismissed at the inquest as a tragic accident, the case is closed – until Scotland Yard is alerted to the circulation of bank-notes supposedly destroyed in the inferno. Inspector Joseph French suspects that dark deeds were done in the Hollow that night and begins to uncover a brutal crime involving arson, murder and body snatching . . .
From the Collins Crime Club archive, the fourth Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’. THE BODY THAT CAME FROM NOWHERE Off the coast of Burry Port in south Wales, two fishermen discover a shipping crate and manage to haul it ashore. Inside is the decomposing body of a brutally murdered man. With nothing to indicate who he is or where it came from, the local police decide to call in Scotland Yard. Fortunately Inspector Joseph French does not believe in insoluble cases – there are always clues to be found if you know what to look for. Testing his theories with his accustomed thoroughness, French’s ingenuity sets him off on another investigation . . .
A girl employed in the box office of a London cinema falls into the power of a mysterious trio of crooks. A helpful solicitor sends her to Scotland Yard. There she tells Inspector French the story of the Purple Sickle. Her body is found floating in Southampton Water the next day. French discovers that similar murders have taken place. After gathering evidence he learns the trios secret and runs them to ground.
From the Collins Crime Club archive, the sixth Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’.A MURDER MYSTERY WITHOUT A CLUEWhen Sir John Magill, the wealthy Irish industrialist, fails to show up at his home town on a well-publicised visit, neither his family nor the Belfast police can explain his disappearance. Foul play is suspected when his bloodstained hat is discovered, and Scotland Yard is called in. With his characteristic genius for reconstruction, Inspector French evolves a gruesome theory about what happened to the elderly man, but his reputation – and that of Scotland Yard – will depend on finding out who was responsible . . .
Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder "Not only is this a first-rate puzzler, but Crofts' outrage over the financial firm's betrayal of the public trust should resonate with today's readers." ― Booklist STARRED review The Chichester is making a routine journey across the English Channel on a pleasant afternoon in June, when the steamer's crew notice something strange. A yacht, bobbing about in the water ahead of them, appears to have been abandoned, and there is a dark red stain on the deck... Two bodies later, with no sign of a gun, there certainly is a mystery in the channel. Inspector French soon discovers a world of high-powered banking, luxury yachts and international double-dealing. British and French coastal towns, harbours―and of course the Channel itself―provide an alluring backdrop to this nautical adventure, along with a cast of shady characters.
To mark the publishing centenary of Freeman Wills Crofts, ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’, this is one of six classic crime novels being issued in 2020 featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television. Anne Day is the new housekeeper at Frayle, the home of Mr Grinsmead and his invalid wife. To Anne’s horror, her intuition that something is very wrong in the house culminates in an unexpected death. With the police jumping to devastating conclusions, Inspector French arrives to investigate. With the narrative switching between Anne’s and French’s perspectives, giving alternately the outside and inside track of an ingenious and elaborate investigation, will tragedy strike a second time before the mystery is solved?
Work on the widening of the Southern Railway's south coast route results in two mysterious deaths. Murder becomes apparent. As evidence is sifted through and minute detail and data analysed, tension mounts ...
Light wear to the covers. Orders received by 3pm Sent from the UK that weekday.
Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder "The degree of suspense Crofts achieves by showing the growing obsession and planning is worthy of Hitchcock." ― Booklist STARRED review We begin with a body. Andrew Crowther, a wealthy retired manufacturer, is found dead in his seat on the 12.30 flight from Croydon to Paris. Rather less orthodox is the ensuing flashback in which we live with the killer at every stage, from the first thoughts of murder to the strains and stresses of living with its execution. Seen from the criminal's perspective, a mild-mannered Inspector by the name of French is simply another character who needs to be dealt with. This is an unconventional yet gripping story of intrigue, betrayal, obsession, justification and self-delusion. And will the killer get away with it?
The Joymount Rapid Hardening Cement Manufacturing Company is in serious financial trouble. Two young company employees hatch a plot to break in to a rival works, Chayle on the Isle of Wight, to find out Chayles secret for underselling them. But the scheme does not go according to plan. The death of the night watchman, theft and fire are the result. Inspector French is brought in to solve the mystery.
The managing director of a large jewellery firm proposes a weekend board meeting at his Guildford home to sort out the firms shaky affairs. On Sunday morning the guests discover that one of their number, the accountant, is dead. The police are suspicious. Then comes the news of a London jewellery heist. Inspector French is called in to investigate two connected mysteries.
AN INSPECTOR FRENCH MYSTERY. The Jane Vosper is plunged to the bottom of the Atlantic by a series of explosions in her hold. It is clear that something is wrong, as there is no innocent explanation of the cause. The only possibility appears to be that someone has sunk the ship for the insurance money (either for the goods on board or the ship itself). The loss of the goods will cause a problem for The Land and Sea Insurance Co., and they decide to look into matters themselves. When their private detective goes missing, Inspector French of Scotland Yard is called in and he decides that the only way to solve the missing person case is to solve the mystery of the Jane Vosper as well. But even he is baffled, until his hard work and assiduous following of the clues leads him to the correct conclusion.
In the course of a ships passage from Belfast to Liverpool a man disappears. His body is picked up by Irish fishermen. Although the coroners verdict is suicide, murder is suspected. Inspector French co-operates with Superintendent Rainey and Sergeant McClung once more to determine the truth.
Old William was losing touch and a younger man was needed to take over the family business. Jim was the obvious choice but William had other ideas. When Mant was brought in to run the firm, from the forgotten side of the family in Australia, murder was the result.
Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder "Crofts makes great use of the 'inverted mystery' structure (he was among the first to employ the technique) in which the traditional whodunit is turned on its head, with the reader following the murderer through temptation and commission and then watching the detective sort through the sparse clues." ― Booklist STARRED review George Surridge, director of the Birmington Zoo, is a man with many worries: his marriage is collapsing; his finances are insecure; and an outbreak of disease threatens the animals in his care. As Surridge's debts mount and the pressure on him increases, he begins to dream of miracle solutions. But is he cunning enough to turn his dreams into reality―and could he commit the most devious murder in pursuit of his goals? This ingenious crime novel, with its unusual 'inverted' structure and sympathetic portrait of a man on the edge, is one of the greatest works by this highly respected author. The elaborate means of murder devised by Crofts's characters is perhaps unsurpassed in English crime fiction for its ostentatious intricacy. This new edition is the first in several decades and includes an introduction by the award-winning novelist and crime fiction expert Martin Edwards.
Impoverished Markham Crewe starts work as a social secretary to millionaire Andrew Harrison. His new employer's reputation is marred by rumours of unscrupulousness, financial deception and enemies. While staying on Harrison's houseboat during the Henley Regatta, Harrison is found dead. Convinced that this was no suicide, In
AN INSPECTOR FRENCH MYSTERY. Three men come up with a scheme to make money by cruising round the British Isles in an old transatlantic liner. All appears to be going well until one of them is found dead. Many of the passengers and crew would appear to have motive to kill the man, but all of them would seem to have an alibi. It takes the full extent of Inspector French's analytical skills to unpick the crime.
James Tarrants position as an assistant chemist in a sleepy village backwater does not satisfy his craving for wealth. Merle Weir, a nurse at a local convalescent home agrees to help him in a not-quite-legal scheme, believing Tarrant will marry her. They will sell their own indigestion remedy on the back of anothers reputation. When he breaks his promise and becomes engaged to another, Merle talks of revenge. Could she really have murdered Tarrant? Inspector French investigates.
A classic crime novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’, featuring Inspector French, coming soon to television. Moneylender Albert Reeve has added blackmail to his activities. When his cottage burns down and he perishes within the flames, his death comes as a shock to one of his victims and Tony Meadows finds himself accused of murder. Luckily for him, his sister remembers Inspector French and asks him to help. French fears a miscarriage of justice and agrees to commence one of his most challenging investigations.
Julia Elton, mistress of Chalfont, is the dutiful wife of a man she does not love. Frank Cox is the man she falls in love with. Julias husband, Richard, suspects her of an affair and has also dismissed an employee for theft. When the murderer strikes at Richard Elton he starts a chain of events which affects the lives of many. One of these is Inspector French.
Published in America as 'Double Tragedy'.
Two thefts inside ten days...do you think can be any connection? A quiet Cornish village and its law abiding community are rocked by a series of strange events in the summer of 1943. While on a standard Home Guard training manoeuvre, Arthur Wedgewood discovers that supplies of explosives are missing from his stores. When the local police fail to take the necessary steps, Inspector French takes charge to untangle the threads of the crime perpetrated by an Enemy Unseen...
In July of 1942, a shipment of vital supplies bound for British forces in North Africa is secretly made the course of World War II may well depend on its safe delivery. But somewhere there is a leakage of information and the shipment is threatened Scotland Yard is called in, and inspector French enters the world of international espionage to solve the most crucial case of his career.
When oil is discovered on family land Rodney Vale sees a fortune to be made. His brother, Maurice, is worried only that the beautiful countryside will be spoiled. The other members of the family are keen to be persuaded by Rodney, but without Maurices permission they have no power to act. When Maurice is murdered Inspector French is puzzled by mismatching gloves found on the body one his own, the other a womans.
This collection of short stories features the unrivalled Inspector French once again showing his determination to solve difficult crimes. In each case the murderer makes a slip which gives the game away to the investigator. Can the reader spot this before Inspector French explains it?
A foolproof method for earning a fortune in a short space of time is discovered by some enterprising young men. They havent bargained on finding themselves involved in blackmail and then murder. It is up to Inspector French to unravel the threads with his usual flair.