Showing results by author "Freeman Wills Croft" in All Categories

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?

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...

The captain of the Newhaven to Dieppe steamer spots a small pleasure yacht lying motionless in the water and, on closer inspection, sees a body lying on the deck. When members of his crew go aboard the yacht, they find not one male corpse but two. The dead men were chairman and vice chairman of Moxon General Securities, one of the largest financial houses in the country. Inspector Joseph French of Scotland Yard is called in. French soon discovers that Moxon's is on the brink of collapse.

Dr James Earle and his wife live in comfortable seclusion near the Hog's Back, a ridge in the North Downs in the beautiful Surrey countryside. When Dr Earle disappears from his cottage, Inspector French is called in to investigate. At first he suspects a simple domestic intrigue - and begins to uncover a web of romantic entanglements beneath the couple's peaceful rural life. The case soon takes a more complex turn.

When Sir William Ponson is discovered dead, Inspector Tanner of Scotland Yard steps into a web of intrigue. With both his son and nephew appearing nervous, Tanner senses something deeper is at play. As he delves into the investigation, he uncovers a series of unexpected twists that lead him far from the obvious suspects. The case challenges Tanner's skills and tests his resolve, revealing hidden secrets and unexpected alliances. This gripping tale of detective fiction immerses listeners in the art of deduction, as Tanner races against time to uncover the truth behind Ponson's demise. With a ...

Welcome to the thrilling world of Inspector Joseph French! In this gripping tale by Freeman Wills Crofts, a railway engineer turned detective faces a baffling case. When a man's lifeless body is discovered near Cheyne, the clock begins ticking. Inspector French, known for his keen eye and methodical approach, races against time to piece together the clues. Crofts expertly weaves in his knowledge of railways, making each detail crucial to solving the mystery. With over 30 works to his name, Crofts is celebrated alongside the likes of Raymond Chandler and Agatha Christie. This fifth installment ...

A late-night murder of a diamond merchant’s veteran employee in London’s Hatton Gardens has Scotland Yard calling on Inspector French to investigate. When French gets there he finds not only the victim but missing diamonds and money from an open safe. There are meager clues as the Inspector follows a trail to mainland Europe and back. There are many false clues and several suspects with much of the searching leading to nothing but dead ends. We can listen as French sorts it all out, finding the missing diamonds and nabbing the murderer.

破损的酒桶，散落一地的金子，以及一个戴着戒指的的女尸。警察闻讯赶到现场，但是酒桶却神秘消失……破損的酒桶，散落一地的金子，以及一個戴著戒指的的女屍。警察聞訊趕到現場，但是酒桶卻神秘消失……

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.

From the Collins Crime Club archive, the fifth Inspector French novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’. THE PUZZLE OF THE PURPLE SICKLE The suicide of a sales clerk at the box office of a London cinema leaves another girl in fear for her life...

Inspector French of Scotland Yard follows the clues of a Hatton Garden murder-heist case leading him far and wide both in Britain and in the continent and finally to the culprit in a thrilling narrative - Summary by Yoganandh T

Sir William Ponson is found dead. His son and his nephew look uneasy to the eyes of Inspector Tanner of Scotland Yard and naturally the diligent Tanner pursues the clues and the notion that these are concerned somehow in the death of Ponson senior. To say that Tanner was sent on a wild goose chase would be an understatement! - Summary by Yoganandh T

Freeman Wills Crofts was part of the golden age of detective fiction, along with the likes of Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler. His most famous creation, Inspector Joseph French of Scotland Yard, appeared in more than 30 novels between 1924 and 1957. Fellow golden age author Raymond Chandler described Crofts as "the soundest builder of them all”, and Agatha Christie included a parody of French in a 1929 collection of short stories. In this story, cinema box office cashiers are dying in mysterious circumstances. With few clues and little time, will Inspector French succeed in capturing ...

The Detective Novels Collection is a stunning collection of 8 classic detective novels and stories, read by three award-winning narrators. Included here are stories by some of the greatest crime writers in history, including Arthur Conan Doyle; AA Milne; Edgar Allan Poe; Josephine Tey; and Freeman Crofts Wills.

The unloading of a consignment of French wine from the steamship Bullfinch is interrupted by a gruesome discovery in a broken cask leaking sawdust and gold sovereigns. But when the shipping clerk returns with the police, the cask and its macabre contents have gone. Following the clues to Paris, Inspector Burnley of Scotland Yard enlists the help of the genial French detective M. Lefarge to check motives and alibis in their hunt for evidence of a particularly fiendish murder.  

When a signalman discovers a mutilated body inside a railway tunnel near Groote Park, it seems to be a straightforward case of a man struck by a passing train. But Inspector Vandam of the Middeldorp police isn’t satisfied that Albert Smith’s death was accidental, and he sets out to prove foul play in a baffling mystery which crosses continents from deepest South Africa to the wilds of northern Scotland, where an almost identical crime appears to have been perpetrated.

From the Collins Crime Club archive, the forgotten second novel by Freeman Wills Crofts, once dubbed ‘The King of Detective Story Writers’ and recognised as one of the ‘big four’ Golden Age crime authors. When the body of Sir William Ponson is found in the Cranshaw River near his home of...

Immerse yourself in the haunting echoes of Starvel Hollow, where the shadows of loss and betrayal intertwine with the quest for truth. This podcast delves into the themes of mystery and tragedy, inviting listeners to explore the depths of human emotion and the consequences of hidden secrets. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that captures the essence of suspense and the struggle for justice in the face of adversity. As the stories unfold, listeners will encounter characters grappling with their pasts, navigating the fine line between innocence and guilt, and unearthing the dark ...

Dive into the depths of intrigue and suspense with "Sea Mystery," a podcast that unravels tales of the ocean's secrets and the mysteries that lurk beneath the surface. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, immersing listeners in stories of maritime crime, hidden treasures, and the complex lives of those who navigate the waters. The sea, both a source of adventure and a backdrop for deception, serves as the thematic anchor for a rotating collection of narratives that explore the human condition against the vast, unpredictable backdrop of the ocean. This is not a single story but a ...

Immerse yourself in a world where secrets lurk beneath the surface and crime weaves through the fabric of everyday life, as captured by the evocative title "Pit Prop Syndicate." This podcast invites listeners to explore a rotating collection of audiobooks that delve into themes of deception, amateur sleuthing, and the complex interplay of morality and legality. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that transports you into the depths of thrilling mysteries, where ordinary individuals confront extraordinary circumstances. As you journey through these captivating narratives, you'll ...