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  • Inspector French's Greatest Case

  • An Inspector French Mystery
  • By: Freeman Wills Crofts
  • Narrated by: Phil Fox
  • Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (110 ratings)
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Inspector French's Greatest Case

By: Freeman Wills Crofts
Narrated by: Phil Fox
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Summary

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.

©2016 Freeman Wills Crofts (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"If there is a better writer of detective stories alive, I would like to know his name." ()

What listeners say about Inspector French's Greatest Case

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Classic crime tale beautifully narrated

A good crime tale from the inter-war years. Twisty plot and enjoyable main character. Phil Fox is an excellent narrator - captures the tone and phrasing wonderfully. I shall purchase the others in the series he has narrated and hope he does them all

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant in all ways

I have recently discovered these Inspector French books- audio books. Fantastic and this is the fourth I have enjoyed. But better listened to in order I think. But each stands alone. Brilliant narrator with an array of excellent and pleasant accents for characters. Probably more enjoyable for older readers as a bit nostalgic. Great.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Detective Story

Second book by this author I have read and loved.
If this is your genre you will enjoy this book and the works of this author

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best

A great story from a lost age of passenger liners and romantic locations that is expertly crafted to the end. This would make an excellent movie.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not his best

I was bored. It isn't a thriller at all, in any way. Plod, plod, plod. THis is the second audiobook of his and I liked the other, so I will not give up on this author yet. The solution was ovbious a long time before the book ended and it was frustrating waiting for the detective to get there. He travelled here, liked the scenery, he travelled there, liked the scenery, yawn. This is not a great case.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good ol murder mystery

Was good if a bit long winded. Not exactly a cliff hanger but an easy enjoyable listen.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Meh!

This is the second of the Inspector French audiobooks I've listened to and I won't be bothering with another. It's not that they are badly written, they are not, though somewhat dated, but they are very bland.
I love 'Golden Age' mysteries but not by FWC.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Never engaged me

I got one third of the way through and realized I really wasn't listening. I think simply because I never engaged with any of the characters, they had no personality. I barely remembered their names let alone formed a picture of them. So many books so little time, deleted the download.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspector French,s greatest case

Beutiful written story a little dated but keeps you guessing until the end of last chapter

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Boring.

very very boring. I struggled to listen to the end. I will not read another inspector French book.

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