📖 About Inspector French

Inspector French is a series universe written by Freeman Wills Crofts. The complete collection runs to 30 books across 1 series, published between 1924 and 1957.

The main series is Publication Order of Inspector French Books with 30 books. It opens with Inspector French’s Greatest Case (1924) and currently runs to Anything to Declare? (1957).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Inspector French

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: Inspector French’s Greatest Case (1924), book 1 of Publication Order of Inspector French Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

Each of the 1 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.

📚 Inspector French Books in Order

Publication Order of Inspector French Books
30 books
1
Inspector French’s Greatest Case book cover1Inspector French’s Greatest Case1924Buy on Amazon
Inspector French and the Cheyne Mystery book cover2Inspector French and the Cheyne Mystery1926Buy on Amazon
Inspector French and the Starvel Hollow Tragedy book cover3Inspector French and the Starvel Hollow Tragedy1927Buy on Amazon
Inspector French and the Sea Mystery book cover4Inspector French and the Sea Mystery1928Buy on Amazon
The Box Office Murders book cover5The Box Office Murders1929Buy on Amazon
Inspector French and Sir John Magill’s Last Journey book cover6Inspector French and Sir John Magill’s Last Journey1930Buy on Amazon
Mystery in the Channel book cover7Mystery in the Channel1931Buy on Amazon
Sudden Death book cover8Sudden Death1932Buy on Amazon
Death on the Way book cover9Death on the Way1932Buy on Amazon
The Hog's Back Mystery book cover10The Hog's Back Mystery1933Buy on Amazon
The 12.30 from Croydon book cover11The 12.30 from Croydon1934Buy on Amazon
Mystery on Southampton Water book cover12Mystery on Southampton Water1934Buy on Amazon
Crime at Guildford book cover13Crime at Guildford1935Buy on Amazon
The Loss of the Jane Vosper book cover14The Loss of the Jane Vosper1936Buy on Amazon
Man Overboard book cover15Man Overboard1936Buy on Amazon
Found Floating book cover16Found Floating1937Buy on Amazon
Antidote to Venom book cover17Antidote to Venom1938Buy on Amazon
The End of Andrew Harrison book cover18The End of Andrew Harrison1938Buy on Amazon
Fatal Venture book cover19Fatal Venture1939Buy on Amazon
Golden Ashes book cover20Golden Ashes1940Buy on Amazon
James Tarrant, Adventurer book cover21James Tarrant, Adventurer1941Buy on Amazon
A Losing Game book cover22A Losing Game1941Buy on Amazon
Fear Comes to Chalfont book cover23Fear Comes to Chalfont1942Buy on Amazon
The Affair at Little Wokeham book cover24The Affair at Little Wokeham1943Buy on Amazon
Enemy Unseen book cover25Enemy Unseen1945Buy on Amazon
Death of a Train book cover26Death of a Train1946Buy on Amazon
Silence for the Murderer book cover27Silence for the Murderer1949Buy on Amazon
Dark Journey / French Strikes Oil book cover28Dark Journey / French Strikes Oil1951Buy on Amazon
Many a Slip book cover29Many a Slip1955Buy on Amazon
Anything to Declare? book cover30Anything to Declare?1957Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Inspector French books are there?
There are 30 books in the Inspector French collection, organised into 1 series and published between 1924 and 1957.
What is the first Inspector French book?
The first book is Inspector French’s Greatest Case, published in 1924.
What order should I read the Inspector French books in?
Most readers use publication order, which is the order the books were originally released. A chronological order is also provided on this page for readers who prefer to follow the internal timeline of the story.
Who wrote the Inspector French books?
The Inspector French books were written by Freeman Wills Crofts.
Is the Inspector French series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Inspector French Books, has 30 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Inspector French series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1924, and the most recent in 1957.