# Inspector French — Inspector French’s Greatest Case character guide > Inspector French in Inspector French’s Greatest Case by Freeman Wills Crofts. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. French, Mr. Inspector French **First appearance:** 0000-i-murder ## Snapshot A Scotland Yard detective whose patient, methodical mind must untangle a murdered diamond merchant, a vanished woman, and a trail of clues stretching across Europe. ## Who they are French moves through the case with quiet persistence, interviewing witnesses, tracing cheques, and following leads from London to the Continent. He is shaken by how badly he misread Mr. Duke's despair, a rare lapse that sharpens his determination. His willingness to admit uncertainty and his instinct for the telling detail make him the steady centre of a widening investigation. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/mrs_x) _professional_ Inspector French interrogates and investigates Mrs. X as a key suspect or witness in the case. ### [Mr. Duke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/mr_duke) _professional_ Inspector French works closely with Mr. Duke, likely as a colleague or informant in the investigation. ### [Miss Duke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/miss_duke) _professional_ Inspector French interacts with Miss Duke as part of his investigative work, possibly as a witness or person of interest. ### [Manley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/manley) _professional_ Inspector French deals with Manley as a subordinate or assistant in the police investigation. ### [Mr. Gething](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/mr_gething) _professional_ Inspector French consults or interrogates Mr. Gething as part of the case. ### [Captain Davis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/captain_davis) _professional_ Captain Davis assists or cooperates with Inspector French in the investigation. ### [Colonel FitzGeorge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/colonel_fitzgeorge) _professional_ Colonel FitzGeorge provides information or authority to Inspector French during the case. ### [Mr. Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/mr_williams) _professional_ Inspector French interviews or works with Mr. Williams as part of the inquiry. ### [Sergeant Carter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/sergeant_carter) _professional_ Sergeant Carter is a subordinate officer assisting Inspector French in police work. ### [Mrs. X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/mrs_x) _professional_ Inspector French interrogates and investigates Mrs. X as a key suspect or witness in the case. ### [Miss Duke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/miss_duke) _professional_ Inspector French interacts with Miss Duke as part of his investigative work, possibly as a witness or person of interest. ### [Mr. Duke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/mr_duke) _professional_ Inspector French works closely with Mr. Duke, likely as a colleague or informant in the investigation. ## In the story ### [I: Murder!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/i-murder) Leads the investigation, examines the scene, and interviews Mr. Duke. ### [II: The Firm of Duke and Peabody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/ii-the-firm-of-duke-and-peabody) Conducts interviews and examines the crime scene, noting key evidence. ### [III: Gathering the Threads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/iii-gathering-the-threads) Investigates the murder, forms a working hypothesis, and interviews Harrington. ### [IV: Missing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/iv-missing) Investigates the disappearance of Vanderkemp and travels to Amsterdam to follow up on the lead. ### [French Takes a Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/v-french-takes-a-journey) French follows the lead of the stolen notes to Reading, interviews Colonel FitzGeorge, and learns the notes may have come from the Hotel Beau-Sejour in Chamonix. ### [VI: The Hotel in Barcelona](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/vi-the-hotel-in-barcelona) Travels to Barcelona, locates Vanderkemp, and interrogates him about the murder and stolen diamonds. ### [VII: Concerning a Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/vii-concerning-a-wedding) Investigates the postponed wedding and gathers information through Sergeant Nolan and his wife. ### [Sylvia and Harrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/viii-sylvia-and-harrington) Presses Harrington and Sylvia Duke with pointed questions about their movements on the night of the murder, developing and then discarding a theory involving Vanderkemp. ### [Mrs. Root of Pittsburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/ix-mrs-root-of-pittsburg) French is rejuvenated by a new lead in the Gething case, visiting Williams & Davies and the bank to trace the diamond loan. ### [X: Some Pairs of Blankets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/x-some-pairs-of-blankets) Leads the investigation, visits the Savoy and Dashford's Agency, and discovers the trunks filled with blankets. ### [XI: A Deal in Jewellery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xi-a-deal-in-jewellery) French is in high spirits as he pursues the case, visiting jewellers and banks to trace Mrs. X's transactions, and later travels to Mürren to interview Mrs. Root. ### [XII: The Elusive Mrs. X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xii-the-elusive-mrs-x) Leads the investigation, interviews customs officers and purser, examines passenger lists and handwriting. ### [Mrs. French Takes a Notion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xiii-mrs-french-takes-a-notion) Receives crucial insight from his wife, identifies Mrs. X as Cissie Winter, and interviews theatrical contacts. ### [XIV: Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xiv-tragedy) Receives news of Mr. Duke's suicide, informs Miss Duke, and follows up with the solicitors and Mr. Schoofs. ### [XV: The House in St. John's Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xv-the-house-in-st-john-s-wood) Leads the investigation; grumbles about being on call but eagerly follows up on the identification of Mrs. Vane. ### [XVI: A Hot Scent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xvi-a-hot-scent) Leads the investigation, interviews bank manager and maid, and traces Mrs. Vane's movements. ### [A Deal in Stocks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xvii-a-deal-in-stocks) Decodes the stock list as a cipher, deducing the escape plan. ### [The S.S. Enoch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xviii-the-s-s-enoch) Pursues the Vanes to Le Havre, discovers they have fled the ship, and later receives a telegram correcting the trail. ### [French Propounds a Riddle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xix-french-propounds-a-riddle) Returns to the ship and devises a riddle competition to expose Mrs. Vane. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xx-conclusion) Unearths all details of the murder and theft, arranging them in proper sequence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters/inspector_french - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/characters