# Inspector Joseph French — The Box Office Murders character guide > Inspector Joseph French in The Box Office Murders by Freeman Wills Crofts. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. French, French, Inspector French, Mr. Joseph French, Mr. Cracksman French, Supplies Inspector French, The Purple Sickle Inspector Joseph French **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-purple-sickle ## Snapshot A Scotland Yard inspector whose mild courtroom manner conceals a talent for strategic half-truths, he follows the Purple Sickle case from a drowned box-office girl to a London gang. ## Who they are French arrives in Portsmouth to investigate the death of a cinema cashier, and his careful reading of the evidence—fresh water in a body pulled from the sea—turns a verdict of suicide into a murder inquiry. He plays his cards close, giving bowdlerized testimony at the inquest to lull the conspirators while he works the London end. His methodical patience and willingness to let adversaries underestimate him make him the quiet engine of the early investigation. ## In the story ### [I: The Purple Sickle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/i-the-purple-sickle) French is at his desk at Scotland Yard when he receives a call from Mr. Arrowsmith about a young woman in distress. He interviews Thurza Darke with a calm and sympathetic manner, gathering details about the gambling scheme and the mysterious purple sickle scar. ### [II: French Makes an Assignation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/ii-french-makes-an-assignation) French orchestrates the assignation with Thurza Darke, investigates her disappearance, and insists on a postmortem that uncovers the fresh water anomaly. ### [III: The Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/iii-the-inquest) French attends the inquest, gives evidence, and strategically withholds the full truth to keep the murderers unsuspecting. ### [IV: French Makes a Start](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/iv-french-makes-a-start) Takes charge of the investigation, interviews witnesses, constructs a timetable for the murder, and meets with local police before being recalled to London. ### [VI: The Supreme Appeal Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/vi-the-supreme-appeal-court) Investigates boarding houses, follows up on car sightings, and discusses the case with his wife. ### [VII: Fair Passengers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/vii-fair-passengers) Leads the shadowing operation, follows Molly Moran and the grey car, and observes the pickup of multiple women. ### [The Grey Car's Round](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/viii-the-grey-car-s-round) Shadows Welland, gathers local information, searches Welland's office, and receives reports on three box-office girls. ### [IX: French Makes a Second Assignation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/ix-french-makes-a-second-assignation) Visits Molly Moran, conducts interview, arranges surveillance, and deduces the gambling story is false. ### [X: Mr. Cracksman French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/x-mr-cracksman-french) Leads the reconnaissance and burglary of Welland's garage, discovers the secret compartment in the car. ### [XI: The Happy Paterfamilias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xi-the-happy-paterfamilias) Conducts surveillance, devises window-breaking ruse, and decides to gain Molly Moran's confidence. ### [XII: The Car’s Freight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xii-the-car-s-freight) Conducts a second interview with Molly Moran, using psychological pressure and a detailed recounting of Thurza Darke's story to extract a confession. ### [XIII: The Transport of Supplies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xiii-the-transport-of-supplies) Investigates the half crown exchange, obtains coins from the Mint, exchanges them with Molly Moran, and traces deposits to Welland. ### [The Property Adjoining](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xiv-the-property-adjoining) Leads the CID operation, obtains search warrants, and personally inspects Theobald & Grudgin's yard and shop. ### [XV: Mr. Cullimore Expounds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xv-mr-cullimore-expounds) Profoundly worried and self-blaming over Molly Moran's kidnapping; coordinates inquiries and meets with Sir Mortimer and Mint officials. ### [XVI: In the Net](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xvi-in-the-net) French is referenced as the police officer Molly confided in; he warned her to avoid certain addresses. ### [XVII: The Shadows Loom Nearer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xvii-the-shadows-loom-nearer) Molly's hope for rescue; she imagines him tracing her from London. ### [XVIII: When Greek Meets Greek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xviii-when-greek-meets-greek) Leads the rescue operation, receives the tip, organizes police response, and personally captures Style and confronts the gang on the launch. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/xix-conclusion) French concludes his investigation, uncovering the full details of the coining scheme and securing convictions for the gang. He takes satisfaction in having saved Molly Moran's life and cleared out a nest of evildoers. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced as the detective in two novels mentioned in the endnotes. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/characters/joseph_french - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_box_office_murders_se/characters