# Inspector French — The Sea Mystery character guide > Inspector French in The Sea Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. French, French, Inspector French, Night Watchman French, Joe **First appearance:** 0001-ii-inspector-french-gets-busy ## Snapshot A short, stout Scotland Yard inspector with keen blue eyes and an unfailing twinkle, French arrives at Burry Port to untangle a corpse in a crate. ## Who they are French steps off the London train into a local force already bristling at outside interference, and disarms Sergeant Nield not with authority but with easy collegiality and a genuine appetite for the case. He believes ninety-nine men in a hundred are led better than driven, and his pleasantness is a calculated method as much as a temperament. His early walk round the scene, the body, and the crate sets the investigative machinery turning while everyone else is still guessing. ## In the story ### [I: Mr. Morgan Meets Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/i-mr-morgan-meets-tragedy) Scotland Yard detective summoned to investigate the case; travels west by train. ### [II: Inspector French Gets Busy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/ii-inspector-french-gets-busy) Arrives from London to lead the investigation; examines the body and crate; discusses the case with Sergeant Nield. ### [III: Experimental Detection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/iii-experimental-detection) Leads the investigation, theorizes about the lorry and crane, interviews Tom Manners, and plans to trace the crane-lorry. ### [IV: A Change of Venue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/iv-a-change-of-venue) French shifts his focus to Swansea and Ashburton, coordinates with Superintendent Howells, and plans to trace the lorry and investigate the duplicating machine order. ### [V: Messrs. Berlyn and Pyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/v-messrs-berlyn-and-pyke) Arrives in Ashburton, investigates the crate and the disappearance of Berlyn and Pyke, interviews Sergeant Daw and Mr. Fogden. ### [The Despatch of the Crate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/vi-the-despatch-of-the-crate) Conducts detailed investigation at Veda Works, interviews witnesses, and reviews despatch records. ### [Dartmoor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/vii-dartmoor) Consults Sergeant Daw, investigates the car and the moor, tests the breakdown theory. ### [VIII: A Fresh Start](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/viii-a-fresh-start) Conducts interviews with Lizzie Johnston and Sergeant Daw, tests the sock clue, and refines his theory about the murder. ### [IX: A Step Forward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/ix-a-step-forward) Interviews Jefferson Pyke and the landlady; deduces the body is Stanley Pyke's and suspects Berlyn. ### [X: London’s Further Contribution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/x-london-s-further-contribution) Conducts interviews in London, first with Mrs. Berlyn and then with Mr. Illingworth; struggles with contradictory evidence about the car's breakdown. ### [XI: John Gurney, Night Watchman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xi-john-gurney-night-watchman) French deduces Gurney must know something about the night the body was placed in the crate, visits him at home, and uses a combination of friendly conversation and direct questioning to extract information. ### [XII: The Duplicator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xii-the-duplicator) Continues his investigation, interviews Fogden and Beer, and re-evaluates the case. ### [XIII: The Accomplice?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-the-accomplice) Develops a new theory implicating Colonel Domlio as the accomplice; interviews Sergeant Daw, visits Domlio's house, and later returns to confront the butler Burt. ### [XIV: French Turns Fisherman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-french-turns-fisherman) Confronts Colonel Domlio, investigates the well at Torview, and recovers a coat from the water. ### [Blackmail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xv-blackmail) Leads the investigation, confronts Domlio, and arranges to pump the well. ### [Certainty at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-certainty-at-last) Reevaluates the case, interviews the Lancasters, traces the bicycle, and plans to confront Mrs. Berlyn in London. ### [XVII: “Danger!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-danger) Leads the investigation, bluffs Mrs. Berlyn, intercepts a note, and develops a new theory implicating Mrs. Berlyn and Jefferson Pyke. ### [XVIII: On Hampstead Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-on-hampstead-heath) French pursues Pyke and Mrs. Berlyn, overhears their conversation on Hampstead Heath, and reconsiders Domlio's guilt. ### [XIX: The Bitterness of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-bitterness-of-death) Leads the investigation, mobilizes the C.I.D., interviews witnesses, and traces Pyke to Victory Place. ### [XX: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xx-conclusion) Recovers from being knocked unconscious, apprehends the criminals, and realizes his mistake in accepting the identification of the remains. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/characters/mr_french - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/characters