Freeman Crofts

Freeman Wills Crofts was an Irish author, born in Dublin to English parents. He is best known for his "Inspector French" series of novels. Crofts was educated in Belfast, where he attended Campbell and Methodist Colleges. At the age of seventeen, he began an apprenticeship with his uncle, Berkeley D Wise, who was the chief engineer of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. Crofts' career in railway engineering progressed rapidly, and by 1899, he had become a fully fledged railway engineer. He continued to advance in the field, becoming a district engineer and then a chief assistant engineer before leaving the service.

Crofts' writing career began while he was recovering from a severe illness, during which he had to take an extended leave of absence from work. It was during this time that he wrote "The Cask," his debut novel, which was published by the London publishers Messrs. Collins. The novel was a success, selling more than 100,000 copies within two decades. Crofts continued to write in his spare time, producing a book a year until 1929 when he was forced to stop working due to poor health.

After moving to Guildford, England, Crofts began writing full-time. Many of his plots revolved around travel and transport, particularly transport timetables, and were set in Guildford. In addition to his mystery novels, Crofts wrote about 50 short stories, 30 radio plays for the BBC, a number of true crime works, a play, "Sudden Death," a juvenile mystery, "Young Robin Brand, Detective," and a religious work, "The Four Gospels in One Story." Crofts' best-known character is Inspector Joseph French, who appeared in 30 detective novels between 1924 and 1957. Renowned author Raymond Chandler praised Crofts' plotting abilities, calling him "the soundest builder of them all."
Inspector French Books
# Title Year
1 Inspector French’s Greatest Case 1924
2 Inspector French and the Cheyne Mystery 1926
3 Inspector French and the Starvel Hollow Tragedy 1927
4 Inspector French and the Sea Mystery 1928
5 The Box Office Murders 1929
6 Inspector French and Sir John Magill’s Last Journey 1930
7 Mystery in the Channel 1931
8 Sudden Death 1932
9 Death on the Way 1932
10 The Hog's Back Mystery 1933
11 The 12.30 from Croydon 1934
12 Mystery on Southampton Water 1934
13 Crime at Guildford 1935
14 The Loss of the Jane Vosper 1936
15 Man Overboard 1936
16 Found Floating 1937
17 Antidote to Venom 1938
18 The End of Andrew Harrison 1938
19 Fatal Venture 1939
20 Golden Ashes 1940
21 James Tarrant, Adventurer 1941
22 A Losing Game 1941
23 Fear Comes to Chalfont 1942
24 The Affair at Little Wokeham 1943
25 Enemy Unseen 1945
26 Death of a Train 1946
27 Silence for the Murderer 1949
28 Dark Journey / French Strikes Oil 1951
29 Many a Slip 1955
30 Anything to Declare? 1957
Freeman Wills Crofts Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 The Cask 1920
2 The Ponson Case 1921
3 The Pit-Prop Syndicate 1922
4 The Groote Park Murder 1923
Freeman Wills Crofts Short Story Collections
# Title Year
1 Murderers Make Mistakes 1947
2 Mystery of the Sleeping Car Express 1956
British Library Crime Classics Books
# Title Year
1 The Notting Hill Mystery 1862
2 The Notting Hill Mystery (By: Charles Warren Adams) 1862
3 The Poisoned Chocolates Case (By: Anthony Berkeley) 1929
4 The Poisoned Chocolates Case 1929
5 It Walks by Night (By: John Dickson Carr) 1930
6 It Walks by Night 1930
7 The Secret of High Eldersham / The Mystery of High Eldersham (By: Miles Burton) 1930
8 The Secret of High Eldersham / The Mystery of High Eldersham 1930
9 Castle Skull 1931
10 Castle Skull (By: John Dickson Carr) 1931
11 Murder of a Lady / The Silver Scale Mystery (By: Anthony Wynne) 1931
12 Mystery in the Channel 1931
13 The Incredible Crime 1931
14 The Incredible Crime (By: Lois Austen-Leigh) 1931
15 Murder of a Lady 1931
16 Murder of a Lady (By: Anthony Wynne) 1931
17 The Lost Gallows 1931
18 The Lost Gallows (By: John Dickson Carr) 1931
19 The Z Murders 1931
20 The Z Murders (By: J. Jefferson Farjeon) 1931
21 The Corpse in the Waxworks / The Waxworks Murder (By: John Dickson Carr) 1932
22 The Corpse in the Waxworks / The Waxworks Murder 1932
23 The Division Bell Mystery 1932
24 The Division Bell Mystery (By: Ellen Wilkinson) 1932
25 Portrait of a Murderer 1933
26 Portrait of a Murderer (By: Anne Meredith) 1933
27 Death in Fancy Dress (By: Anthony Gilbert) 1933
28 Death in Fancy Dress 1933
29 Family Matters (By: Anthony Rolls) 1933
30 Family Matters 1933
31 The Hog's Back Mystery 1933
32 The Mysterious Mr. Badman (By: William Fryer Harvey) 1934
33 Murder Underground 1934
34 Murder Underground (By: Mavis Doriel Hay) 1934
35 Scarweather 1934
36 Scarweather (By: Anthony Rolls) 1934
37 Death of an Airman 1934
38 Death of an Airman (By: Christopher Sprigg) 1934
39 The Spy Paramount 1934
40 The Spy Paramount (By: E. Phillips Oppenheim) 1934
41 The 12.30 from Croydon 1934
42 The Chianti Flask 1934
43 The Chianti Flask (By: Marie Belloc Lowndes) 1934
44 The Lake District Murder 1935
45 Death on the Cherwell 1935
46 Weekend at Thrackley (By: Alan Melville) 1934
47 Quick Curtain (By: Alan Melville) 1934
48 The Cornish Coast Murder 1935
49 The Traitor 1936
50 The Lake District Murder (By: John Bude) 1935
51 Death on the Cherwell (By: Mavis Doriel Hay) 1935
52 The Santa Klaus Murder 1936
53 The Cornish Coast Murder (By: John Bude) 1935
54 The Sussex Downs Murder 1936
55 The Traitor (By: Sydney Horler) 1936
56 Death in the Tunnel / Dark in the Tunnel 1936
57 The Santa Klaus Murder (By: Mavis Doriel Hay) 1936
58 Mystery in White 1937
59 Bats in the Belfry 1937
60 The Sussex Downs Murder (By: John Bude) 1936
61 The Cheltenham Square Murder 1937
62 Death of Anton (By: Alan Melville) 1936
63 The Wheel Spins / Passengers / The Lady Vanishes (By: Ethel Lina White) 1936
64 Excellent Intentions 1938
65 Murder in the Museum 1938
66 Death in the Tunnel / Dark in the Tunnel (By: Miles Burton) 1936
67 Murder in Piccadilly (By: Charles Kingston) 1936
68 Thirteen Guests 1938
69 Mystery in White (By: J. Jefferson Farjeon) 1937
70 Bats in the Belfry (By: E.C.R. Lorac) 1937
71 The Port of London Murders 1938
72 The Cheltenham Square Murder (By: John Bude) 1937
73 The Arsenal Stadium Mystery 1939
74 Excellent Intentions (By: Richard Hull) 1938
75 Seven Dead 1939
76 Murder in the Museum (By: John Rowland) 1938
77 Verdict of Twelve 1940
78 Antidote to Venom 1938
79 A Scream in Soho 1940
80 Thirteen Guests (By: J. Jefferson Farjeon) 1938
81 Death of a Busybody 1942
82 The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack 1942
83 The Port of London Murders (By: Josephine Bell) 1938
84 Somebody at the Door 1943
85 The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (By: Leonard R. Gribble) 1939
86 Seven Dead (By: J. Jefferson Farjeon) 1939
87 Murder's a Swine: A Second World War Mystery 1943
88 Checkmate to Murder 1944
89 Verdict of Twelve (By: Raymond Postgate) 1940
90 A Scream in Soho (By: John G. Brandon) 1940
91 Fell Murder 1944
92 Murder by Matchlight 1945
93 Death of a Busybody (By: George Bellairs) 1942
94 The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack (By: George Bellairs) 1942
95 Trouble on the Thames 1945
96 Somebody at the Door (By: Raymond Postgate) 1943
97 Fire in the Thatch 1946
98 Murder's a Swine (By: Nap Lombard) 1943
99 Death Makes a Prophet 1947
100 Smallbone Deceased 1950
101 Checkmate to Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac) 1944
102 Fell Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac) 1944
103 Calamity in Kent 1950
104 Murder by Matchlight (By: E.C.R. Lorac) 1945
105 Death Has Deep Roots 1951
106 The Danger Within / Death in Captivity 1952
107 Trouble on the Thames (By: Victor Bridges) 1945
108 Murder in the Mill-Race 1952
109 Fire in the Thatch (By: E.C.R. Lorac) 1946
110 Death Makes a Prophet (By: John Bude) 1947
111 Crossed Skis 1952
112 Death on the Riviera 1952
113 Smallbone Deceased (By: Michael Gilbert) 1950
114 Calamity in Kent (By: John Rowland) 1950
115 The Colour Of Murder 1957
116 The Christmas Egg 1958
117 Death Has Deep Roots (By: Michael Gilbert) 1951
118 The Progress of a Crime 1960
119 Last Seen Wearing (By: Hillary Waugh) 1952
120 The Danger Within / Death in Captivity (By: Michael Gilbert) 1952
121 The Spoilt Kill 1961
122 The Body in the Dumb River 1961
123 Murder in the Mill-Race (By: E.C.R. Lorac) 1952
124 Due to a Death 1963
125 Crossed Skis (By: Carol Carnac) 1952
126 Surfeit of Suspects 1964
127 Death on the Riviera (By: John Bude) 1952
128 Murder As a Fine Art (By: Carol Carnac) 1953
129 The Belting Inheritance 1965
130 The Man Who Didn't Fly (By: Margot Bennett) 1955
131 The Last Best Friend 1967
132 The Colour Of Murder (By: Julian Symons) 1957
133 The End of the Web 1976
134 Capital Crimes: London Mysteries 2015
135 The Christmas Egg (By: Mary Kelly) 1958
136 Resorting to Murder 2015
137 The Progress of a Crime (By: Julian Symons) 1960
138 Silent Nights 2015
139 Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm (By: Gil North) 1960
140 The Spoilt Kill (By: Mary Kelly) 1961
141 Murder at the Manor 2016
142 Serpents in Eden 2016
143 The Body in the Dumb River (By: George Bellairs) 1961
144 Due to a Death (By: Mary Kelly) 1963
145 Crimson Snow 2016
146 Foreign Bodies 2017
147 Surfeit of Suspects (By: George Bellairs) 1964
148 The Long Arm of the Law 2017
149 The Belting Inheritance (By: Julian Symons) 1965
150 Miraculous Mysteries 2017
151 The Last Best Friend (By: George Sims) 1967
152 Continental Crimes 2017
153 London Particular (By: Christianna Brand) 1972
154 The End of the Web (By: George Sims) 1976
155 Blood on the Tracks 2018
156 Capital Crimes (By: Martin Edwards, Richard Marsh) 2015
157 The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories 2018
158 Golden Age of Detection Puzzle Book 2018
159 Resorting to Murder (By: Martin Edwards) 2015
160 Silent Nights (By: Martin Edwards) 2015
161 Deep Waters: Murder on the Waves 2019
162 The Measure of Malice 2019
163 Murder at the Manor (By: Martin Edwards) 2016
164 Serpents in Eden (By: Martin Edwards) 2016
165 Settling Scores: Sporting Mysteries 2020
166 A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries 2020
167 Crimson Snow (By: Martin Edwards, Fergus Hume) 2016
168 Two-Way Murder 2021
169 Foreign Bodies (By: Martin Edwards, Palle Rosenkrantz) 2017
170 Guilty Creatures: A Menagerie of Mysteries 2021
171 The Long Arm of the Law (By: Martin Edwards) 2017
172 Miraculous Mysteries (By: Martin Edwards) 2017
173 Continental Crimes (By: Martin Edwards) 2017
174 Blood on the Tracks (By: Martin Edwards) 2018
175 The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories (By: Martin Edwards) 2018
176 Golden Age of Detection Puzzle Book (By: Kate Jackson) 2018
177 Deep Waters (By: Martin Edwards) 2019
178 The Measure of Malice (By: Martin Edwards) 2019
179 Settling Scores (By: Martin Edwards) 2020
180 A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries (By: Martin Edwards) 2020
181 Two-Way Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac) 2021
182 Guilty Creatures (By: Martin Edwards) 2021
183 Death of an Author ( By: E.C.R. Lorac) 2024
184 Crimes of Cymru (By: Martin Edwards) 2024
185 The Wheel Spins (By: Ethel Lina White) 2025
186 Lessons in Crime (By: Martin Edwards) 2025
187 Tea on Sunday (By: Lettice Cooper) 2026
Freeman Crofts Anthologies
# Title Year
1 Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror 1931
2 Six Against the Yard 1937
3 Fifty Famous Detectives of Fiction 1948
4 Nine Detective Stories 1964
5 The Scoop and Behind the Screen 1983
6 Double Death 1985
7 Murder On The Railways 2003
8 The Longman Anthology of Detective Fiction 2004
9 Capital Crimes 2015
10 Capital Crimes: London Mysteries 2015
11 Resorting to Murder 2015
12 Silent Nights 2015
13 Murder at the Manor 2016
14 Serpents in Eden 2016
15 Crimson Snow 2016
16 Foreign Bodies 2017
17 The Long Arm of the Law 2017
18 Miraculous Mysteries 2017
19 Continental Crimes 2017
20 The Realm of the Impossible 2017
21 Blood on the Tracks 2018
22 The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories 2018
23 Bodies from the Library 2019
24 The Measure of Malice 2019
25 Settling Scores: Sporting Mysteries 2020
26 Settling Scores 2020
27 A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries 2020
28 Guilty Creatures 2021
29 Guilty Creatures: A Menagerie of Mysteries 2021