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Christie Coppers

Mr_Graves 18 Oct 10 at 5:51 a.m. GMT

Hi all! There seem to be a good many police officers in Agatha Christie's novels (sometimes recurring characters). So for this little game, try to guess which of those police officers is being described...

An example would be "I am a distinguished man, a good friend of M. Hercule Poirot. I live in Woodleigh Common with my sister, Elspeth. Who am I?" The answer to is would be "Superintendent Spence, who appeared in 'Hallowe'en Party' and 'Mrs McGinty's Dead'"

Here's the first one. "I have an unimaginative appearance, but in reality I am a very imaginative man. Who am I?"

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414 replies

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NightRayDuck 19 May 12 at 10:24 p.m. GMT

No, not Craddock. Notice that this copper is working with a Scotland Yarder.

Tommy_A_Jones 19 May 12 at 10:57 a.m. GMT

Is it Craddock in 4.50 From Paddington?

NightRayDuck 19 May 12 at 12:40 a.m. GMT

Thank you, Tommy.

Ugh! The case of minor ill will has suddenly grown into murder, and I have to work with a Scotland Yarder. Some of the residents here are rather alarming. Now I even have to protect someone and get them out of the way at the same time! Why does the Author not write in several constables and detective sergeants to work with me?!?!

Tommy_A_Jones 16 May 12 at 1:17 p.m. GMT

Correct Ray, I thought It was the Sgt but then when I went on to Wiki I couldn't find the namne of The Sgt only Craddock and as sometimes they change names of Policemen like in ABC Murders I felt an idiot, The Adaptation I was using was the JH one where the Sgt who expresses something like that is played by Kevin Whateley anyway Your Turn Ray.

NightRayDuck 15 May 12 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

I think the teaser might refer to the way that people leave their houses unlocked in A Murder Is Announced. If that is so, then the copper will be either Inspector Craddock or his Sergeant.

Tommy_A_Jones 15 May 12 at 12:02 p.m. GMT

To be perfectly Honest, I got my Teaser from an Adaptation of the Book and can't find wether or not it weas the Copper I thought it was or the Copper who works with him who would have said this so If you can nane either and the incident I suppose you can have it, Sorry.

Tommy_A_Jones 05 May 12 at 10:58 a.m. GMT

No but it is a Copper in a Miss Marple Book

Bunch_Marple 05 May 12 at 10:48 a.m. GMT

The Investigator in The moving finger? name escapes me...

Tommy_A_Jones 04 May 12 at 1:50 p.m. GMT

That is supposed to be in speech marks which  forgot to put in,

Tommy_A_Jones 04 May 12 at 12:49 p.m. GMT

Would you believe it? I can't believe nothing serious has happened before if people live like this.

Mr_Graves 04 May 12 at 6:11 a.m. GMT

Indeed it is, Tommy. Your turn!

Tommy_A_Jones 01 May 12 at 1:50 p.m. GMT

Inspector Grange The Hollow

Mr_Graves 14 Apr 12 at 9:31 p.m. GMT

Not Campbell- remember that this copper is from a Poirot novel that was adapted into a play.

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Apr 12 at 11:02 a.m. GMT

Det Inspector Campbell At Bertrams Hotel Favy goes with him to Bertram's and steals his thunder.

I might be wwrong about who Margaret Courtney played but It was tthe same Production where Gordan Jackson played Battle.

Mr_Graves 13 Apr 12 at 8:41 p.m. GMT

Not Battle or Colgate- think of a later novel than those two. Interesting facts about the "Cards on the Table" play though, Tommy- Margaret Courtney has had her fair share of roles!

NightRayDuck 11 Apr 12 at 11:17 p.m. GMT

Inspector Colgate in Evil Under the Sun? his work turned out very routine, without turning up clues that had to do with the murder case.

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Apr 12 at 11:10 a.m. GMT

Supt Battle (Cards On The Table). The Play was written after Agatha Christie's Death and of the 4 Experts only Ariadne and Battle survived, I think Battle was played by Gordon Jackson and Ariadne by Margaret Courtney (Miss Knight in THE MIRROR CRACKED JH version and Dolly in AL version of the same Book).

Mr_Graves 31 Mar 12 at 9:51 p.m. GMT

Apologies, NightRayDuck, for being so slack. In response to your guess, it is not Taverner. This copper originally appeared in a Poirot novel, which was made into a play. Probably a dead giveaway, that, but see how you go!

NightRayDuck 27 Mar 12 at 2:26 a.m. GMT

'allo, Mr. Graves?

NightRayDuck 19 Mar 12 at 1:43 a.m. GMT

I am never familiar with adaptations, so I'll have to go ahead with my next guess without the benefit of the hint about adapt formats..

Inspector Taverner in Crooked House ? He started out being methodical and shrewd and all, but later the killer led everyone, the Inspector included, on a run-around.

Mr_Graves 16 Mar 12 at 6:46 p.m. GMT

The right rank, I think, but this copper appeared in a work which was later adapted into another format...

NightRayDuck 11 Mar 12 at 3:55 a.m. GMT

Inspector Curry in They Do It with Mirrors ?

Mr_Graves 10 Mar 12 at 11:54 p.m. GMT

Of a higher rank than the Constable, and he appeared in a novel. A good guess, though.

NightRayDuck 16 Feb 12 at 9:36 p.m. GMT

would this be Constable Polk? particularly in the short story "Death by Drowning", Polk happens to pick up and preserve an important piece of evidence.

Mr_Graves 27 Jan 12 at 5:47 p.m. GMT

Apologies for the belated clue, but I was having trouble thinking up a copper. Here it is:

I had a very ordinary sort of role to play in the story, one which might seem secondary. But I think my creator had a little more faith in my abilities!   

treplag 26 Jan 12 at 10:05 p.m. GMT

I believe you are right, Ray.  I made the same mistake when I first wandered into these forums (I don't suppose that is the Latin plural).

NightRayDuck 26 Jan 12 at 9:41 p.m. GMT

the post by agatha2day? I think it's in response to the original / first puzzle on this thread, without having completely read through the game rules..

treplag 25 Jan 12 at 2:11 p.m. GMT

The last post appears to be in the wrong forum.

agatha2day 25 Jan 12 at 1:48 p.m. GMT

Sounds totally like an Agatha line - I would guess it comes from Secret Adversary?  Does he ask himself, 'Who am I' or is this really part of the quote from the book?   

treplag 25 Jan 12 at 12:34 p.m. GMT

Good job, Mr. Graves.  Over to you.

Mr_Graves 25 Jan 12 at 3:34 a.m. GMT

Hmmm.... Adam Goodman, from "Cat Among the Pigeons"?

treplag 24 Jan 12 at 10:31 p.m. GMT

Thanks, Ray.  I'm afraid this is going to be too easy for all you Christie mavens, but it's the best I can do at the moment:

In my one appearance in a Christie book, I masqueraded as a gardener.  Most men would say that I had an ideal assignment.

NightRayDuck 24 Jan 12 at 8:37 p.m. GMT

treplag has pointed out the real police officer in that story! Well done treplag for the guessing and the explanation without any specific spoilers. Your turn. :-)

treplag 24 Jan 12 at 8:09 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I don't recall his name, but there was a real policeman who apprehends "Sergeant Trotter" at the end of "Three Blind Mice".  He would seem to fit the clues.

StephenNorton 24 Jan 12 at 8:08 p.m. GMT

I thought the young would be his own son investigating the crime, but is it perhaps Inspector Dick Hardcastle?

NightRayDuck 24 Jan 12 at 8:05 p.m. GMT

Not Taverner. I don't think there's an erratic young policeman in that story.

StephenNorton 24 Jan 12 at 7:59 p.m. GMT

is it perhaps chief inspector taverner from the crooked house?

NightRayDuck 24 Jan 12 at 7:37 p.m. GMT

to treplag's question, this policeman replies:

"I am a police officer, and I am assigned to this case. I don't know about the young man, though; there had been no notice about him being here."

treplag 24 Jan 12 at 12:23 a.m. GMT

This is a policeman talking about another policeman, right?  Are they both genuine crime fighters?

NightRayDuck 23 Jan 12 at 11:22 p.m. GMT

OK! Let me see..

"Well, it's fine that during this particular investigation, no one pays me any attention the way that they'd usually watch a copper. That erratic young policeman worries me, though. Yes, he's very odd, and quite unexpected. He worries me."

StephenNorton 22 Jan 12 at 3:50 p.m. GMT

Well I am not very good in creating those descriptions, so I give the honour to Ray if this is fine^^

treplag 22 Jan 12 at 3:01 p.m. GMT

Good guess, Ray!  I watched the adaptation the other day, and he was given a name in it, but I don't remember what it was.  I couldn't recall whether he had one in the original story.  You and Stephen both got one right, so I don't know who has the honors.

NightRayDuck 22 Jan 12 at 3 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

The police constable (name not given) in the short story "The Man in the Mist"?

treplag 20 Jan 12 at 1:13 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

You got one right.  Sergeant Trotter wasn't really a policeman - he only impersonated one.

StephenNorton 20 Jan 12 at 4:47 a.m. GMT

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well then I can only think of Superintendent Sugden from Hercule Poirot`s christmas and Detective Sergeant Trotter from the mousetrap

treplag 19 Jan 12 at 9:22 p.m. GMT

No.  I wasn't sure if I was supposed to speak as the character, and I didn't.  The "I" is me, treplag.  Sorry for the confusion.

NightRayDuck 19 Jan 12 at 8:52 p.m. GMT

Need clarification please. The "I" in the puzzle is a policeman character who knows about two other policemen characters who were called to investigate, etc? Thank you.

treplag 19 Jan 12 at 8:39 p.m. GMT

I don't feel very smart most of the time after reading an AC book.  I have read all of them, and I don't think I guessed the murderer more than twice. :(

I am aware of only two Christie characters who, being policemen, were called upon to investigate the murders they committed.  Who are they?

Mr_Graves 19 Jan 12 at 5:22 p.m. GMT

It would be indeed. I daresay he wasn't feeling terribly sharp after the murderer tricked him. Then again, neither did I! Your turn now, treplag.

treplag 19 Jan 12 at 2:51 p.m. GMT

That would have to be Inspector Sharpe from HICKORY DICKORY DEATH.

Mr_Graves 18 Jan 12 at 6:14 a.m. GMT

Here it is then:

I only ever appear once, and unfortunately my surname did not lend itself to a particular bit of foolishness on my part. Completely hoodwinked, I was!

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Jan 12 at 1:55 p.m. GMT

Correct Mr Graves your turn

Mr_Graves 15 Jan 12 at 6:24 p.m. GMT

Right, so a Scotland Yard man who doesn't really solve anything. He doesn't appear in a Poirot novel, but the actor who played him is in a Poirot episode as somebody else. I'm going to have a stab (ho ho) at Inspector Marriott from several stories in the "Partners in Crime" book. He was played by Arthur Cox in the television adaptation of the stories, who also played Doctor Hawker in the Poirot series.

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Jan 12 at 2:23 p.m. GMT

No this Copper never met Poirot but the actor who played him appeared in Poirot

NightRayDuck 09 Jan 12 at 1:18 a.m. GMT

This might be Insp. Japp? He's known to refer to Poirot as the old dog that comes up with the goods.

Tommy_A_Jones 23 Dec 11 at 11:27 a.m. GMT

But you would be right in thinking the Actor who played this Copper also appeared in Poirot

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Dec 11 at 1:02 p.m. GMT

And ytou would be wrong with both Guesses.

Mr_Graves 22 Dec 11 at 4:40 a.m. GMT

I would guess either Inspector Slack (played by David Horovitch, who also appeared in the Poirot episode "The Kidnapped Prime Minister") or Inspector Craddock, played by Edward Fox in the 1980 version of "The Mirror Crack'd", who later appeared in both the Poirot and Marple series...

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Dec 11 at 10:59 a.m. GMT

The actor who plays him was in a snother Adaptation with another sleuth

Tommy_A_Jones 19 Dec 11 at 12:58 p.m. GMT

I would describe him as ebullient anyway.

Tommy_A_Jones 19 Dec 11 at 11:18 a.m. GMT

Thankyou,

I am a very Ebullient Copper, I don't really solve anything, I sought of put the scent infront of the Hounds Nose and let him come up with the Goods, I usually know who isn't on the level as we pretty much know what's what at the Yard.

Mr_Graves 18 Dec 11 at 6:07 p.m. GMT

Yes, it is Sergeant Fletcher. He doesn't say much, mainly "Sir", in various tones. Well done, Tommy, your turn next...

Tommy_A_Jones 18 Dec 11 at 1:20 p.m. GMT

Detective Sargeant Fletcher played by Kevin Whateley in A Murder is Announced but knowing my luck he was a made up Policeman. as I seem to remember Lake was Craddocks assistant in another Miss Marple with Joan Hickson

Mr_Graves 17 Dec 11 at 5:52 p.m. GMT

Not Lake, but he was portrayed on television by somebody fairly well-known.

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Dec 11 at 11:13 a.m. GMT

Lake

Mr_Graves 14 Dec 11 at 6:23 p.m. GMT

This copper is a sergeant, yes, but not Pollock.

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Dec 11 at 1:36 p.m. GMT

Sargeant Pollock The Sittaford Mystery 

Mr_Graves 13 Dec 11 at 7:07 p.m. GMT

Not somebody of such a high rank as Race...

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Dec 11 at 11:16 a.m. GMT

Colonel Race

Mr_Graves 13 Dec 11 at 2:33 a.m. GMT

Oh dear... I was a bit muddled there. But all's well, and here's the clue from my copper:

I like to think that my opinions are highly valued- even if I don't say much at all!

NightRayDuck 12 Dec 11 at 7:08 p.m. GMT

It was, in fact, Col. Melrose talking about playing host to Mr. Satterthwaite. Other than that, Mr Graves is correct in identifying the copper and the story. Your turn, Mr Graves. :)

Mr_Graves 12 Dec 11 at 6:29 p.m. GMT

Or could it be Colonel Melrose, from "The Love Detectives", talking about his visit to Mr Satterthwaite? The man who turned up might be Harley Quin...

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Dec 11 at 2:15 p.m. GMT

Major Barnes Triangle At Rhodes

NightRayDuck 09 Dec 11 at 1:28 a.m. GMT

This is from a short story.

InspectorGrant 08 Dec 11 at 9:50 a.m. GMT

I would like a hint please Ray.  Is this from a novel or a short story?

NightRayDuck 07 Dec 11 at 9:50 p.m. GMT

does anybody need a hint? or would someone like to start with a guess in the dark?

NightRayDuck 04 Dec 11 at 7:31 p.m. GMT

thank you..

"He's my old friend; we have known each other for the longest time! Even though his interests are quite different from mine, it's a pleasure to have him over and show him around! He started behaving oddly, though, when that man turned up..."

InspectorGrant 04 Dec 11 at 1:14 p.m. GMT

That's the chap, Ray - congratulations!

Over to you ...

NightRayDuck 03 Dec 11 at 7:39 p.m. GMT

found my Tommy & Tuppence book.. there were two Metro coppers in the drug raid, but the readers only get introduced to one of them by name. the name is Inspector Grace. the story, again, is "The Ambassador's Boots".

InspectorGrant 03 Dec 11 at 12:05 p.m. GMT

Still here, Jakat - the story is correct, just that nobody has named the correct Copper as yet.  It is not Tommy or Tuppence.  This Christie Copper is a member of the Metropolitan Police Force, and is an Inspector. 

jakat 02 Dec 11 at 8:58 p.m. GMT

PLEASE ANSR

jakat 02 Dec 11 at 8:56 p.m. GMT

tommy AND TUPPENCE

jakat 02 Dec 11 at 8:54 p.m. GMT

is it dr. Reggis Fortune

jakat 02 Dec 11 at 8:43 p.m. GMT

what about inspecter larry bird

jakat 02 Dec 11 at 8:42 p.m. GMT

inspector narracot

InspectorGrant 02 Dec 11 at 11:28 a.m. GMT

I am sorry, Tommy, but it isn't Inspector Marriott!

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Dec 11 at 1:46 p.m. GMT

Inspector Marriott, If I am right Ray can have the next go, I am not too hot on my Christie Copppers, the next one I was going to do has recently been taken

InspectorGrant 01 Dec 11 at 9:59 a.m. GMT

You have the correct story, Ray - now if you would just name the Christie Copper...

NightRayDuck 30 Nov 11 at 6:25 p.m. GMT

the case in The Crackler was counterfeit bills, I think..

the drug raid case was in The Ambassador's Boots.

InspectorGrant 29 Nov 11 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

No, sorry Tommy.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Nov 11 at 11:26 a.m. GMT

Inspector Marriott Partners in Crime The Drugs raid was in The Crackler

InspectorGrant 29 Nov 11 at 5:50 a.m. GMT

A clue - this Christie Copper was in a short story.

InspectorGrant 27 Nov 11 at 8:01 a.m. GMT

Thank you, Ray.

I am quite good at impersonating bored husbands, and was involved in a drug raid in my time as a Christie Copper.

NightRayDuck 25 Nov 11 at 2:26 a.m. GMT

Exactly so, InspectorGrant! Your turn. 

InspectorGrant 24 Nov 11 at 11:26 a.m. GMT

Constable Johnson out of Secret of Chimneys - the one who had been 'looking forward to a hanging'.

NightRayDuck 20 Nov 11 at 7 p.m. GMT

Thank you, Tommy.

"I am a young constable very new to the force in this peaceful village. I am inexperienced, rather innocent, and probably naive. Being described as downy unfledged is probably clever of Her, but when She said I was like a human chicken I think she's enjoying herself a little too much."

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Nov 11 at 11:22 a.m. GMT

Correct Ray, although I did mnean he caught The Doctor's Sister writing Hurtful letters but I forgot she only ever had 1 intended victim so itr was a one off and anyway I should have said 'Caught the Culprit of a Bit of Silliness' not 'Stopped' anywayt well done, your Turn.

NightRayDuck 16 Nov 11 at 9:19 p.m. GMT

um, if this is the policeman in The Moving Finger, I think it is Superintendent Nash, because he is higher ranking, and he stops the silliness of Jerry Burton trying to burst into the menacing scene that, in fact, is a trap for the murderer.

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Nov 11 at 1:28 p.m. GMT

Yes That is Correct Ray, So who is the Policeman? 

NightRayDuck 16 Nov 11 at 12:03 a.m. GMT

maybe "called for outside help" meant something like when Mrs. Dane-Calthorpe asked Miss Marple to visit their little village? in which case the policeman would be Superintendent Nash, in The Moving Finger.

Mr_Graves 15 Nov 11 at 7:02 p.m. GMT

Is this the resourceful Inspector Neele from "A Pocket Full of Rye", who didn't solve the murders, but was able to put a stop to Mary Dove's shenanigans?...

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Nov 11 at 2:08 p.m. GMT

Miss Marple story, surely that Gives it away. Just Noticed, should have put Murders Plural

InspectorGrant 15 Nov 11 at 1:34 p.m. GMT

A clue perhaps, Tommy?  Is this a Poirot or a Miss Marple story?

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Nov 11 at 11:45 a.m. GMT

Thankyou Ray;

I am quite a High Ranking Policeman and Had the brains to solve The Murder, but someone thought otherwise and called for outside help so the Glory was taken from me but I managed to put a stop to one little bit of silliness

NightRayDuck 07 Nov 11 at 9 p.m. GMT

George Rydesdale.

Would Tommy like to post the next puzzle, perhaps?

I can't think of an interesting copper to post about, b/c of forgetting all Poirot short stories in preparation for reading Elephants Can Remember.

Mr_Graves 07 Nov 11 at 5:30 p.m. GMT

Close enough! It's the right book, and I confess even I can't remember the man's name! So over to you, NightRayDuck...

NightRayDuck 05 Nov 11 at 11:35 p.m. GMT

book is A Murder Is Announced.

can't remember name at the moment.

Mr_Graves 05 Nov 11 at 6:43 p.m. GMT

Yes, the policeman is a Chief Constable, and he is talking about Craddock and the help he gets from Miss Marple. Can anybody tell me the name of the chief constable, and in which book he appears?

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Nov 11 at 11:30 a.m. GMT

I would say the Inspector is Craddock the help he gets is from Miss Marple, I can't remember the name of the Chief Constable who would say it but it probably is a Chief Constable.

NightRayDuck 04 Nov 11 at 8:32 p.m. GMT

possibly a chief constable about a young inspector?

Mr_Graves 04 Nov 11 at 6:50 p.m. GMT

Yay! What a stroke of good luck. Now for my clue...

I've no doubt he can sort the thing out- he's a damn' good fellow, and clever too. It looks as though he's been given a helping hand...

InspectorGrant 03 Nov 11 at 7:27 a.m. GMT

Lol - there's no justice!  But go for it, Mr. Graves - and you are, of course, quite correct.  It is indeed Inspector Jerrold from 'The Girl in the Train'.

Over to you..

Mr_Graves 02 Nov 11 at 5:18 p.m. GMT

I hate to end the game so quickly, but as I've just read this story I had to reply! I think you are Inspector Jerrold from "The Girl in the Train"...

InspectorGrant 02 Nov 11 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

Thank you, Ray.  Here is mine:

'I am a smallish Police Officer, with ginger hair and a moustache, and my clothes are rather horsey looking."

NightRayDuck 30 Oct 11 at 9:42 p.m. GMT

Yes, InspectorGrant! This copper is Inspector Badgworth whose involvement in the case is narrated by West to Miss Marple.

Your turn!

InspectorGrant 30 Oct 11 at noon GMT

Raymond West leading Inspector Badgworth up the garden path in Ingots of Gold.

NightRayDuck 28 Oct 11 at 6:05 p.m. GMT

Certainly. There is no murder, and no murderer in this case.

I think this might be time to mention that this copper appears in a short story. Good luck~

Tommy_A_Jones 28 Oct 11 at 1:31 p.m. GMT

If I may I will ask 2 questions in one then, How many Murders (If any) and How many Murderers (If Any) 

NightRayDuck 27 Oct 11 at 9:23 p.m. GMT

anyone has any question for this copper? he has nothing to hide even though it's a bit embarrassing to be misled by a writer who is fooled by the criminals~ 

personally, I think questions of quantity - "how much" or "how many" were involved - would help more than "did this copper ever meet [Christie sleuth]".

NightRayDuck 24 Oct 11 at 6:12 p.m. GMT

the acquaintance is not Poirot. see second sentence in Hint 1. this aquaintance is a writer.

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Oct 11 at 11:23 a.m. GMT

Is the the aquaintance Poirot? 

NightRayDuck 23 Oct 11 at 4:22 p.m. GMT

Not Insp. Lejeune... See first sentence in Hint 1. Or, of course, I can write it out..

Hint 1.6: This police inspector is working on a case of theft.

InspectorGrant 23 Oct 11 at 8:07 a.m. GMT

Det. Insp. Lejeune from The Pale Horse?

NightRayDuck 22 Oct 11 at 8:06 p.m. GMT

Not Inspector Sharp or Inspector Williams. This policeman wishes to elaborate:

Hint 1: "I went right there to look for the missing item. If not for that writer acquaintance of mine spouting every theory that he could think of, I might have examined the place and the people thoroughly, and sat and pondered and actually figured out who's been hoodwinked here."

InspectorGrant 22 Oct 11 at 11:06 a.m. GMT

Inspector Williams in Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Oct 11 at 2:01 p.m. GMT

I think his name is Inspector Sharp

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Oct 11 at 1:28 p.m. GMT

The Policeman in Charge of The Investigation onto The Hickory Lane Murders in Hickory Dickory Dock I am sorry I can't remember his name (What a surprise) but I liked him and in the Adaptation he was replaced by Japp.

Thankyou Ray, I will bear it in mind although now you have suggested it you will be on the lookout so I will have to be more cvreative if I use Poirot.

NightRayDuck 20 Oct 11 at 10:56 p.m. GMT

Next copper up for guessing:

"Those artsy guys! Their wild imagination comes with their ability to be easily taken in by a fantastic story! And then the evidence they give sounds so convincing because they think it's the truth. If I had looked into that guy's statement with a little more care and skepticism, I might have caught on to the crime and arrested the gang right there and then."

NightRayDuck 20 Oct 11 at 10:41 p.m. GMT

Tommy, that's an excellent idea! M. Poirot is a retired policeman and currently a private investigator. It might be interesting in the future if you do a puzzle with Poirot talking about a case. :-)

Miss_Eylesbarrow 20 Oct 11 at 6:18 p.m. GMT

Too easy for you NightRayDuck! Over to you....

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Oct 11 at 1:04 p.m. GMT

I know this might sound odd but is it Poirot talking about Hickory Dickory Dock

NightRayDuck 20 Oct 11 at 2:57 a.m. GMT

Mr. Blore in And Then There Were None?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 19 Oct 11 at 6:41 p.m. GMT

Thanks Tommy.

I'm a retired police inspector turned private investigator.  I really should be able to solve this mystery which I find myself involved in, but there is obviously a very warped brain at work here...

Tommy_A_Jones 19 Oct 11 at 12:52 p.m. GMT

Correct Miss_Eyelesbarrow, sorry it was easy, Over to you. 

Miss_Eylesbarrow 18 Oct 11 at 7:34 p.m. GMT

Inspector Japp, who doesn't like Poirot's 'Frenchified' cooking?

Tommy_A_Jones 18 Oct 11 at 10:48 a.m. GMT

Thankyou Inspector Grant

I am a Traditional Man I like good English Cooking, I am not around as much as people would think, in fact I am mentioned more than I am seen.

InspectorGrant 18 Oct 11 at 8:29 a.m. GMT

And you are quite right, Tommy - Inspector Crome it is.  Congrats, and over to you...

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Oct 11 at 1:49 p.m. GMT

I have seen the ADapt more recently than read ABC Murders they obviously changed the name and Promoted one Character, I shall say Inspector Crome from ABC Murders 

InspectorGrant 17 Oct 11 at 12:54 p.m. GMT

No, I don't think that there is a Supt. Carter in The ABC Murders.

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Oct 11 at 12:44 p.m. GMT

Superintendant Carter from ABC Murders

InspectorGrant 16 Oct 11 at 1:17 p.m. GMT

Sorry, not Supt. Summerhayes Mr. Graves, nor Insp. Glen, Tommy.  You are getting warm, Tommy.

Mr_Graves 15 Oct 11 at 10:42 p.m. GMT

Could it be Superintendent Summerhayes from "The Mysterious Affair at Styles"? I seem to remember being annoyed by him myself!

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Oct 11 at 2:14 p.m. GMT

Inspector Glen ABC Murders

InspectorGrant 14 Oct 11 at 3:47 p.m. GMT

No, sorry Tommy.

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Oct 11 at 2:40 p.m. GMT

The French Inspector in Murder On The Links

InspectorGrant 14 Oct 11 at 8:36 a.m. GMT

No, sorry Ray - not Det. Sgt. Wilson.

A further clue - this Christie Copper appears in a full long Poirot novel, and Hastings is also in it.  Hastings also finds this Police Officer very irritating.

NightRayDuck 13 Oct 11 at 5:45 p.m. GMT

Det. Sgt. Wilson in Death in the Clouds? I haven't read that book, but I heard that he annoyed Poirot very much.

InspectorGrant 13 Oct 11 at 3:07 p.m. GMT

No, not Sgt. Cotterill.

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Oct 11 at 12:11 p.m. GMT

Sargeant Frank Cotterill from Dead Man's Folly

InspectorGrant 12 Oct 11 at 3:55 p.m. GMT

No, not Inspector Bland.  Sorry Tommy.  Have another go.

Tommy_A_Jones 12 Oct 11 at 2:38 p.m. GMT

Inspector Bland

InspectorGrant 12 Oct 11 at 12:55 p.m. GMT

No, not Sergeant Tiddler Ray.

Time for a clue - he is in a Poirot novel and annoys Poirot by his habit of saying 'Oh, yes?' in a supercillious voice every now and then, although Poirot does think he is a very competent Police Officer. 

NightRayDuck 12 Oct 11 at 1:57 a.m. GMT

umm... Sergeant Tiddler in The Mirror Crack'd?

InspectorGrant 11 Oct 11 at 5:08 p.m. GMT

No, not Craddock - sorry Tommy.

Tommy_A_Jones 11 Oct 11 at 12:35 p.m. GMT

Craddock

InspectorGrant 10 Oct 11 at 3:28 p.m. GMT

Thank you, Ray.

I am quite a young Police Officer for my rank, and am described as being well educated and well read.

NightRayDuck 06 Oct 11 at 6:58 p.m. GMT

InspectorGrant is correct! Well done and over to you~

I thought Sir Ronald's doodling was pretty unique description for a Christie character.. and doodling during office meeting at the police headquarters rather than anywhere else.

InspectorGrant 06 Oct 11 at 5:51 p.m. GMT

Assistant Commissioner Sir Ronald Graves, At Bertram's Hotel?

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Oct 11 at 1:13 p.m. GMT

Is it Craddock

NightRayDuck 05 Oct 11 at 2:14 a.m. GMT

let me think.. The Clocks does not contain many police officers, and I don't recall any office meeting in that story. sorry, Tommy, this copper is not Hardcastle, either.

You are welcome to ask questions of the character, or request for clarifications if any portion of my clue and replies had been confusing.

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Oct 11 at 3:02 p.m. GMT

Hardcastle The Clocks

NightRayDuck 03 Oct 11 at 5:28 p.m. GMT

my dear friends, consider... DOODLES during OFFICE MEETINGS.

InspectorGrant 03 Oct 11 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

Chief Inspector Fred Davey, alias 'Father'.?

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Oct 11 at 1:33 p.m. GMT

Battle

NightRayDuck 03 Oct 11 at 3:28 a.m. GMT

Not anyone in Hickory Dickory Dock. This policeman appears in a story with quite a good number of police officials, however, just as there are many policeman in Hickory Dickory Dock.

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Oct 11 at 11:29 a.m. GMT

The Policeman in Hickory Dickory Dock

NightRayDuck 02 Oct 11 at 2:08 a.m. GMT

this is not Inspector Curry, but that's a good guess to start with.

Mr_Graves 02 Oct 11 at 1:51 a.m. GMT

I remember Inspector Curry drawing a cat on his blotting paper in "They Do it with Mirrors", but he's all who comes to mind...

NightRayDuck 02 Oct 11 at 1:14 a.m. GMT

Thank you! and my apologies about the delay. My neighborhood internet has gone missing, and the neighborhood management is attempting to locate it and bring it back..

Next copper up for guessing:

I doodle during office meetings.

InspectorGrant 26 Sep 11 at 12:25 p.m. GMT

Nice work, Ray - it is indeed the police officer out of The Man in the Mist.  And no, his name was not given.  Over to you ...

NightRayDuck 25 Sep 11 at 8:09 p.m. GMT

The policeman in the Tom&Tup short story "The Man in the Mist"? I am not sure if his name was given.

InspectorGrant 25 Sep 11 at 6:52 a.m. GMT

This police officer is not in And Then There Were None.  He does play a major role in the story in which  he does appear, though.

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Sep 11 at 1:23 p.m. GMT

Is there an un-named  Policeman in And Then There Were None?

InspectorGrant 24 Sep 11 at 12:11 p.m. GMT

A small clue - this police officer is nameless.

InspectorGrant 24 Sep 11 at 7:20 a.m. GMT

No.  Have another go.

Tommy_A_Jones 23 Sep 11 at 3:12 p.m. GMT

Constable Palk

InspectorGrant 23 Sep 11 at 2:20 p.m. GMT

No, not Sergeant Lake.  Sorry, Tommy.

Tommy_A_Jones 23 Sep 11 at 1:33 p.m. GMT

SGT Lake

InspectorGrant 23 Sep 11 at 7:38 a.m. GMT

"If I touch anything the Inspector will give me beans!"

I am a large, stolid policeman, of very few words.  Of me it might be said that actions speak louder than words.

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Sep 11 at 1:10 p.m. GMT

Yes InspectorGrant you are right, your turn

InspectorGrant 22 Sep 11 at 12:42 p.m. GMT

Inspector Narracott, The Sittaford Mystery.?

NightRayDuck 21 Sep 11 at 6:10 p.m. GMT

Mr. Sudgen (Superintendent? and I may have misspelled his name) in "Hercule Poirot's Christmas"?

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Sep 11 at 2:57 p.m. GMT

By The way I did mean the 2nd part of the Alphabet which has 26 Letters in it.

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Sep 11 at 1:32 p.m. GMT

Not Inspector Tanner, This Book has 1 Murderer and I am almost sure 1 Victim but you are making me doubt myself I don't even know If I am me.

NightRayDuck 21 Sep 11 at 3:33 a.m. GMT

if you mean 2nd half of the alphabet, I'd guess Inspector Tanner in "The Mousetrap". but that's from when I forgot about your hint of Murderer and Victim being the same sex. Is there, then, only one murder victim in the story? And only one murderer, no accomplices, in the story? Thank you.

Tommy_A_Jones 19 Sep 11 at 3:12 p.m. GMT

This Policeman's surname starts and ends with letters from the 2nd part of the Alphabet

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Sep 11 at 3:05 p.m. GMT

No.

InspectorGrant 17 Sep 11 at 2:58 p.m. GMT

Sergeant O'Connor from Cards on the Table.?

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Sep 11 at 1:39 p.m. GMT

This man does not have a Military Title or a title obtained from The sitting Monarch, he has a Poliuce Rank instead.

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Sep 11 at 1:56 p.m. GMT

You mean The Man In The Brown Suit Ray but no not him, I would not have chosen him as I don't consider him a Policeman unlike this Man

NightRayDuck 14 Sep 11 at 6:51 p.m. GMT

Colonel Race in his first documented case? there was this Miss Beddingfield (or whatever her name was) tailing him and trying to uphold truth justice and peace for all, or something idealistic like that. in "The Man in the Brown Coat".

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Sep 11 at 3:41 p.m. GMT

Both Victim an Murderer are the same sex

InspectorGrant 13 Sep 11 at 1:48 p.m. GMT

How about another clue, Tommy?

Tommy_A_Jones 11 Sep 11 at 11:08 a.m. GMT

No Ray.

NightRayDuck 11 Sep 11 at 3:44 a.m. GMT

Inspector Marriot, who cooperates with young Mr. & Mrs. Beresford in several cases of their "Blunt International Detectives" era? the book of being the short story collection titled Partners in Crime.

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Sep 11 at 3:02 p.m. GMT

I am an idiot, I mean you are further away than when you plumped for Lejeurn

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Sep 11 at 11:48 a.m. GMT

No not him, you are further away than Ray 

NightRayDuck 10 Sep 11 at 3:52 a.m. GMT

Chief Inspector Kemp from Sparkling Cyanide? although I can't identify exactly the person making his life difficult; it appears to me that just about everyone in the story makes Kemp's job difficult.

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Sep 11 at 1:23 p.m. GMT

No sorry, When I said he was active I meant he appears in the book alot,

InspectorGrant 09 Sep 11 at 12:04 p.m. GMT

Giraud, 'The human foxhound' from Murder on the Links.  He is very, very active!

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Sep 11 at 11:17 a.m. GMT

Ray's Answer and the actual answer have a connection

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Sep 11 at 12:59 p.m. GMT

No Ray sorry.

NightRayDuck 08 Sep 11 at 2:19 a.m. GMT

Inspector Lejeun, in "The Pale Horse"? because Mark Easterbrook brings in interesting information, and puts a girl on the job - civilian involvement, all very worrying for the police inspector.

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Sep 11 at 12:22 p.m. GMT

No sorry he never meets Miss Marple

NightRayDuck 03 Sep 11 at 11:09 p.m. GMT

I am thinking maybe Superintedent Nash, in "The Moving Finger"? because the poison-pen letter copper Insp. Graves gets too excited about the letters, and the local civilian Jerry Burton always steps in when Nash already has a plan going.

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Aug 11 at 11:59 a.m. GMT

He is quite active in the Book he appears in.

NightRayDuck 29 Aug 11 at 4:24 p.m. GMT

I am still thinking. No worries. :-)

Seeing as no one else has tried a guess on this one yet, I think I might venture to ask: Does this copper appear only briefly in the story in which he appears? Or is this copper quite active in the story? Thank you.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Aug 11 at 11:51 a.m. GMT

I wouldn't want to mislead anyone, when I said Ray was Close it isn't because it is a Policeman from Ordeal By Innocence because it isn't, If someone guessed Battle and the answer was Spence that would be Close or if someone guessed Craddock and it was Slack That would be Close. This is a Hint 

Tommy_A_Jones 26 Aug 11 at 11:23 a.m. GMT

Close Ray but wrong.

NightRayDuck 25 Aug 11 at 8:48 p.m. GMT

I haven't seen many adaptations, and with the prodigious number of police drama on television, it's quite difficult to pinpoint an actor appearing in both. I mean, next one up is still an odd guess.

Mr. Huish (sorry I forget his rank) from "Ordeal by Innocence"?

Tommy_A_Jones 25 Aug 11 at 2:05 p.m. GMT

I don't remember much about the Adaptation of the Book this Policeman appears in but One of the people in it now plays a Policeman on Television

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Aug 11 at 1:25 p.m. GMT

No sorry, This Policeman isn't in as many as Sir Henry

NightRayDuck 23 Aug 11 at 8:01 p.m. GMT

I'll start with an odd guess... Sir Henry Clithering, because Miss Marple will try to get her opinions to him if he's in the neighborhood?

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Aug 11 at 2:46 p.m. GMT

I am Seldom seen and when I am I have I have to put up with smeone determined to make my life difficult but their intentions are good.

InspectorGrant 16 Aug 11 at 3:15 p.m. GMT

That was quick, Tommy - well done.  Of course you are right.

I loved George Baker's take on this role in the Joan Hickson movie - mildly eccentric to say the least!

Over to you ...

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Aug 11 at 2:27 p.m. GMT

Father from At Bertrams Hotel

InspectorGrant 16 Aug 11 at 7:42 a.m. GMT

I must have been wool gathering or something, Night Ray - definitely referred to as Superintendent Battle in my old copy of Chimneys which was published in 1956 and was one of the Christie novels I inherited from my uncle many years ago - bless his heart, he had a lovely taste in literature.

Anyway, thanks Night Ray - here is my Christie Copper:

I am a very well liked Police Officer, and am so benevolent that many criminals are quite surprised to find that I am not as genial and gullible as I had at first appeared.  I am nearing retirement.

NightRayDuck 15 Aug 11 at 7:07 p.m. GMT

Supplanted by Mr. Battle in "The Chimneys" case is correct! Well, InspectorGrant, I think you may go ahead and take a turn quizzing us. ;-)

Miscellaneous details..

The scenes with the local police and the local coroner are amusing almost to a point of being confusing. The impression I got was that: Insp. Badgeworthy picks up the phone call when Lord Caterham calls in the case, and the good Inspector then daydreams about being the clever local police detective who solves a murder case on the property of a Marquis. Whereas the Constable and the Coroner are simply excited that a "real murder" has occurred in their area.

In the edition I have, at least, Battle is already a Superintendent of the Yard when he's called into the Chimneys case. The title of chapter 11 goes so far as to read "Superintendent Battle Arrives".

InspectorGrant 15 Aug 11 at 1:43 p.m. GMT

Here's another contender, Night Ray - Constable Johnson working with Insp. Badgeworthy in 'The Secret of Chimneys' usurped by Insp. Battle of the Yard (later promoted to Superintendent).  Const. Johnson had been looking forward to a hanging and was quite excited about this murder..

InspectorGrant 15 Aug 11 at 11:12 a.m. GMT

Yes, Night Ray - Insp. Craddock started out in the county police, but then went up a rank to Chief Inspector at New Scotland Yard.  Apparently he was the nephew of Sir Henry Clithering.  Hope it wasn't nepotism!

Anyway, back to the drawing board ...

NightRayDuck 14 Aug 11 at 5:08 p.m. GMT

Not Tiddler either. (By the way, Craddock started out in a county, didn't he? I never quite caught the bit where he transferred to Scotland Yard.)

Hint 2: The copper wishes to say:

"The dignitary isn't just a colonel, and famous actresses with no background certainly don't count! The dignitary who called me into the case is a true peer of the empire."

InspectorGrant 14 Aug 11 at 12:30 p.m. GMT

How about Det. Sgt. Tiddler from The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side?  Rapidly out manoevred by Det. Insp. Craddock from New Scotland Yard.

NightRayDuck 13 Aug 11 at 6:47 p.m. GMT

Hint 1: The recurring sleuth, "clever Scotland Yarder" is not Inspector Japp.

NightRayDuck 09 Aug 11 at 5:27 a.m. GMT

"I was the first police officer that got called into the case. It would have been my big opportunity to distinguish myself - officer in rural area, solving a case that occurred on the property of a dignitary - all that, you know. Fairly soon, a Scotland Yarder took over the case and I faded completely out of the story. Oh well."

This copper figures this might be the time to explain the situation from a slightly different view. This copper wishes to add:

I mean, my role of a rural inspector was to act self-important while completely failing to progress in the investigation. More than that, you can be sure that our Author made sure to have some funny sarcasm at my expense! It wouldn't have looked good for me as a fictional copper in a clever mystery. It's a good thing, I suppose, that the Author soon inserted the clever Scotland Yarder and retired me from the story completely.

NightRayDuck 03 Aug 11 at 7:10 p.m. GMT

That's a good guess, InspectorGrant! However, this copper lost his "big chances" to a well-known Scotland Yard detective. Mr. Slack works in the same county as Constable Palk, and Mr. Harper, I believe, works in a nearby county.

InspectorGrant 03 Aug 11 at 2:17 p.m. GMT

Constable Palk out of The Body in the Library?  Later upstaged by the glamour of Insp. Slack and Supt. Harper.

NightRayDuck 02 Aug 11 at 6:50 p.m. GMT

A recurring Scotland Yarder appears in this story, yes.

GKCfan 02 Aug 11 at 4:22 a.m. GMT

Question: does a recurring detective appear in this story?

NightRayDuck 02 Aug 11 at 1:21 a.m. GMT

Hello. Is anyone trying to make a guess at this copper? Let me know if you have questions or need clarifications. :-)

NightRayDuck 22 Jul 11 at 12:15 a.m. GMT

"I was the first police officer that got called into the case. It would have been my big opportunity to distinguish myself - officer in rural area, solving a case that occurred on the property of a dignitary - all that, you know. Fairly soon, a Scotland Yarder took over the case and I faded completely out of the story. Oh well."

Mr_Graves 17 Jul 11 at 10 p.m. GMT

Ex-Superintendant Garroway is correct. Well done!

NightRayDuck 13 Jul 11 at 11:20 p.m. GMT

Or rather, Mr. Garroway, who handled the Ravenscroft double-homicide many years ago, in "Elephants Can Remember"? I am sorry I don't know his official police rank before his retirement. The book is still not available, and my bad reference book listed three different ranks for Mr. Garroway.

NightRayDuck 12 Jul 11 at 9:12 p.m. GMT

Superintendent Bert Spence, about the deaths of Frances Drake, and his elderly aunt before that, which occurred before the start of "Halloween Party"? I am sorry if this is quite wrong, I hadn't got around to looking throgh the book in question.

Mr_Graves 03 Jul 11 at 5:09 a.m. GMT

Not retired from the Belgian Police, no. And not a policeman from anywhere else on the Continent.

NightRayDuck 03 Jul 11 at 3:48 a.m. GMT

Is this copper retired from the Belgian police force, currently discussing some case that took place on the Continent?

Mr_Graves 30 Jun 11 at 9:50 p.m. GMT

I do feel bad that your clue was never guessed correctly! I must remind myself to read "Three Blind Mice" sometime... Anyway, here is my clue.

"You can absolutely rely on me to say nothing of it. After all, I'm retired now, and what interest I had in the affair is now void. Mind you, I'm pretty curious to know what happened exactly..."

NightRayDuck 30 Jun 11 at 5:42 a.m. GMT

Good luck, Mr. Graves, on setting a puzzle that eventually gets guessed correctly on this quiz game. :p

NightRayDuck 30 Jun 11 at 5:41 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Ack! Not the copper or the undercover in "Chimneys". I haven't the opportunity to see play script of Chimneys, either.

However, I'll pass the quizzy cap to you, Mr. Graves, seeing as you made more guesses on this copper than other friends did. Your turn!

SPOILER SPOILER

The Mousetrap (stage) / Three Blind Mouse (novella)

SPOILER SPOILER

AND EVEN MORE SPOILER

The copper who has been up for guessing is the police Inspector assigned to the case. He does not reveal his identity until at the point that he's actually arresting the suspect. I don't see the Inspector's name in the stage script. In the novella, his name is given as Inspector Tanner.

Mr_Graves 30 Jun 11 at 2:41 a.m. GMT

From what this says, he sounds like somebody from "The Secret of Chimneys". I believe there was an unperformed play adapted from the book, called simply "Chimneys". I have not read this book, so I don't know his name and rank, etc.

NightRayDuck 30 Jun 11 at 1:52 a.m. GMT

Ah? I am sorry, too, but I'll post a last summary of this copper character, and post the correct answer a few hours after that.

THIS COPPER IS WORKING THIS CASE UNDER COVER.

This copper appears in a story of some length, as well as a stage-play script.

This copper is looking for a murder suspect who, clues indicate, may be targeting several other potential victims.

The accomplished murder and the predicted murders take place in the UK. When this copper first appears on the scene he does not make it known that he is a police Inspector.

In the story version, we hear the copper's name as well as official rank. In the stage play version, we hear only the copper's rank, but we're not told of his name.

Mr_Graves 29 Jun 11 at 9:37 p.m. GMT

I really am very sorry, but I will have to give up. I cannot think of any copper in a non-series book that I have read who may have been edited out of certain editions. It's a great pity that your clue has gone on for so long, but you may have to spill the beans!

NightRayDuck 28 Jun 11 at 4:29 a.m. GMT

ahem... VERY BIG HINT!

Hint: Depending on the version and format of this story that you have enjoyed / have access to, you might never know the name of this copper.

NightRayDuck 26 Jun 11 at 12:06 a.m. GMT

Non-series is correct. and...?

Mr_Graves 24 Jun 11 at 3:29 a.m. GMT

Yes, I should like a hint. Very puzzling, I must say! I have a feeling that this copper features somewhere in a non-series novel. Am I right?

NightRayDuck 24 Jun 11 at 2:46 a.m. GMT

Hello dear forum friends... this copper has been on this quiz for a more than a month. Anybody want to ask for another hint, or clarification, or explanation from this copper?

NightRayDuck 01 Jun 11 at 12:54 a.m. GMT

hm.. on the new website layout, showing the latest post right on top of page 1, the original self-description of the copper is near the bottom of page 1 of this thread..

does anybody want to ask for another hint or another clarification? questions for the copper?

oh and the "Guess the Object" thread can't be found at the moment.. I wonder where it went.

NightRayDuck 28 May 11 at 8:55 p.m. GMT

Not Poirot, and not Fitzwilliam. hm... as a reminder to friends who have lost track of the original clue in the recent string of spam... The Copper first spoke on Page 8 of this Thread.

I'll copy the clues and hints so far anyway, for your convenience.

The Copper's first self-description (the original clue):

Well, my job right now is to come here and endeavor not to look like the police investigator that I am. I am trying to identify and capture a killer. I just need to take care that the killer doesn't kill me.

Hint #1: This copper is still an active member of the official police force established within the main lands of UK. (in response to Mr. Graves's initial guess of Luke Fitzwilliam, a recently retired copper from the Far East.)

Hint #2: Well, the case is not anything national-top-secret. It's a murder case that started somewhere else... and now, right here, we seem to have a few of the killer's targets. I'd better keep my own policeman status hush-hush. (in response to Mr. Graves's inquiry into the nature of the case.)

Random Hint #3: If you find some seeming contradiction among the clue and hints, have faith in the sanity and coherence of this copper and his humble representative the Night Duck, and try to figure out a logical reason.

good luck..

HerculeJC 28 May 11 at 4:56 p.m. GMT

Let me, also, guess, Luke Fitzwilliam, in MURDER IS EASY.

HerculeJC 28 May 11 at 11:14 a.m. GMT

Is it POIROT?  I'm thinking of CURTAIN, and the mysterious X.

NightRayDuck 27 May 11 at 8:39 p.m. GMT

..anyone guessing this copper?

NightRayDuck 20 May 11 at 5:28 a.m. GMT

Response from this copper:

Well, the case is not anything national-top-secret. It's a murder case that started somewhere else... and now, right here, we seem to have a few of the killer's targets. I'd better keep my own policeman status hush-hush.

Mr_Graves 19 May 11 at 10:15 p.m. GMT

Yes, I would like to ask this copper about the case he's working on... Unless it's too hush-hush, of course.

NightRayDuck 17 May 11 at 7:09 p.m. GMT

anybody want a hint? or ask this copper some questions?

NightRayDuck 14 May 11 at 4:39 a.m. GMT

oh! I am sorry, I totally forgot about Mr. Fitzwilliam's resume. In any case, I can assure you that this copper up for guessing is still an active member of the official police force established within the main lands of UK, not any far-flung, colonial, exotic lands.

Mr_Graves 14 May 11 at 1:59 a.m. GMT

I'm going to plunge boldiy and suggest Luke Fitzwilliam from "Murder is Easy". He does count as a copper, as he worked in Malay, I believe.

NightRayDuck 12 May 11 at 7:56 p.m. GMT

Well, my job right now is to come here and endeavor not to look like the police investigator that I am. I am trying to identify and capture a killer. I just need to take care that the killer doesn't kill me.

Mr_Graves 11 May 11 at 4:05 a.m. GMT

Thank You! Yes, it's Inspector Campbell, whose superior Inspector Davys was thought to have a lower rank than he actually did have... your turn next for clueing...

NightRayDuck 11 May 11 at 1:38 a.m. GMT

~can we have ah P n ah M n ah L~

sorry. I couldn't resist because I'd never played hangman with school friends or such. and I still wonder where all the Bertram's Hotel fans are At..

Inspector Campbell, who got involved with the case in the role of investigator on the disappearance of Canon Pennyfeather from Bertram's Hotel.

from the very circular discussion between the CID high-ups, it appears that Insp. Campbell isn't the only one who gets worried and confused when Chief Insp. Davy commences one of his "hum I wonder.. isn't that rather interesting.." lines of thought.

Mr_Graves 04 May 11 at 11:28 p.m. GMT

NO! Alright, until somebody gets it, it will have to be a hangman nam. So here it is with the letters you've given.

Inspector C a _ _ _ _ _ _. 

NightRayDuck 04 May 11 at 10:55 p.m. GMT

 Craddock? 

Mr_Graves 04 May 11 at 9:50 p.m. GMT

Yes, I'd say it was written by somebody who hadn't quite got around to reading the books... I'll make it painfully more simple for you and say that the copper in question is Inspector C _ _ _ _ _ _ _. 

NightRayDuck 04 May 11 at 9:25 p.m. GMT

my reference book, while failing to list another Inspector, or anyone with surname starting with letter C, in the entry for At Bertram's Hotel, it lists a Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Cabot in the list of all characters, as "involved in the illegal activities at Bertram's Hotel". 

Sixpence bet that the entry for the novel was written according to actor listing of an adapt, and all-character list was from wikipedia or some junior assistant whose book summaries were neglected.

Mr_Graves 03 May 11 at 9:51 p.m. GMT

Well he isn't undercover, anyway. You're so close!!! A hint: His surname starts with "C". Hopefully somebody knows somewhere?...

NightRayDuck 03 May 11 at 7:29 p.m. GMT

urm.. oops. to be more precise, the doodling AC of the Yard was the only character that I could say "aha! yes, I remember someone doing that in that book" when I came across the name and the description in my unreliable reference book. I do not remember what Mr. Davy was like. The unreliable reference book doesn't show another Inspector in that novel. Either the reference book had entirely forgotten about a character (as usual), or there is an Inspector working under a cover identity in this story.. o.O hmm, an undercover Inspector is certainly rare in Christie stories.

Mr_Graves 03 May 11 at 12:34 a.m. GMT

It is the right story, NightRayDuck, but the wrong Inspector. But this person IS referring to Davy. If you remember, it was thought that Davy was a lower ranking officer than he actually was... you're very close now- who is this copper???

NightRayDuck 02 May 11 at 8:42 p.m. GMT

Chief Inspector Davy in At Bertram's Hotel? about Sir Ronald Graves, assistant commissioner of Scotland Yard? I know I had just promised to skip that novel, but the doodling AC of the Yard is, in fact, the only character that I do remember from the story.

NightRayDuck 02 May 11 at 8:35 p.m. GMT

How very odd... I thought perhaps Inspector Craddock, during his first appearance in the Christie world, in A Murder Is Announced. his Chief Constable Rydesdale liked to point out various "easy solutions" and see if he'd agree (be lazy?) and close the case. and Uncle Henry told him to talk to an elderly lady who wasn't even local, an activity that at first seemed rather silly.

the difficulty being, Rydesdale and Sir Henry didn't mingle with the civilians (except Miss Marple, a civilian sleuthing thinker), so I don't see the opportunity for people not noticing the higher-ranking officer. 

NightRayDuck 02 May 11 at 7:30 p.m. GMT

umm.

Where's everyone else?? If this copper is from At Bertram's Hotel, I'd like to give up b/c I have no brains left to go through that story. I'll list some of the things we've already heard, and see if it reminds anybody of a Christie copper..

This copper is:

an Inspector.

not quite happy about working with a higher-ranking officer on this case.

"they" don't notice the higher-ranking officer much.

appears in a Marple novel.

Mr_Graves 22 Apr 11 at 5:32 a.m. GMT

Not Bacon about Cradoock, no. This police officer was not removed from any abridged version of a novel- thank goodness. And he is from a full-length novel.

NightRayDuck 22 Apr 11 at 4:17 a.m. GMT

not Bacon about Craddock in 4.50 in Paddington, either? (see previous post).

I hope there isn't a police inspector who had got removed from the US edition of The Moving Finger.

Is this policeman from a short story, or from a novel??

Mr_Graves 20 Apr 11 at 9:02 p.m. GMT

Not Inspector Slack, no.. Come on, we're getting there!

NightRayDuck 20 Apr 11 at 6:11 a.m. GMT

Or it could be Inspector Slack about Superintendent Harper in The Body in the Library? or even about Colonel Melchett? Slack didn't like the way that his superior officer took so much interest, and it may have been difficult working a case with a different county constabulary. (I don't remember anything about Superintendent Harper.. I didn't "notice" him?)

NightRayDuck 20 Apr 11 at 6:10 a.m. GMT

Did Inspector Bacon have difficulty working with Chief Inspector Craddock in 4.50 in Paddington? I am afraid the mumbo-jumbo "New Sherlock Holmes" stuff I've been reading have squeezed some of the Marple case details out of my mind..

I only got enough details in my brain to say that Craddock didn't like to know that the boys were doing a spot of snooping and sleuthing..

Mr_Graves 20 Apr 11 at 5 a.m. GMT

You may certainly request more information, I'm sure the policeman concerned would be more than happy to answer your question.

Yes, 'he' is a policeman. And quite a well-ranked one too. I'd even say he ranked higher than me!

NightRayDuck 20 Apr 11 at 4:14 a.m. GMT

I suppose I should ask this question, since we seem to be stumped so far. The copper has a right to refuse explaining his complaint, of course. My question is: Is the "him" that this copper is not best pleased working with, a policeman or otherwise professional sleuth? Or is this "him" a neighbor or family member or involved party of no sleuthing experience? Thank you.

Mr_Graves 19 Apr 11 at 4:32 a.m. GMT

Not Inspector Graves, despite our shared surname. We are beginning to arrive!

NightRayDuck 18 Apr 11 at 10:47 p.m. GMT

If this is Inspector Graves from The Moving Finger, then the US edition of the past few decades has had far more than the first few pages removed. I don't recall any particular person causing difficulties to Inspector Graves.

Mr_Graves 17 Apr 11 at 10:29 p.m. GMT

Not him, but he is an Inspector. 

NightRayDuck 17 Apr 11 at 8:12 p.m. GMT

oooo I know.. the Inspector in "Ingots of Gold"; chatted with Raymond West about some batches of sunken gold and batches of missing gold. the conversation was ok, but Raymond West stayed involved and started advancing fantastic explanations about how the sunken gold had gone missing.

Mr_Graves 17 Apr 11 at 2:08 a.m. GMT

Such a great description, but not Craddock's sergeant. A hint: This officer's rank is higher than sergeant.

NightRayDuck 17 Apr 11 at 12:59 a.m. GMT

I am going to be unconventional, and say.. maybe this is the sergeant working with Inspector Craddock in A Murder Is Announced? They were ok until Miss Marple disappeared late in the story and got the sergeant to start a plan going to reveal the murderer, before they had time to notify Inspector Craddock. (I forgot the sergeant's name.) After solving the case, Mr. Craddock sat and had champaign and boasted about having the sergeant on the carpet for taking action before getting supervisor approval.

Mr_Graves 09 Apr 11 at 6:56 a.m. GMT

I don't think Palk appeared in "The Murder at the Vicarage". I've just finished it, so I know! Not him, and not Slack either. Although I personally shouldn't like to have to work with him!

NightRayDuck 09 Apr 11 at 4:53 a.m. GMT

perhaps Constable Palk, about his rather brusque superior officer Inspector Slack, in Murder in the Vicarage?

Mr_Graves 08 Apr 11 at 6:34 a.m. GMT

This copper does not work with Clithering, but a good guess. And we are on the right track; he figures in a Miss Marple story.

NightRayDuck 08 Apr 11 at 6:28 a.m. GMT

I think the "him" might be Sir Henry Clithering, well-known retired Scotland Yard Commissioner... not sure which copper though who is here and not complaining. my first guess would be Inspector Drewitt, who appears in the Miss Marple short story "Death by Drowning".

Mr_Graves 07 Apr 11 at 9:47 p.m. GMT

No, but you're on the right track...

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Apr 11 at 3:24 p.m. GMT

Supt Nash (The Moving Finger)

Mr_Graves 06 Apr 11 at 9:43 p.m. GMT

Not Inspector Lejeune either, I'm afraid. A hint: This copper does not figure in a Poirot or Non-Series story.

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Apr 11 at 4:31 p.m. GMT

Le Jaurne from The Pale Horse?

Mr_Graves 05 Apr 11 at 9:46 p.m. GMT

A good guess, but not Hardcastle.

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Apr 11 at 4:10 p.m. GMT

Hardcastle from The Clocks

I think the Regular Policemen are quite distinctive

Mr_Graves 05 Apr 11 at 2:36 a.m. GMT

Yes, that's the trouble I find with police inspectors being so similar. One tends to get them mixed up. Right! Here's my clue....

I am not best pleased about investigating with him. Oddly enough, they don't seem to pay him much attention. Oh well- who am I to complain?

NightRayDuck 03 Apr 11 at 10:02 p.m. GMT

Yes, Mr. Graves! Perfect answer! Your turn.  (To be quite honest, I spent some 20 minutes flipping through the book to find the name of the worthy Inspector.)

Mr_Graves 03 Apr 11 at 9:57 p.m. GMT

Is it Inspector Thomas from "The Unexpected Guest"? His sergeant, Cadwallader, was always quoting poetry. 

NightRayDuck 03 Apr 11 at 9:46 p.m. GMT

This Inspector is from a play. I'd think that the worthy, um, no, I mean the wordy sergeant who works with this Inspector would not fit in a short story. 

Mr_Graves 02 Apr 11 at 8:11 a.m. GMT

In that case, is it from a play? Or perhaps more likely one of the short stories that were altered and re-published as different, better known short stories? I think some of the older Poirot stories, such as "The Second Gong" and "The Mystery of the Bagdad Chest", were published recently in one of those big collections.

NightRayDuck 01 Apr 11 at 8:27 p.m. GMT

Hi, sorry for the delay, and no, this is not Inspector Narracott.

Hint 3: The Christie story which features this copper had been put to other uses since the time that it had been written. It's only more recently that the story was re-formatted for publication for the general reading public.

Mr_Graves 30 Mar 11 at 9:13 p.m. GMT

That would seem to narrow it down a bit. I am going to take a wild stab in the dark and say it is Inspector Narracott, from "The Sittaford Mystery". If not, then I don't know who, unless he is from a short story..

NightRayDuck 30 Mar 11 at 7:51 p.m. GMT

Hint 2: This police Inspector is not working with any recurring sleuth on this case.

NightRayDuck 30 Mar 11 at 1:58 a.m. GMT

darknightofrays

I do think I need a new sergeant. The one working with me at the moment, his notebook is halfway his exercise book. That's not at all helpful while we investigate this complex case. 

Hints coming up, but first of all... hello? anyone still playing? 

Hint 1: "exercise book" here is defined as "notebook in which one does writing exercise".

NightRayDuck 25 Mar 11 at 10:38 p.m. GMT

if anybody wants a hint, please go ahead and ask. this copper has nothing to hide. ;)

NightRayDuck 21 Mar 11 at 6:17 a.m. GMT

I do think I need a new sergeant. The one working with me at the moment, his notebook is halfway his exercise book. That's not at all helpful while we investigate this complex case. 

cameronjhw 20 Mar 11 at 7:21 p.m. GMT

You are right it is Inspector James Leach from Towards Zero whose uncle Superintendent Battle is able to put things to rights in the investigation of a very brutal and complex case.

Over to you....

NightRayDuck 20 Mar 11 at 2:07 a.m. GMT

This might be Inspector James Leach in Towards Zero? Sometimes I think it's very fortunate that his uncle is Superintendent Battle, rather than someone like, say, M. Hercule Poirot.

cameronjhw 19 Mar 11 at 5:35 p.m. GMT

"I must admit this case has got me confused and baffled...a brutal murder, several suspects, and not many motives....all the evidence seems to point in one direction but then it seems to go in a different direction...luckily I have a relative in the family who knows of such matters as...murder!"

NightRayDuck 19 Mar 11 at 5:14 a.m. GMT

Yes, cameron! This non-police and yet licensed investigator is the Pinkerton detective in The Secret of Chimneys. Well done, over to you! 

Trivia sort of information: In the past, when labor unions and general strike activities weren't regulated by laws, union strikes became outlaw-like riots, and in one of those (I forget if it's about a railway or about a steel works), policemen and Pinkerton detectives entered a gun fight with the strike-ing laborers. Several dead policemen, some dead Pinkerton men, and more casualty among the workers. With that type of events on national news in recent history, I think it's obvious that some American detective-fiction writers felt that their books ought to be filled with guns, threats, and casualties. 

cameronjhw 18 Mar 11 at 1:55 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Is it the American Pinkerton detective Hiram Fish from the Secret of Chimneys.

NightRayDuck 17 Mar 11 at 6:20 p.m. GMT

Hi cameron. There is one good answer in your guesses, but as your two guesses are characters with very different specifications, I'll have to ask you to pick one. Thank you. 

cameronjhw 17 Mar 11 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Could it be Hiram Fish, the American visitor who turns out to be a Pinkerton man or is it the French inspector Lemoine who are both in the Secret of Chimneys

NightRayDuck 17 Mar 11 at 5:48 a.m. GMT

I am a foreigner, and not a police officer anywhere in the world. Why, not at all, indeed! However, in my country I obtained a proper license for detective work, and I've been an employee of a well-known detective firm. Armed with the license and credentials from the firm and letters communicating with the police officials here, I've now set foot in good ol' England - staying at a Lordship's place, too - good thing he doesn't pay much attention to what I do or what I fail to say. The way things are going here, it's not time to get my cover blown. There are few enough proper policemen here, as it is..

Reminder: If you have the correct answer, you might want to put a spoiler warning on it. 

Miss_Eylesbarrow 15 Mar 11 at 3:44 p.m. GMT

Well done Darknight, Inspector Slack, who seems to rub everyone up the wrong way   Your turn.

NightRayDuck 15 Mar 11 at 6:20 a.m. GMT

Could possibly be Inspector Slack, the case at the moment being The Body in the Library? Among the women were 2 victims, 2 independent young women, and 2 respected ladies in the community..

Miss_Eylesbarrow 14 Mar 11 at 11:15 a.m. GMT

Nobody seems to like me very much, I don't know why.  I'm obvioulsy good at my job and get results as evidenced by my rank.  Take this case I'm on at the moment, for example, people deliberately witholding important information from me as to time, and the women involved!  Well you just can't trust anything they say.....

Miss_Eylesbarrow 11 Mar 11 at 10:14 a.m. GMT

Thanks Darknight.  I'll have a think over the weekend and come up with something.

NightRayDuck 11 Mar 11 at 4:09 a.m. GMT

Yes, Miss Eylesbarrow! This is Colonel Pikeaway in Passenger to Frankfurt. Your turn for the next puzzle!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Mar 11 at 12:51 p.m. GMT

Colonel Pikeaway???

NightRayDuck 10 Mar 11 at 2:23 a.m. GMT

Well, there are several colonels who work in different departments that aren't very explicitly stated in Passenger to Frankfurt. Be sure you find the one who smokes way too much cigar and complains about silly politicians.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 09 Mar 11 at 11:18 a.m. GMT

Nope, can't think of the name.  I'll have to re-visit the book....

NightRayDuck 04 Mar 11 at 7:21 a.m. GMT

Passenger to Frankfurt is the correct book! I'd better hurry up with the hints then, because:

this Colonel

who heads the Security

wants to be done with the interview, so that he can

sit back in his chair, with his eyes shut, or almost shut, to reflect on the situation, 

or have another cigar.

and visitors almost always interrupt him in these activities, either thinking that he has fallen asleep, or asking him to open a window.

oh, and the first four letters of his name spells also the name of a fish. 

My unreliable reference book says this colonel appears briefly also in Cat Among the Pigeons.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 03 Mar 11 at 11:23 a.m. GMT

This sounds like Passenger to Frankfurt - which I have read twice but recall almost nothing of the characters

NightRayDuck 03 Mar 11 at 4:28 a.m. GMT

ah, yes! this is significant, but quite in another sense. I think this Security official would like to discuss this in his own words.

That's just what that politician doesn't understand! I've finally gathered enough solid information to show that this "crime", as it might be called, this surprising wave of activities all over the world, this crime is not set into motion by the government of any particular country. This politician, such a high office in Great Britain, simply keeps dreaming that the whole thing is a huge trick by those on the other side of the Iron Curtain, and that he can resolve matters by flying over and have a talk with the high-ups over there.

Humorous hint tomorrow, if the identity of this copper/investigator/intel-gatherer still remains elusive..

Miss_Eylesbarrow 02 Mar 11 at 10:31 a.m. GMT

I'm interested in the 'one politician kept trying to twist the information that I gave into his excuse for international travels.'  bit, that's got to be significant.  Is the politician involved in the crime?  (sorry can't get rid of the bold italics!)

NightRayDuck 02 Mar 11 at 4:34 a.m. GMT

OK, I finished flipping through the particular novel containing this particular extensive activity of this "copper" or other related government officials. His department is referred to as "Security". The wooly-headed politicians sometimes are astonished when this official knows all about what's going on, whereupon this official is likely to say "Of course we do. It's our job." or some other similar comment. Hope this helps.

I am not trying to be mysterious about his identity, I am simply very unfamiliar with the particular names and divisions of UK police force and intelligence over the decades.  Maybe you might like to ask this official some details about his workplace, his appearance, or his annoyingly wooly-headed politician-colleagues?

(An American-edited reference book that persists in calling the CID "Central Intelligence Department" does not help me much... even I know that CID means Criminal Investigation something.)

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Mar 11 at 10:05 a.m. GMT

Are you from The Secret of Chinmeys?  Trying to remember the police in that one.....  There's an Inspector Badgworth?  Japp is in it too, but the description doesn't sound at all like Japp.

NightRayDuck 28 Feb 11 at 11:12 p.m. GMT

Not Colonel Beck, but this copper is in the same or a similar department, I believe.

Colonel Beck didn't complain about politicians to Colin or anyone in The Clocks. This copper (or closely allied official) interacts with politicians extensively (and rather to his annoyance) during the course of this particular story. Of course, he still had to go on interacting with the politicians, trying to stick solid facts into their wooly heads.. 

(It's difficult to flip through the books for their exact department names. And my reference book seems to be edited by an American who gets all his "facts" from TV adapts movie adapts and stage adapts whenever available. And mixes up "Investigation" and "Intelligence", "British" and "Branch", "Special" and "Secret", "Criminal" and "Central" whenever the respective letters of the alphabet is found in an abbreviation.)

Miss_Eylesbarrow 28 Feb 11 at 10:29 a.m. GMT

Are you Colonel Beck from The Clocks?

NightRayDuck 25 Feb 11 at 3:28 a.m. GMT

My department works on finding out everything that might be of interest to the British government. But when colleagues from other divisions of the government come and ask me for the information that we have found out, it gets annoying! They never listen or believe. It's always "I worry" ..fidget.. "One cannot help but wonder" ..significant cough.. "That is, I think" ..pointless pause.. Just lately, one politician kept trying to twist the information that I gave into his excuse for international travels. And one of them even commented on my personal appearance!

Note: the unhappy-face smiley above is from the copper up for guessing.

GKCfan 22 Feb 11 at 11:16 p.m. GMT

Yes!  It's Blore!  Great work!

NightRayDuck 22 Feb 11 at 7:08 p.m. GMT

ooh wait. Mr. Blore in And Then There Were None? I don't know his precise rank, or department. But somewhere in the conversations there was a passing mention that Mr. Blore got a promotion for, in fact, arresting an innocent man and turning him over to the public prosecutors, for the comfort and convenience of some career criminals that had come into contact with Mr. Blore?

I rather like Inspector Slack..

Miss_Eylesbarrow 22 Feb 11 at 10:56 a.m. GMT

I can't think of any others .  I know that we don't like Inspector Slack, but I don't remember him as being corrupt - just incompetent.

GKCfan 22 Feb 11 at 6:12 a.m. GMT

No, sorry.  But there aren't too many other corrupt cops in Christie's books...

NightRayDuck 21 Feb 11 at 4:21 p.m. GMT

This could be Superintendent Sugden, who works on the murder case of Mr. Simeon Lee, and is rather thrown off his stride when his boss, Col. Johnson, brings Hercule Poirot along, in Hercule Poirot's Christmas?

GKCfan 21 Feb 11 at 6:43 a.m. GMT

This policeman was promoted before the story begins.

NightRayDuck 21 Feb 11 at 6:20 a.m. GMT

I wonder if this policeman got promoted before the events in the story, or after the events in the story...

GKCfan 21 Feb 11 at 6:01 a.m. GMT

"I am not a very good policeman.  I have some brains, but no integrity or imagination.  The reader does not know of any cases I solved correctly, but I still got promoted."

NightRayDuck 21 Feb 11 at 4:57 a.m. GMT

Yes, GKCfan! This is Anthony Browne in Sparkling Cyanide. Excellent work!

About the lack of hints... please understand that "Mr. Browne" wouldn't like to state the names of the friends, or the other coppers, or his exact line of job, or even approximately the year that this tragedy happened to his friends (because that'd be when he had finished this hush-hush assignment). 

GKCfan 20 Feb 11 at 11:40 p.m. GMT

Anthony Browne in Sparkling Cyanide?

NightRayDuck 20 Feb 11 at 10:34 p.m. GMT

...is this still very puzzling? should I ask the copper in question to write a brief description of all coppers involved in this case?

NightRayDuck 17 Feb 11 at 7:33 p.m. GMT

OK! This copper isn't sure what else he ought to say, and details his reasons below:

My official rank and department had not been stated explicitly, and details of my on-assignment activities were never known to my new friends, thank goodness! I met these new friends while socializing to "get into the right circles", as it were, for my assignment. The friends are completely uninvolved in my assignment, and when some surprising death(s) started occurring among them, I took some time to solve the case and protect the last intended victim. If my new friends had known me by my on-job persona, they'd have driven me away before anything odd had occurred, and I would not have been there to help them!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 17 Feb 11 at 9:39 a.m. GMT

I for one need a clue Darknight!

NightRayDuck 17 Feb 11 at 6:56 a.m. GMT

um, would anybody like a hint or question this purported copper? or are we still waiting for more friends to realize that the forum is now back on-line?

NightRayDuck 11 Feb 11 at 5:23 a.m. GMT

I am energetic and friendly, enabling me to date a lovely young lady or two while I've been working hard on a hush-hush assignment. My intelligence and presence of mind have stood me in good stead on the job. Hey, when sudden deaths started occurring among my new friends who have nothing to do with my job, I figured out the truth before the official investigators did, and they were highly experienced and respected in their respective fields!

Mr Graves, I agree Colonel Weston isn't entirely happy with Poirot's activities... asking the famous private detective whether he's got any solid idea about the Marshall case, and then he saying he'd like to go on a picnic! 

Mr_Graves 10 Feb 11 at 8 a.m. GMT

Sunny weather in the UK? Never! But you are right, it is Colonel Weston. I rather get the impression that he envies Hercule Poirot for the ability to bend rules... Your turn!

NightRayDuck 10 Feb 11 at 7:43 a.m. GMT

hmm... I had worried that the method in the Simeon Lee case wasn't really much unorthodox, too...

how about Colonel Weston, Chief Constable some area around Devon coast, for the End House case when Poirot staged a play, and the Arlena Marshall case when Poirot went on a picnic to solve the case?

Ever since I saw the adaptation with M. Poirot in a magnificent white suit, I have failed to remember that the Marshall case was on an island right off the British coast. I don't know enough about geography and weather patterns in the UK to realize that Devon would have sunny weather. 

Mr_Graves 09 Feb 11 at 8:07 p.m. GMT

Hum hum!... The plot thickens... No, I'm afraid it is not Inspector Japp, nor is it the good Col. Johnson. My clue was very short, so I will be kind and give a little hint: These cases were about 9 years apart. I hope that hasn't given the whole game away!

NightRayDuck 09 Feb 11 at 4:44 p.m. GMT

or it could be Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of some place or other, who first met Poirot over the Cartwright case (Three Act Tragedy), and then had Poirot over for the holidays and utilized him in the Simeon Lee case (Hercule Poirot's Christmas). in both cases, Poirot explained and hypothesized on and on until suddenly accusing someone who had been least suspected so far, and then the accused demonstrated themselves guilty.

some reference books and fan sites keep saying that these cases were handled through two different Colonel Johnson.s, on account of it being Middleshire in one case and some other place in the other case. but Colonel Johnson, when having Poirot over for Christmas, definitely discussed the Cartwright case from the point of view of an involved investigator.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 09 Feb 11 at 9:48 a.m. GMT

That's a very short clue Mr Graves.  I'm going with the obvious to get us started, is it Inspector Japp?

Mr_Graves 07 Feb 11 at 7:40 p.m. GMT

Hmmm... Burton doesn't seem to be making any sense! Here is my clue...

I have worked with Monsieur Poirot on at least two cases, and his methods on both were certainly not what I call orthodox...

NightRayDuck 06 Feb 11 at 9:58 p.m. GMT

And what does Burton mean, "The big bush stopped being a bush"...

Yes, Mr Graves, this is Superintendent Nash from "The Moving Finger". Well done! Your turn for the next puzzle.

Mr_Graves 06 Feb 11 at 9:34 p.m. GMT

Hmmm... I think this might possibly be Superintendent Nash from "The Moving Finger". The newcomer who sets a trap is most likely Miss Marple, and the young fellow whose timing this policeman so resents is Jerry Burton. I think!

NightRayDuck 06 Feb 11 at 9 p.m. GMT

...anyone want a hint or a clarification on this one?

NightRayDuck 04 Feb 11 at 9:26 p.m. GMT

This small neighborhood has been very static, and once people get an idea in their heads, they can't contemplate any other possibilities. The newcomers have been very good in bringing fresh points of view, and the way that one of them persuaded a local kid to set a trap for the criminal, that was just amazing! But another one of the newcomers took to so much snooping, busting onto the scene when we're doing a stakeout or two. He's a fine young man, but his timing made our work on this case just a little more difficult, if you know what I mean.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 04 Feb 11 at 11:30 a.m. GMT

That's correct Darknight, over to you :)

NightRayDuck 02 Feb 11 at 6:47 p.m. GMT

Constable Palk at St. Mary Mead? His respect for the gentry is particularly well-instanced in his guarding the crime scene of The Body in the Library, admitting no one other than Miss Marple or Inspector Slack and other police officials.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 01 Feb 11 at 9:39 a.m. GMT

Sorry it's taken a while to come up with one.  Here goes:

Well I'd like to think that I was a professional and always contientious and reliable in my duties, but, well, The Gentry is The Gentry and you have to respect that, don't you?

NightRayDuck 26 Jan 11 at 1:02 p.m. GMT

Yes, Miss Eylesbarrow! This is Inspector Huish... "breathed heavily and sat down"... "said slowly"... in Ordeal by Innocence.

If some informant like Miss Lavinia Fullerton from Murder Is Easy is interviewed by Inspector Huish, they might feel very worried that this copper looks half-dead with sorrow?

I wonder if there's ever been any Ordeal by Innocence adaptation that put Inspector Huish's melancholic looks and sleight-of-hand skills (magic trick such as pulling pennies out of the ears of little boys) to use during the investigation.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 26 Jan 11 at 11:41 a.m. GMT

Are you Inspector Huish from Ordeal By Innocence?  The witness is Arthur Calgary I think?

NightRayDuck 25 Jan 11 at 10:43 p.m. GMT

hmm, I cringe from inducing our friends on here to go rushing off flipping thru a stack of books containing certain characters, so I'd like to point out a few things first...

1) there's a witness coming in.

2) the witness is going to tell the copper that a suspect who is already done and gone was in fact innocent.

3) my own guess... but I got the impression that the odd descriptions of this copper - melancholic looks, party entertainer - were only random characteristics put in by the author to flesh out the character. none of these characteristics had an effect on the proceedings of the original investigation or after the case is re-opened by the witness statement. -- you can bet this copper is not a recurring character, otherwise odd descriptions wouldn't be thrown in and then left un-used like this.

and since you asked...

this policeman hasn't worked with Poirot.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 25 Jan 11 at 10:23 a.m. GMT

Has this policeman worked with Poirot in his time?

NightRayDuck 24 Jan 11 at 7:18 p.m. GMT

This is a current and active member of the official police force.

I do realize that "break into tears" sounds quite odd, but it's the impression I got from the first few paragraphs describing this copper. He is said to be quite an entertainer outside of work, so perhaps he might say this in self-introduction to his audience?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 24 Jan 11 at 2:44 p.m. GMT

Hi Darknight, is this a 'proper' policeman or is this someone who is seen to help out the police?

NightRayDuck 22 Jan 11 at 6:54 p.m. GMT

People often think that I look and sound depressed. Well, I am quite alive in investigations, and I am not easily discouraged. Some witness coming to me, for example, letting me know that we had got the wrong guy, need not worry that the information might make me break into tears.

Nofret 21 Jan 11 at 7:35 p.m. GMT

Mr Evans it is, Darknight. Well done, over to you!

NightRayDuck 21 Jan 11 at 7:22 p.m. GMT

Mr. Evans, a retired Inspector, in the non-serial short story "Accident"? He recognized the face, remembered the murder method, but had never gleamed the true motive. Very tragic.

Nofret 21 Jan 11 at 12:58 p.m. GMT

Thank you, Miss E.

A good policeman like me never retires. I've always had an excellent memory for faces, and I've spotted someone who may be up to their old tricks again. "Matter of life and death" indeed! I'll put a spanner in their works!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 21 Jan 11 at 10:47 a.m. GMT

Yes Nofret, the obnoxious M. Giraud.  Your turn

Nofret 20 Jan 11 at 9 a.m. GMT

Is it Monsieur Giraud of the Surete from Murder on the Links?

NightRayDuck 20 Jan 11 at 3:44 a.m. GMT

Could this be Sugden (sorry forgot his rank) talking about Poirot during the investigation of Simeon Lee's death, in Hercule Poirot's Christmas?

Miss_Eylesbarrow 19 Jan 11 at 2:55 p.m. GMT

though of one at last...

Ah, that poor old man, he's really out of his depth this time!  I really don't know what he thinks he's doing over here, he can't possibly solve this murder, he doesn't even investigate the clues properly!

NightRayDuck 15 Jan 11 at 9:10 p.m. GMT

Yes, Miss Eylesbarrow!  Poor Inspector Hardcastle is allergic to cats, and the owner is a surprising woman to interview, calling out the odd names of her cats at any random moment. 

Miss_Eylesbarrow 14 Jan 11 at 11:43 a.m. GMT

This is Inspector Dick Hardcastle from The Clocks .  The many 'tenants' are the cats which live with (is it?) Mrs Hemming at number 20.  The 'sort of' investigator is Colin Lamb

NightRayDuck 14 Jan 11 at 6:15 a.m. GMT

Being a police officer is hard work! There's the crime scene and the dead body to deal with. There's a hysterical witness, and many talkative but mostly unhelpful neighbors. And a friend of mine who's also a sort of investigator, tagging along for his own business. For a while I felt he might compromise himself where the witness was concerned, but at least he helped me through the interview with the oddest neighbor and her many tenants.

Mr_Graves 13 Jan 11 at 7:41 p.m. GMT

You're right, it is Sergeant Cadwallader. I also have only read the novel edition of "The Unexpected Guest", but I would love to see how it works on stage one day...

NightRayDuck 12 Jan 11 at 11:38 p.m. GMT

Could it be Sergeant Cadwallader in the original Christie play "The Unexpected Guest"? The play script was rewritten into novel form by Charles Osborne, and I've only read the novel edition, but I expect the way that Sgt. Cadwallader gets distracted by poetic ideas had been part of the comic relief in the original stage play.

Mr_Graves 12 Jan 11 at 7:16 a.m. GMT

Great puzzle, Miss Eyelsbarrow. It was the rosewood that struck me...Here's my puzzle.

I am a police officer whose rank is not quite so important as the Inspector, and enjoy quoting poetry, sometimes even myself! My case involves a death from the past and a web of protection and deception....

Miss_Eylesbarrow 11 Jan 11 at 9:15 a.m. GMT

Well done Mr Graves, quite right, Inspector Kemp who knows Col. Race AND Inspector Japp, so by association the Great Man himself!

Over to you...

Mr_Graves 11 Jan 11 at 5:04 a.m. GMT

I know this one! It's Chief Inspector Kemp, from "Sparkling Cyanide"! He is well acquainted with Colonel Race, who, as we know, is a close associate of M. Hercule Poirot himself.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 10 Jan 11 at 3:14 p.m. GMT

To the best of my knowledge darknight, this copper is a one-off.

NightRayDuck 05 Jan 11 at 2:56 a.m. GMT

This puzzle reminds me that I know very few Yard coppers in the Christie universe. hmm. I mean, I assume this officer doesn't make repeated appearances the way that Chief Inspector Japp does? 

Miss_Eylesbarrow 28 Dec 10 at 4:17 p.m. GMT

Ah, yes, Dermot Craddock - that's the one I was thinking of.

I'm well acquainted with a couple of Christie regulars and, in this way I guess that you might say that I could even be connected to the Great Man Himself.  I'm described as rather a showy kind of copper,' rosewood' or 'mahogany', not your usual description of a Yard man, but there it is.  My case centres around a murder, or two, featuring an extremely well connected person, some poison and long distance travel.

NightRayDuck 27 Dec 10 at 8:47 a.m. GMT

Yes, Miss Eylesbarrow!  This is Inspector Graves from The Moving Finger. Jerry Burton has many interesting comments on Inspector Graves's reaction to the anonymous letter "specimens".

I think the copper that Miss Marple has known for years might be Dermot Craddock... 4.50 from Paddington, A Murder Is Announced, and probably other cases that I can't remember.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 24 Dec 10 at 1:59 p.m. GMT

Found it, Inspector Graves.  My edition is 1980 UK Fontana paperback.  I've looked for the bit I thought about Miss Marple knowing the guy, but I think I might be mixing it up with another story, probably 4.50 from Paddington.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 24 Dec 10 at 9:21 a.m. GMT

I'll have to have another look Darknight.  Mine's a much older UK edition of the book, but it wouldn't be the first time the UK & US versions differ!

NightRayDuck 24 Dec 10 at 3:04 a.m. GMT

It is indeed about the poison-pen letters in The Moving Finger. I can't find any reference about Miss Marple having known any of the police officers on this case for years...

Would you care to reconsider the answer? In my edition (copyright 1943, US print run year 2000), at least, Superintendent Nash is the county police officer who calls in the London expert on anonymous letters.

Interesting quote by this copper: "Very nice - very nice indeed."

...spoken while looking over the pieces of evidence gathered so far.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 23 Dec 10 at 10:01 a.m. GMT

Found it, Superintendent Nash!

Miss_Eylesbarrow 23 Dec 10 at 9:55 a.m. GMT

Is it something to do with anonymous letters?  From The Moving Finger, a Scotland Yard man is sent down to solve that but I can't remember his name....it's a policeman that Miss M has known for years...'Dear Derek' or something of that kind?

NightRayDuck 22 Dec 10 at 9:29 p.m. GMT

OK, the original clue:

"Well, I specialize in a rather unpleasant subject in criminology. The hidden unpleasantness in quite ordinary people is part of my professional knowledge. It's a good thing that I am an official member of the police, otherwise people might feel alarmed by my evaluation of some pieces of evidence."

Hints that have been requested:

Is he a psychologist? No professional psychology degree had been mentioned, but knowledge of a particular type of psychology certainly helps this police officer in his job.

Is he Scotland Yard? He has been called down from London by the local police that has been on the case.

The rest of it, the police officer figures he'd better do the explaining:

"The type of case I work on, there's seldom a definitive *scene* of crime. There's often many *pieces* of evidence, but many of those pieces never come forward because people who come by them think they're either unimportant or disgusting. This is a type of crime that can be very hurtful to victims, and yet one criminal might be at it for months before any of the victims decides to get the police involved. When I do get called in on the case, I examine the pieces of evidence for both their more obvious characteristics as well as the psychology that they reveal."

"More obvious characteristics" here being fingerprints and so on...

Miss_Eylesbarrow 21 Dec 10 at 10:29 a.m. GMT

Is he Scotland Yard?  Perhaps a scene of crime specialist or something of the kind?

NightRayDuck 21 Dec 10 at 8:28 a.m. GMT

Um... I don't remember at the moment, so I can't swear definitely if this police official has or does not have a college / university / graduate / doctorate / et al. degree in psychology. I don't recall him being addressed as "Dr. _____" or anything like that...

But, to clarify, I'll explain that he is the type of specialized copper who gets called in by the policemen already working on a case. Hope that helps.

Miss_Eylesbarrow 20 Dec 10 at 9:36 a.m. GMT

So this guy is a psycologist?

NightRayDuck 18 Dec 10 at 2:51 a.m. GMT

"Well, I specialize in a rather unpleasant subject in criminology. The hidden unpleasantness in quite ordinary people is part of my professional knowledge. It's a good thing that I am an official member of the police, otherwise people might feel alarmed by my evaluation of some pieces of evidence."

Any specific request for hints? I am not much good at thinking up hints for this one.

NightRayDuck 14 Dec 10 at 8:23 p.m. GMT

"Well, I specialize in a rather unpleasant subject in criminology. The hidden unpleasantness in quite ordinary people is part of my professional knowledge. It's a good thing that I am an official member of the police, otherwise people might feel alarmed by my evaluation of some pieces of evidence."

Miss_Eylesbarrow 14 Dec 10 at 9:35 a.m. GMT

Get well soon , Cameron x

NightRayDuck 14 Dec 10 at 2:27 a.m. GMT

Thanks cameron, and no sorries needed here. Hope your leg gets better soon. 

I'll put up the next puzzle after checking whether I did post the quote puzzle... no responses there, hmm.

MissQuin 13 Dec 10 at 3:57 p.m. GMT

I hope your leg heals soon Cameron. XX

cameronjhw 13 Dec 10 at 3:36 p.m. GMT

Yea you got it right. It is Chief Inspector Taverner. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but I have felt tired from being in the hospital in November due to a broken leg and I had some surgery on it too.

NightRayDuck 03 Dec 10 at 8:01 p.m. GMT

Chief Inspector Taverner from Crooked House? The case seemed open-and-shut that Brenda and her "boyfriend" were the murderers, but the criminal might have been another member of the family.

NightRayDuck 03 Dec 10 at 7:58 p.m. GMT

Thanks! I'll go and keep thinking / looking...

cameronjhw 03 Dec 10 at 2:44 p.m. GMT

No I am afraid it is not any of the guesses you have made but this official appears in a non-series book

NightRayDuck 02 Dec 10 at 11:11 p.m. GMT

So, cameron... is any of our guesses getting closer yet? 

NightRayDuck 09 Nov 10 at 12:56 a.m. GMT

Could it be Richard Hardcastle in The Clocks? I forget though if he's only Inspector, or a Chief Inspector.

Mr_Graves 27 Oct 10 at 8:53 p.m. GMT

Chief Inspector Kemp from "Sparkling Cyanide"?

cameronjhw 26 Oct 10 at 10:02 p.m. GMT

No it is not Inspector Slack but this official is a Chief Inspector

InspectorGrant 26 Oct 10 at 3:50 p.m. GMT

Is it Inspector Slack in The Murder at the Vicarage?

cameronjhw 26 Oct 10 at 2:26 p.m. GMT

Good idea but it is not Luke Fitzwilliam.

Hint-This officer of the law has the same official rank as Japp

Mr_Graves 25 Oct 10 at 10:04 p.m. GMT

Could it be Luke Fitzwilliam, from Murder is Easy? 

cameronjhw 19 Oct 10 at 2:17 p.m. GMT

This is my first time on this particular game let me see how's this:

"This case has got me all twisted round. The case seems open and shut and yet it might have been one of them..Now I'm a man who likes to stir things up and see the reaction and hopefully that might led me to the killer...

MissQuin 19 Oct 10 at 2 p.m. GMT

Miss Marple...word.. pussy?

NightRayDuck 19 Oct 10 at 4:46 a.m. GMT

Yes, cameron! It is Inspector Craddock. Over to you for the next puzzle.

Meanwhile, would anyone like to take some random guesses at the lady that Craddock is thinking of, or the identity of the superior officer, or the word for which Craddock always tries to find a substitute? 

cameronjhw 18 Oct 10 at 8:33 p.m. GMT

Is it Inspector Craddock

NightRayDuck 18 Oct 10 at 8:05 p.m. GMT

I'll do an easy one as practice for everyone who wants to play...

"I am young, energetic, and usually well-liked by people that I talk to. Oddly, I've often found that I embarrass myself when I repeat to a certain lady the praise that my superior officer has spoken of her. There's this word that my superior officer uses quite naturally, but I think it's just a little rude... but the lady doesn't mind at all, and says it out loud when I get stuck trying to find another word for it! Who am I?"

Mr_Graves 18 Oct 10 at 7:23 p.m. GMT

Knottyceltic, that was a very good guess, but I'm afraid Darknightofrays was correct with Inspector Neele! I do love how this particular investigator tries to imagine anybody as the killer... So it is now your turn to describe a "Christie Copper"

(n.B, this could include Colonels or Captains or Majors. They seem to take on a policing role quite often!)

NightRayDuck 18 Oct 10 at 6:28 p.m. GMT

Inspector Neele in the Marple novel A Pocketful of Rye? He loves imagining all types of fantastic scenarios in which the person he's interviewing might in fact be the murderer, and then eliminate the scenarios as not really fitting the character of the person in question.

knottyceltic 18 Oct 10 at 10:17 a.m. GMT

Good game idea Mr. Graves!  :o)

I haven't read enough books yet to be successful at these guessing games but I'll take a jab at it and say "Japp"?