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This page lists novels that feature the Chief Constable, Sir Clinton Driffield.

Murder in the Maze

J.J. Connington

1927

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When twin brothers Roger and Neville Shandon are murdered by poisoned darts in Whistlefield's famous hedge maze, Sir Clinton Driffield arrives to restore order. He finds two terrified witnesses - visitors to the estate - and clues aplenty in this brilliantly conceived and meticulously realized country-house mystery."

Tragedy at Ravensthorpe

J.J. Connington

1927

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"In Clinton Driffield's second case he must tangle with a plethora of crimes including robbery, murder and a disappearance - not to mention a Family Curse, and a less than sympathetic victim."

The Case with Nine Solutions

J.J. Connington

1928

A Clinton Driffield novel.

" When a locum doctor is called out one foggy night to a case of scarlet fever, he mistakes one house for another and discovers a young man lying in a pool of blood, who manages to choke out a dying message. This intriguing clue-laden third case for Sir Clinton Driffield has its origin in a dark scheme that reveals as much about the means for murder as its motivation."

Mystery at Lynden Sands

J.J. Connington

1928

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"In the fourth Sir Clinton Driffield mystery, the detective finds himself up against a missing heir, an accidental bigamist, a series of secret marriages and impersonations and an ingenious scientific murder. Aided by his wit and powers of reasoning, as well as Wendover, his very own Watson, Sir Clinton once again succeeds in piecing together a solution as the novel reaches its thrilling climax."

Nemesis at Raynham Parva

J.J. Connington

1929

A Clinton Driffield novel.

Published in the US as Grim Vengeance.

"When Sir Clinton Driffield travels to the village of Raynham Parva to visit his sister, he little imagines that his latest case will involve his own family. His niece has married an Argentinian, and the village is soon filled with exotic incomers, one of whom appears to have been a foreign agent. This unusual case presents Sir Clinton with three interlocking mysteries, which lead to a startling conclusion."

The Boathouse Riddle

J.J. Connington

1931

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When Chief Constable Sir Clinton Driffield goes to stay with his friend Wendover, mysterious goings-on in the boathouse he owns soon attract the duo's attention. Lights go on and off, strangers come in and out, and a game warden is found murdered nearby. And as they work to solve the crime, a second body is dredged up from the lake."

The Sweepstake Murders

J.J. Connington

1931

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"Nine men formed a sweepstake syndicate. One man died. To forestall legal argument they agreed that only living members should share any winnings. They won £241,920. And then the deadly arithmetic began. Nine less one left eight shares worth £30,240; Eight less one left seven shares worth £34,560; Seven less one left six shares worth £40,320; Six less one left five shares worth £48,384. Who was killing for profit? And who would be left to collect?"

The Ha-Ha Case

J.J. Connington

1934

A Clinton Driffield novel.

Published in the US as The Brandon Case.

"It was at the hidden stone wall in the spinney that Johnnie Brandon, rabbit shooting with a party of guests, was instantly killed by a shotgun charge. Only that day he had attained his majority; only the night before he had been discovered in a compromising situation with the wife of the man who had been his mentor. Everyone agreed with the finding of the coroner's jury, "Accidental death"-especially his nearest kin, on tenterhooks lest someone mention suicide. Everyone, that is, except Inspector Hinton, who went ahead preparing one of his letter-perfect reports. But he had not gone far before the outline of murder inescapably formed itself in his notes. The murderer? That was another matter, as he reluctantly admitted when the acumen of the Chief Constable, Sir Clinton Driffield, was brought to bear on the case."

In Whose Dim Shadow

J.J. Connington

1935

A Clinton Driffield novel.

Published in the US as The Tau Cross Mystery.

"In this, the tenth Clinton Driffield mystery, the action moves away from a country setting to the English suburbs, inhabited by a cast of unusual diversity: an ambitious young policeman, a naive journalist, an elderly clerk with dreams of foreign travel and an unhappily married Frenchwoman. This meticulously clued mystery shows Connington at his compelling best and ends with a satisfying flourish."

A Minor Operation

J.J. Connington

1937

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"There was blood on the drawing-room floor and Hazel Deerhurst had disappeared wearing slippers over walking shoes, two pairs of stockings and a bright silk kimono. First investigations shed interesting light on Hazel. A mysterious machine is found at her home, some paintings and a cryptic telegram. She was also secretary to a man whose secrets involved the future of the empire. Is she victim or villainess?"

Truth Comes Limping

J.J. Connington

1938

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When two corpses are found in a small English village, all who have a go at solving the crime are completely baffled, and spur the local Chief Constable to investigating. Local gossip, blackmail and a family feud form the ingredients that point towards the perpetrator."

For Murder Will Speak

J.J. Connington

1938

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"Thief, criminal and probably a coward, would Hyson have had the courage to kill himself or did someone catch up with him? Did his death have anything to do with Mrs Telford, who committed suicide shortly before? The Inspector, anticipating a routine investigation, finds conflicting stories, poison pen letters, and damning information about Hyson. It takes Sir Clinton Driffield to untangle the case and prove that the cast-iron alibi is the one which should arouse suspicion."

The 21 Clues

J.J. Connington

1941

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"The Constable was content to call it a suicide pact. All the evidence was there. The bodies of John Barratt and Mrs Callis were discovered in a lovers' nook among some bracken. Beside them was a pistol with Barratt's fingerprints on it, and torn up letters in the handwriting of Barratt and Mrs Callis were scattered around. Arrangements for the elopement had apparently been complete. Why had their plans fallen through? Why had they turned their backs on the railway station with tickets to London in their pockets? Sir Clinton Driffield is not so sure that the obvious solution is the right one."

No Past Is Dead

J.J. Connington

1942

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"It was not altogether surprising that Ambrose Brenthurst was found brutally murdered outside Fountain Court the night he had presided over the diner meeting of the 'Hernshaw Thirteen Club'. Many were the potential murderers - some of them guests at the diner. But when a second murder takes place it precipitates a crisis in which investigator Sir Clinton Driffield must penetrate a maze of conflicting evidence to spot the murderer."

Jack-in-the-Box

J.J. Connington

1944

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When recently exhumed church relics are stolen from a small English village the theft is quickly followed by four murders. The joint inheritance of a piece of property supplies a motive but the cause of death is mystery. Cue Sir Clinton Driffield, who investigates and makes an on-the-spot arrest of the culprits and their super-scientific death machine."

Common Sense Is All You Need

J.J. Connington

1947

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When Pickford's body was found hanging from a beam in his garage, Inspector Loxton was sure that it was a case of suicide following a series of financial and domestic worries. Then came the criminologist with his slogan, 'Common sense is all you need', and in ten minutes he upset the inspector's hypothesis. Further evidence pointed so clearly in one direction that the arrest and the conviction of the criminal seemed almost a matter of form. But both the Inspector and the expert are way off course, and it is left to the Chief Constable to clear up the mystery."