Partners in Crime

Short stories involving Tommy and Tuppence Beresford:

A Fairy in the Flat

The Beresfords' boredom and restlessness for adventure is dissipated by Chief Carter's call to duty at Blunt's International Detective Agency. During their assignment they are to be wary of the number sixteen '“ should they stumble across it, whether in a letter or within the opening words of a stranger's conversation, then they will be one step closer to the object of their pursuit, an international spy ring.

A Pot of Tea

Ensconced in the offices of Blunt's International Detective Agency at 118 Haleham Street, London, the Beresfords meet their first client, Lawrence St. Vincent. His secret love, shopgirl Janet Smith has disappeared without a trace. A rather boastful Tuppence claims finding her will take but twenty-four hours, though it is by no means certain that they will meet this impossible task.

The Affair of the Pink Pearl

Tommy and Tuppence are approached by a distraught Beatrice Kingston-Bruce and her mother - a precious pink pearl has been stolen from their houseguest, Lady Laura Barton. Tommy investigates, in the guise of Dr. John Evelyn Thorndyke, the great medico-legal detective created by R Austin Freeman (1862-1943) '“ who just happens to possess an incomparable intellect, a vast knowledge on a number of subjects, and dashing good looks.

The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger

The Beresford's receive a long-awaited letter from Russia, in which they hope to find the crucial number sixteen under its postage stamp. They are interrupted by the strange and foreign Dr. Bower, who fears someone is trying to steal his precious research, leaving Tuppence with sole possession of the valuable letter.

Finessing the King

During a quiet period at Blunt's, Tommy and Tuppence amuse themselves by scrutinising the personal columns of the papers.One especially cryptic ad reads, 'three hearts .12 tricks Ace of Spades . finesse the king.'Tuppence cleverly deduces 'that the ad refers to the Three Arts Ball (3 hearts) held at midnight (12 tricks) at the Ace of Spades, a smart Bohemian café.But what does 'finesse the king' mean?Tommy and Tuppence decide to attend the ball in costume and find out.

The Case of the Missing Lady

A famed arctic explorer, Gabriel Stavansson, asks the Blunt agency to find his missing fiance, Hermione Crane.Their investigation leads the Beresford's to a sinister nursing home and a disreputable doctor with questionable medical practices.

Blindman's Buff

While lunching in the chic Gold Room, Tommy masquerades as a blind detective.The Beresfords are approached by the elegant Duke of Blairgowrie for help in locating his missing daughter.Before going off to aid the duke, the 'blind' Tommy dictates a vital menu to Tuppence.

The Man in the Mist

Tommy, in the guise of a cleric, and Tuppence take Gilda Glen, a glamorous actress, to her house on Morgan's Avenue.Enshrouded in fog, en route, they meet an agitated would-be murderer, a mysterious policeman, Gilda's elderly sister, and a real murderer.

The Crackler

At Inspector Marriot's behest, Tommy and Tuppence sleuth after a clever counterfeiter who has been flooding both sides of the Channel with phoney bank notes.Tommy winds up in an alley with chalked X's over the doors '“ but what do they all mean?

The Sunningdale Mystery

Captain Sessle is found stabbed through the heart, with a hatpin the only clue and a bit of red wool in his hand. A pretty blond is charged because she was wearing a bright red wool coat.But the Beresfords don't like how the investigation is being handled.Was there more behind the killing than the pretty blond and the red wool?

The House of Lurking Death

Young Lois Hargreaves, has recently inherited a fortune.When she receives a box of poisoned chocolates she calls on Tommy and Tuppence to help her.As it turns out, it's not the chocolates that are deadly...

The Unbreakable Alibi

Una Drake, a capricious Australian, has challenged her fiance to crack two unimpeachable alibis.She wants to prove that she was in two different places at the same time!Despairing that Una will marry him if he cannot guess how she managed this feat, Montgomery-Jones calls on Tommy and Tuppence for help.

The Clergyman's Daughter

An old aunt has left Monica Deane and her mother a large house but no means by which to maintain it.The mother and daughter want to keep the lovely home, but find it necessary to take in lodgers to keep the place up.Unfortunately, the house seems to be inhabited by poltergeists, which makes it difficult to keep lodgers.The Deanes become besieged by a prospective buyer, who seems too anxious to buy the haunted house.When Tommy and Tuppence investigate they find not only the spiteful spirits, but the reason the prospective buyer is so anxious to own the house.

The Red House

The Ambassador's Boots

The monogrammed kit bag of the American ambassador, Randolph Wilmot, is switched with Senator Ralph Westerman's.Wilmot hires Tommy and Tuppence to find out why.When the senator's valet shows up at the embassy to exchange the bags they discover that the senator has never heard of this valet, or of any confusion among kit bags.Who is the valet and why did he need the kit bag?

The Man Who Was No. 16

This is the final short case to appear in Partners in Crime.The Beresfords finally come face-to-face with their '˜secret adversary'.