Returning to Oxford very late at night, a drunken poet sees a corpse in a toyshop window - but, when the police arrive, not only has the corpse disappeared, the toyshop has, too.
A publishing house ask Nigel Strangeways to look into a scandal involving General Thorseby's new book which is considered libelous but instead it's murder.
Archeologist and amateur sleuth Martin Cotterill is working on a dig in the small village of Panverne when he discovers a body recently dumped in his trench.
What caused the death of the terrified Miss Stoner's sister? Will she die the same way? And what was "the speckled band" to which the sister alluded in her dying breath? Sherlock Holmes is warned not to investigate.
Racketeer Al Kresnick blackmails lawyer Bob Race into picking up a suitcase at the docks. Race escapes death but the suitcase is stolen. Suspicion now falls on his wife Eve and client Tony Fontaine but both have now vanished.
As good a place as any for a murder is an isolated anti-aircraft post in wartime. A group of browned-off soldiers, over-stretched nerves, a rigorous blackout - and an unpopular Sergeant-Major.
Detective Chief Inspector Alleyn is called into investigate a mysterious death that has occurred during a ceremony at the secret cult 'Sign of the Sacred Flame'.
Moving to the country, Sir John Appleby and his wife Judith have and visit the home of Colonel Raven. While there a body is discovered in nearby canal.
Tyrant Sir Neville Loring discovers his older twin brother has died and his son David will inherit the land. David as now lost his memory but detective Jasper Shrig guesses the truth and helps him.
Eve Gill driving a lorry carrying smuggled rum. Following a smash she is helped into the Forsyth home. While there she spies Mrs Forsyth murder her husband with a lethal injection but fears she may be blamed.
Oscar Brodski is believed to have fallen to his death in front of an oncoming train. Passenger Dr. John Evelyn Thorndyke believes it is murder rather than suicide.
Nick Mahoun travels to a Glasgow to audit an oil company prior to a takeover. What he discovers is widespread fraud and somebody willing to murder to keep it quiet.
Mystery writers Dagobert and Jane Brown decide to holiday in Cornwall to find some inspiration for their next novel and walk straight in to a murder of their own.
The aggressively opinionated John Raggley is murdered in a pub. Father Brown determines that a mysterious customer - "the quick one" - holds the key to the mystery.
