The lazy detective

In Short

This brisk police procedural from 1927 follows Divisional Detective Inspector Labar, a man whose reputation for laziness masks a sharp, calculating mind. When the valuable Gertstein collection is stolen, Labar tracks the criminal mastermind, Larry Hughes, across the English countryside and the desolate marshes of Kent. The narrative balances the grit of a police hunt with the psychological unraveling of those caught in Hughes’s orbit. It remains a compelling, lean example of the genre, anchored by a protagonist whose cynical wit and professional evolution provide a charming counterpoint to the darkness of the crimes.

The Story

The story opens in the offices of Scotland Yard, where Labar is reprimanded for his legendary indolence. His superior, the veteran Chief Constable Winter, warns that his career is on the line unless he produces results. Labar, unfazed but keenly aware of the stakes, begins investigating a major jewel robbery at Streetly House. He quickly identifies the culprit as Larry Hughes, a charismatic and elusive "gentleman crook" who treats the law with open contempt.

As Labar digs into the case, he discovers a tangled web involving Adèle Gertstein, the wife of the victimized financier, and her companion, Penelope Noelson. Labar suspects that Adèle has been coerced into helping Hughes, driven by blackmail and her own erratic choices. When Penelope disappears, Labar realizes he must act decisively to prevent her from being used as a pawn in Hughes's escape. The investigation takes a dangerous turn when Adèle, cornered and desperate, attempts to murder Labar with a dagger. After a brutal struggle, Labar subdues her but recognizes that her actions stem from a state of total, unreasoning panic.

The pursuit shifts from London to the marshes of Kent, where Hughes and his gang have established a hideout. Labar, working with his colleague Moreland and local police, systematically cuts off the gang's escape routes. Despite the immense pressure and the danger of being shot, Labar manages to outmaneuver the criminals, forcing them into a desperate, losing battle. Throughout the hunt, Larry Hughes maintains an air of bravado, though his rigid adherence to an "honor among thieves" code ultimately complicates his own flight.

The climax occurs in the marshlands, where Labar tracks the gang's movements through clever observation of tire tracks and environmental clues. He eventually secures the arrest of the gang members, though Hughes himself remains a slippery target. However, Labar’s diligence pays off when he traps the remnants of the group, and Hughes is eventually brought to justice.

In the aftermath, the legal machinery takes over. At the Old Bailey, the gang receives lengthy sentences, with Hughes handed twenty years of penal servitude. Adèle Gertstein is sentenced to five years, a broken woman facing the consequences of her entanglement with the criminal. The book concludes with Labar settling into a new phase of his life and career, having finally shed his reputation for laziness—though not his wit—through a successful engagement to Penelope and a renewed sense of purpose at the Yard.

How It Unfolds

The reprimand A stern Chief Constable warns Inspector Labar that his habitual laziness will no longer be tolerated at Scotland Yard. Labar accepts the ultimatum with suave indifference, secretly resolving to solve his current case quickly to return to his private life.

The investigation opens Labar interviews the household staff at Streetly House, quickly sensing that Miss Noelson knows more than she admits. He confronts Larry Hughes, who responds with mocking arrogance, setting the stage for a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game.

The hunt begins After a violent confrontation with a desperate Adèle Gertstein, Labar pursues the criminal network into the rugged marshes of Kent. He uses his investigative instincts to navigate the landscape, eventually finding the tracks of the gang's escape vehicle.

Closing the trap Labar coordinates with his colleagues to stop every bolthole, turning the marsh into a cage for the criminals. He successfully outsmarts the gang in a series of skirmishes, proving that his "hunch-driven" methods are more effective than his rivals believed.

The final reckoning The story concludes with the trial at the Old Bailey, where justice is served to Hughes and his associates. Labar secures his personal happiness with Penelope, acknowledging that while he was forced to work hard, the results have fundamentally shifted his outlook on his career.

The People

Inspector Labar is the "lazy" detective whose indolence is a carefully managed strategy to avoid being bogged down by bureaucracy. He is a man of poise and athletic build, capable of intense focus when the situation demands it. By the end, he balances his duty with his personal life, becoming a more grounded, though no less clever, officer.

Larry Hughes acts as the story’s antagonist, a gentleman crook who possesses an air of polite contempt for the police. He is intelligent, manipulative, and bound by a rigid, self-serving code of honor. His downfall comes from his inability to account for Labar’s persistence, leading to his eventual imprisonment.

Adèle Gertstein is a woman of beauty and privilege whose life collapses under the weight of blackmail and poor judgment. She is portrayed as flighty and emotionally unstable, becoming a victim of her own fear and the criminal influence of Hughes.

Penelope Noelson serves as the moral center of the story, acting with resilience despite being caught in a dangerous situation. Her relationship with Labar evolves from mutual suspicion to a genuine partnership, providing the detective with the impetus to stabilize his personal life.

In Its Own Voice

"You're lazy--damned lazy. If things don't clear up in your division in the next month or so you can count on something happening."

The Chief Constable delivers a blunt ultimatum to Labar at the start of the investigation.

"He was a clean-cut specimen of the ordinary business man. He was youngish-looking, perhaps thirty or thereabouts, and his voice was that of a cultivated man."

This description highlights how Labar’s unassuming appearance allows him to move through society unnoticed by criminals.

"He had a hunch that something is about to open up. Amid all the free advice and admonitions from some millions of newspaper readers."

Labar dismisses the external pressure of public opinion, preferring to rely on his own intuition to break the case.

What It's Really About

The central argument of the book is that professional competence is not defined by outward toil, but by the ability to prioritize and execute tasks with precision. Labar represents a critique of the "slogging" style of police work, suggesting that a man who understands his own temperament can achieve better results than one who simply follows rote procedures. Underneath the mystery lies a meditation on the fragility of social status; the Gertstein household, with its alarms and wealth, is shown to be easily punctured by those willing to exploit human weakness. The story asks whether true security can ever exist when one’s life is built upon the secrets that make blackmail possible.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the brisk, no-nonsense style of early 20th-century British crime fiction will find much to admire here. The book is remarkably free of modern padding, moving with a rhythmic, straightforward pace that values efficiency—much like its protagonist. It captures the atmosphere of London and the Kentish marshes with a spare, effective hand.

However, prospective readers should be prepared for the period attitudes embedded in the prose. The characterizations of women—particularly the "fluffy" Adèle—reflect the gender roles of the 1920s, which may feel dated to a contemporary audience. Similarly, the dialogue occasionally leans into the vernacular of the era, which can require a brief adjustment period. Despite these period trappings, the core dynamic between the clever, self-effacing detective and the arrogant criminal mastermind remains as satisfying today as it was a century ago. It is a perfect choice for an afternoon read when you want a story that rewards intelligence and treats its readers with a refreshing lack of sentimentality. It leaves you with the lingering sense that even the most disorganized life can be brought to order if one is willing to, at last, take the work seriously.