# IV: Inspector French Goes North explained — The Starvel Hollow Tragedy > Chapter companion for The Starvel Hollow Tragedy by Freeman Wills Crofts. ## What happens Inspector French is assigned to investigate a suspicious case in Thirsby, Yorkshire, involving suspected murder, robbery, and arson at Starvel Hollow. He travels north, meets with local authorities, and examines the safe at the burned house. His investigation reveals that the newspapers found burned in the safe could not have been destroyed during the fire if the door was closed, suggesting they were burned before the safe was locked. He traces the newspaper fragments to the Leeds Mercury and confirms the safe's fireproof integrity, leading him to conclude that the notes were removed and replaced with newspapers that were set alight before the fire, pointing to a premeditated crime. ## Themes in this chapter ### Justice and Investigation French's methodical examination of the safe and newspaper fragments exemplifies the investigative process central to the chapter. ### Deception and Secrecy The request for French to pose as an angler or artist and the hidden nature of the crime highlight themes of deception and concealed truth. ## Character check-ins ### Inspector French Assigned to the Thirsby case, travels north, examines the safe and newspaper fragments, and develops a theory of premeditated crime. ### Chief Inspector Mitchell Assigns French to the Yorkshire case and briefs him on the mysterious circumstances. ### Mr. Tarkington His theory about the safe and the missing notes influences French's investigation. ### Mr. Oxley Provides French with information about the newspaper taken by the late Mr. Averill. ### Sergeant Kent Local sergeant in charge who is to provide French with particulars after dark. ## Key lines > The stone which Messrs. Tarkington and Oxley had thrown into the turbid waters of the British Police Administration produced ripples which, like other similar wave forms, spread slowly away from their point of disturbance. The report from Tarkington and Oxley set off a chain reaction within the British police system, gradually reaching Scotland Yard. _Metaphor for how the initial report led to French's assignment._ > If Mr. Stephenson was right the newspapers had not been burnt during the Starvel fire. They could only have been burned while the safe door was open. But the door was locked during the fire; Kent had had to get an expert to open it. They must therefore have been burned before it was locked. A sinister fact truly, and terribly suggestive! French concludes that the newspapers were deliberately burned before the safe was locked, not during the fire, indicating foul play. _Key deduction that shifts the investigation toward premeditated crime._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters/iv-inspector-french-goes-north - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_starvel_hollow_tragedy_se/chapters