Detective Inspector Crust: Three Full-Cast BBC Radio Crime Dramas

A trilogy of thrillers set in Liverpool, featuring the formidable Detective Inspector Crust

Veteran scriptwriter Vincent McInerney draws on his lifelong knowledge of Liverpool and his background in the Merchant Marine in these engaging thrillers, in which the gruff, indomitable John Crust and his sidekick Minty probe the circumstances surrounding a missing husband, a stolen sculpture and a hidden treasure.

O'Rourke's First Case - Made redundant at 40, John O'Rourke gets a grant from the Enterprise Allowance Board and sets up as a private detective. Hired by Mrs Rate to trace her absent spouse, he's soon caught up in a dangerous scheme involving modern art, drug money and shoot-outs on container ships. Fortunately, Inspector Crust is also investigating, and monitoring the rookie PI's progress. Can the redoubtable copper ensure that O'Rourke's first case isn't also his last?

The Finger of Suspicion - With the university rag day parade in full swing, Inspector Crust is keeping his beady eye on the floats making their way through the city centre. So when a helicopter suddenly appears, and hoists the Epstein statue off Lewis's department store, Crust assumes it's an elaborate student prank. But when the police receive a ransom note, together with one of the statue's fingers, he starts to have second thoughts.

The Bell - Following the death of shipowner Oliver Bright, his granddaughter Elizabeth prepares to sell his house and possessions at auction. Rumour has it that among his worldly goods is a rare artefact saved during the sinking of the Titanic - and psychotic criminal Tarrant will stop at nothing to lay his hands on it. But Inspector Crust is also on the trail of the missing relic, and is determined to find it first...

Cast and credits

Written by Vincent McInerny

Directed by Shaun MacLoughlin

Starring James Ellis as Inspector Crust and Bill Monks as Minty

O'Rourke's First Case

John O'Rourke - Ken Cumberlidge

Mr O'Rourke - Richard Tate

Chris - Maureen O'Brien

Curly - Dominic Rickhards

Mrs Rate - June Barrie

Ronnie Rate - Eric Allan

Bogger - David Goudge

Captain/Adrian Mince - Christian Rodska

Charlie - Jonathan Nibbs

Barman/Compere - Ian Targett

Scratcher - David Learner

Operator - Maryon Ellor

'Just Another Night' written and sung by Vincent McInerney

Musicians: Steve Wright (guitar), Dave Dover (bass) and Steve Bartley (percussion)

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 January 1990

The Finger of Suspicion

Guy - Richard Pearce

Colonel Rivers - David Bannerman

Malcolm - Kim Wall

James - Brendan Charleson

Mr Patch - Peter Copley

Julia - Carolyn Backhouse

Billy/Eddie - Christian Rodska

Mrs Rivers - Peggy Ann Wood

Arthur Frank - Richard Tate

Mandy - Cheryl Maiker

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 February 1992

The Bell

Elizabeth - Teresa Gallagher

Tarrant - Eric Allan

Father Kennedy - Peter Caffrey

Mrs Moran - June Barrie

Dicky Bird - William Eedle

Eileen - Sue Jenkins

Alf Gringod - Gerry Hinks

Mitzi Müller - Melinda Walker

Gottfried Müller - William Eedle

Jim Rawson - Sion Probert

George - Derek Hicks

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 August 1993

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