Books like Faintley speaking by Gladys Mitchell

When a rain‑slick night forces George Mandsell into a public telephone box, a mysterious Miss Faintley hijacks his call, ordering him to retrieve a parcel for a dubious shopkeeper. Mistaking him for someone else, the caller vanishes, and George, seizing a chance for income and a new story, sets off. Meanwhile, 13‑year‑old Mark Street finds himself reluctantly enlisted by Miss Faintley, whom he dismisses as “old Semi‑Conscious,” to accompany her to a nearby town. As Miss Faintley goes missing, Mark confides in fellow guest Laura Menzies. Together they stumble upon a deserted house by the coast, where they discover a woman’s body. Suspecting foul play, the pair draw the attention of Mrs. Beatrice Bradley, the renowned London detective. With her help, and support from the enigmatic George Mandsell and a Latin‑speaking parrot, Mrs. Bradley unravels a web of intrigue that connects the vanished Miss Faintley, a shady shop, and a hidden secret in the caves of Lascaux.

First publish date: 1954