[sufue]

The Count of Nine, apa The Count of 9, is the 18th (not the ninth ) in the Bertha Cool & Donald Lam series by Erle Stanley Gardner, who is, of course, much better known for his Perry Mason series. Count has dropped to £1.99 at Kindle UK.

link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Count-Nine-...dp/B00PRWKMWM/

Spoiler:

You might call Bertha Cool the broad beam of the Cool and Lam Detective Agency. As this story begins, all 200-odd pounds of her are quivering happily at the thought of a fat fee to come.

All Bertha has to do is guard the priceless treasures of wealthy explorer Dean Crockett II, who is about to throw a fabulous party. But somebody's hand is quicker even than Bertha's gimlet eye, and one valuable jade Buddha and a primitive blowgun disappear.

That's when brainy bantam-weight Donald Lam steps in, and the pace sets off fiercely, before reaching a sensational, unexpected climax.