{"product_id":"book-2b82","title":"The Adventures of PC 49","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eClassic crime stories featuring the affable British bobby, plus bonus radio documentary \u003ci\u003eOn the Beat with PC 49\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCreated specifically for radio, \u003ci\u003eThe Adventures of PC 49\u003c\/i\u003e was a pioneering police drama, offering a new kind of investigative hero: the humble bobby on the beat. One of the most popular serials in the history of BBC Radio, it ran between 1947 and 1953, following the cases of Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby and his girlfriend (later wife) Joan Carr. The light-hearted precursor to \u003ci\u003eDixon of Dock Green\u003c\/i\u003e, it struck a winning balance between comedy and crime-solving, and spawned several spin-offs including books, an \u003ci\u003eEagle \u003c\/i\u003ecomic strip and two Hammer films.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Lone Wolf\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, the brave bobby is on the trail of a daring crook on a crime spree, while in \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Haunting Refrain\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, Joan's neighbour, a composer, is found dead – was it an accident, or murder? Two rare episodes, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Shivering Spiv\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Lovely Liar\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, survive in slightly shortened form, with their storylines and endings intact, and see Archie and Joan dealing with a frightened black marketeer and a murdered actress. \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Black Diamonds\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e finds the plucky PC foiling an elaborate jewel heist which is very much a family affair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Perfect Fiddle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, 'Fortynine' decides to learn the violin, only to be inadvertently entangled in a notorious theft, and in \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Yellow Streak\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, he finds himself pitting his wits against the underworld after a mob boss is released from prison. A society wife receives a surprise visitor in \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Uninvited Guest\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, and in \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Swell Guy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e – the final adventure in the long-running series – PC 49 plays cops and robbers with a lost child and a gang of thieves…\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrian Reece\u003c\/b\u003e stars as PC 49, with \u003cb\u003eJoy Shelton\u003c\/b\u003e as Joan, \u003cb\u003eLeslie Perrins\u003c\/b\u003e as Chief Inspector Wilson and \u003cb\u003eEric Phillips\u003c\/b\u003e as Detective-Sergeant Wright.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso included is a bonus radio documentary \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOn the Beat with PC 49\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, in which cultural historian Professor Jeffrey Richards recalls the popular street bobby, and interviews Susan Stranks about her father Alan's sleuthing creation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNB: Due to the age of these recordings, the sound quality may vary.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by Alan Stranks\u003cbr\u003eProduced by Vernon Harris\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith thanks to Charles Norton\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eEpisode List\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Lone Wolf\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Haunting Refrain\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Shivering Spiv\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Lovely Liar\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Black Diamonds\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Perfect Fiddle\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Yellow Streak\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Uninvited Guest\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Swell Guy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":68410037207344,"sku":"BD2b82","price":11.67,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/2b82-Square-cover.webp?v=1794504717","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-2b82","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}