Nikolls held out two glasses.

''Which is it goin'' to be?'' he said. ''Seltzer or the hair of the dog?''

Callaghan took the whisky.

Slim Callaghan, private detective, is drawn into a particularly dubious case - even for him. A Mrs Paula Denys says she paid a man to steal the priceless Denys Coronet from her husband''s safe. Now the thief won''t hand over the goods and is attempting to blackmail her.

Callaghan solves the problem for his client but, too late, discovers the alluring Mrs Denys might be taking him for a ride. Callaghan is determined to get to the bottom of it all - but will curiosity kill the cat this time?

They Never Say When was originally published in 1944.

''Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime'' The Times

''Slim Callaghan''s quick wit and knowledge of rough and tumble place him in the top ranks of private eyes. What a man!'' New York Times

''A Peter Cheyney novel always tingles with life'' Daily Sketch