Bland Beginning

Bland Beginning is a 1949 mystery detective novel by British writer Julian Symons. It is the third and final novel in his trilogy featuring the Scotland Yard detective Chief Inspector Bland. It features Bland before he became a policeman, becoming involved in his first ever case.

Synopsis
When he buys his fiancée an engagement present of a first edition set of poems, a young man finds himself mixed up in a case of forgery and blackmail. To aid him he calls in the assistance of his friend Bland.