Crows Can't Count by A.A. Fair (Erle Stanley Gardner)

 Crows Can't Count by Erle Stanley Gardner writing as A. A. Fair, was published in 1946.  It is the  10th  of 29 Cool and Lam detective stories.

When Cool originally hires Lam, the detective agency was doing a lot of divorce work, and other low paying jobs.  When Lam got involved, the cases become more dangerous, but much better paying.   Because of this, Lam convinces Cool to make him a partner, and it becomes the Cool and Lam detective agency.  Crows Can't Count takes place after Lam's return from serving in the South Pacific during WWII, getting a medical discharge after suffering from Malaria.  

The case starts off simply enough--a man wishes to find out who has put a piece of jewelry up for sale, as he believes it belongs to his ward.  Cool is thrilled with the money he offers them for this simple job, and sends Lam to find out.  

This simple job soon turns into a murder investigation, with Cool and Lam involved, much to Cool's distress.  The job takes them from Los Angeles to Columbia and back again.  There are several twists and turns, attempted murder, smuggling and other criminal discoveries, before the solution is revealed. 

Very well-written, enjoyable mystery, as are most, if not all, of the books written by Gardner, either under his Gardner name or as A.A. Fair.
  

This book fulfills requirement #35. Genuine Fakes category of the Vintage Mystery Challenge 2013.
Read February  26-March 4, 20113