Number 17

Number 17 follows Ben, a former merchant sailor who discovers strange happenings at an empty London house one foggy night. The protagonist stumbles into a web of criminal activity when he enters the seemingly abandoned Number 17. The story takes place over a single night as Ben encounters an array of suspicious characters and must determine who can be trusted. This thriller moves through the dark corners of London while Ben attempts to unravel the mystery of what is occurring at the house. The novel marked the beginning of a series featuring Ben, whose seafaring background and current down-and-out status pull him into various adventures across London. It was adapted into both a stage play and later a film by Alfred Hitchcock. At its core, Number 17 explores themes of chance encounters, mistaken identities, and how ordinary people react when thrust into extraordinary circumstances. The fog-shrouded London setting serves as both backdrop and metaphor for the moral ambiguity faced by the characters.

This 1926 British crime novel has limited reviews online, with most readers noting its traditional locked-room mystery setup. Readers appreciated: - Fast pace and building suspense - The foggy London atmosphere - Clear writing style with moments of humor - Focus on puzzle-solving over violence Common criticisms: - Plot relies on coincidences - Some characters lack depth - Dated social attitudes typical of 1920s fiction Review Sources: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (42 ratings) "A fun read that captures old London mystery vibes" - Goodreads reviewer "Clever but contrived in places" - Vintage Mystery blog Amazon: 4/5 (12 ratings) "Solid golden age detective story with engaging main character" - Amazon reviewer The book appears infrequently discussed in modern mystery forums and has fewer online reviews compared to Farjeon's better-known works like Thirteen Guests.

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins A house party becomes a scene of investigation when a precious diamond disappears and everyone becomes a suspect in this foundational country house mystery.

The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne A weekend gathering at an English country estate turns into a murder investigation when the host's brother is found dead in a locked room.

Death in a White Tie by Ngaio Marsh A murder at a debutante ball leads Chief Inspector Alleyn through London's high society to uncover secrets behind the glittering facade.

The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart A train journey becomes a web of mystery when a passenger is murdered and the protagonist must clear his name while uncovering the real killer.

The Green Pearl Murders by Roland Daniel A detective confronts multiple suspects in a boarding house after a string of murders connected to a stolen pearl necklace.

🔍 The novel was adapted into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1932, titled "Number 17," marking one of the director's lesser-known early British works. 🏠 The story's central location, Number 17, was inspired by Victorian-era London's practice of leaving houses empty for long periods, which often made them targets for criminal activities. ✒️ J.J. Farjeon came from a notably creative family - his sister Eleanor was a renowned children's author, and his father Benjamin was a well-known Victorian novelist and journalist. 🌫️ The fog-shrouded London setting was particularly authentic as the city was still experiencing severe "pea-soupers" (dense fog mixed with coal smoke) during the 1920s when the book was written. 🎭 The book's success led to a stage adaptation that ran in London's West End before the film version, showcasing how the story worked effectively across multiple formats.