Joseph Jefferson Farjeon was an English crime and mystery novelist who is best known for his Detective Ben series of books. He was also the creator of the Detective X. Crook character that appeared in Flynn’s Weekly Detective Fiction.

Farjeon was known for his crime novels of which Dorothy L. Sayers said that he was “unsurpassed in creepy skill”. One of his better known works was the play, No. 17 which was made into film including one by Alfred Hitchcock. All of the Ben the Tramp books have been reissued by HarperCollins over recent years and enjoyed new life.

Publication Order of Ben The Tramp Books

No. 17(1926)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murderer’s Trail / Phantom Fingers(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Ben on the Job(1932)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Ben Sees It Through(1932)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Little God Ben(1935)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Detective Ben(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Number Nineteen(1952)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

The Confusing Friendship(1924)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Master Criminal(1924)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Uninvited Guests(1925)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Crooks' Shadow(1925)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Little Things That Happen(1925)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
At the Green Dragon / The Green Dragon(1926)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The House of Disappearance(1928)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
More Little Happenings(1928)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Shadows by the Sea(1928)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Mystery Underground / Underground(1928)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Appointed Date(1929)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Person Called Z(1929)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The 5:18 Mystery(1929)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Following Footsteps(1930)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Mystery on the Moor(1930)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Z Murders(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The House Opposite(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Trunk Call / The Trunk Call Mystery(1932)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Old Man Mystery(1933)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in Fancy Dress / Fancy Dress Ball(1933)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Mystery of the Creek / The House on the Marsh(1933)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Sinister Inn(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Mystery of Dead Man's Heath / Dead Man's Heath(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Holiday Express(1935)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Golden Singer(1935)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
His Lady Secretary(1935)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Mountain Mystery(1935)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Adventure of Edward(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Dangerous Beauty(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Mystery in White(1937)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Holiday at Half Mast(1937)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Yellow Devil(1937)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Compleat Smuggler(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Dark Lady(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
End of An Author / Death in the Inkwell(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Thirteen Guests(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Seven Dead(1939)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Exit John Horton / Friday the 13th(1939)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Aunt Sunday Takes Command / Aunt Sunday Sees It Through(1940)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Room Number Six(1941)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Interrupted Honeymoon (As:Anthony Swift)(1941)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Third Victim(1941)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Judge Sums Up(1942)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The House of Shadows(1943)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder at a Police Station (As:Anthony Swift)(1943)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Greenmask(1944)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
November the Ninth at Kersea (As:Anthony Swift)(1944)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Black Castle(1944)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Rona Runs Away(1945)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Peril in the Pyrenees(1946)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Oval Table(1946)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Back to Victoria(1947)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Works of Smith Minor(1947)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Adventure at Eighty(1948)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Benelogues(1948)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death of a World(1948)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Prelude to Crime(1948)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Llewellyn Jewel Mystery(1948)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Disappearances of Uncle David(1949)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Impossible Guest(1949)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Lone House Mystery(1949)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Shadow of Thirteen(1949)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Cause Unknown(1950)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Change with Me(1950)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Mother Goes Gay(1950)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Adventure for Nine(1951)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The House Over the Tunnel(1951)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Mystery on Wheels(1951)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Money Walks(1953)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Mystery of the Map(1953)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Double Crime(1953)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Castle of Fear(1954)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Bob Hits the Headlines(1954)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Caravan Adventure(1955)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of British Library Crime Classics Books

The Notting Hill Mystery (By: Charles Warren Adams)(1862)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Poisoned Chocolates Case (By: Anthony Berkeley)(1929)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
It Walks by Night (By: John Dickson Carr)(1930)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Secret of High Eldersham / The Mystery of High Eldersham (By: Miles Burton)(1930)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Castle Skull (By: John Dickson Carr)(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Mystery in the Channel (By: Freeman Crofts)(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Incredible Crime (By: Lois Austen-Leigh)(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder of a Lady (By: Anthony Wynne)(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Lost Gallows (By: John Dickson Carr)(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Z Murders(1931)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Corpse in the Waxworks / The Waxworks Murder (By: John Dickson Carr)(1932)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Division Bell Mystery (By: Ellen Wilkinson)(1932)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Portrait of a Murderer (By: Anne Meredith)(1933)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in Fancy Dress (By: Anthony Gilbert)(1933)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Family Matters (By: Anthony Rolls)(1933)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Hog's Back Mystery (By: Freeman Crofts)(1933)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Mysterious Mr. Badman (By: William Fryer Harvey)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder Underground (By: Mavis Doriel Hay)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Scarweather (By: Anthony Rolls)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death of an Airman (By: Christopher St. John Sprigg)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Spy Paramount (By: E. Phillips Oppenheim)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The 12.30 from Croydon (By: Freeman Crofts)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Chianti Flask (By: Marie Belloc Lowndes)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Weekend at Thrackley (By: Alan Melville)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Quick Curtain (By: Alan Melville)(1934)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Lake District Murder (By: John Bude)(1935)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death on the Cherwell (By: Mavis Doriel Hay)(1935)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Cornish Coast Murder (By: John Bude)(1935)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Traitor (By: Sydney Horler)(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Santa Klaus Murder (By: Mavis Doriel Hay)(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Sussex Downs Murder (By: John Bude)(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death of Anton (By: Alan Melville)(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Wheel Spins (By: Ethel Lina White)(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death in the Tunnel / Dark in the Tunnel (By: Miles Burton)(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder in Piccadilly (By: Charles Kingston)(1936)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Mystery in White(1937)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Bats in the Belfry (By: E.C.R. Lorac)(1937)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Cheltenham Square Murder (By: John Bude)(1937)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Excellent Intentions (By: Richard Hull)(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder in the Museum (By: John Rowland)(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Antidote to Venom (By: Freeman Crofts)(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Thirteen Guests(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Port of London Murders (By: Josephine Bell)(1938)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (By: Leonard R. Gribble)(1939)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Seven Dead(1939)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Verdict of Twelve (By: Raymond Postgate)(1940)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
A Scream in Soho (By: John G. Brandon)(1940)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death of a Busybody (By: George Bellairs)(1942)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Dead Shall be Raised & Murder of a Quack (By: George Bellairs)(1942)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Somebody at the Door (By: Raymond Postgate)(1943)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder's a Swine (By: Nap Lombard)(1943)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Checkmate to Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac)(1944)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Fell Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac)(1944)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder by Matchlight (By: E.C.R. Lorac)(1945)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Trouble on the Thames (By: Victor Bridges)(1945)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Fire in the Thatch (By: E.C.R. Lorac)(1946)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death Makes a Prophet (By: John Bude)(1947)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Smallbone Deceased (By: Michael Gilbert)(1950)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Calamity in Kent (By: John Rowland)(1950)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death Has Deep Roots (By: Michael Gilbert)(1951)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Last Seen Wearing (By: Hillary Waugh)(1952)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Danger Within / Death in Captivity (By: Michael Gilbert)(1952)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder in the Mill-Race (By: E.C.R. Lorac)(1952)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Crossed Skis (By: Carol Carnac)(1952)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death on the Riviera (By: John Bude)(1952)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Man Who Didn't Fly (By: Margot Bennett)(1955)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Colour Of Murder (By: Julian Symons)(1957)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Christmas Egg (By: Mary Kelly)(1958)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Progress of a Crime (By: Julian Symons)(1960)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm (By: Gil North)(1960)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Spoilt Kill (By: Mary Kelly)(1961)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Body in the Dumb River (By: George Bellairs)(1961)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Due to a Death (By: Mary Kelly)(1963)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Surfeit of Suspects (By: George Bellairs)(1964)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Belting Inheritance (By: Julian Symons)(1965)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Last Best Friend (By: George Sims)(1967)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The End of the Web (By: George Sims)(1976)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Capital Crimes (By: Martin Edwards,Richard Marsh)(2015)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Resorting to Murder (By: Martin Edwards)(2015)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Silent Nights (By: Martin Edwards)(2015)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Murder at the Manor (By: Martin Edwards)(2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Serpents in Eden (By: Martin Edwards)(2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Crimson Snow (By: Martin Edwards,Fergus Hume)(2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Foreign Bodies (By: Martin Edwards,Palle Rosenkrantz)(2017)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Long Arm of the Law (By: Martin Edwards)(2017)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Miraculous Mysteries (By: Martin Edwards)(2017)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Continental Crimes (By: Martin Edwards)(2017)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Blood on the Tracks (By: Martin Edwards)(2018)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories (By: Martin Edwards)(2018)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Golden Age of Detection Puzzle Book (By: Kate Jackson)(2018)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Deep Waters (By: Martin Edwards)(2019)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Measure of Malice (By: Martin Edwards)(2019)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Pocket Detective 2: 100+ More Puzzles, Brainteasers and Conundrums (By: Kate Jackson)(2019)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Settling Scores (By: Martin Edwards)(2020)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
A Surprise for Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries (By: Martin Edwards)(2020)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Two-Way Murder (By: E.C.R. Lorac)(2021)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Guilty Creatures (By: Martin Edwards)(2021)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Death of an Author (By: E.C.R. Lorac)(2024)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Crimes of Cymru (By: Martin Edwards)(2024)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
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If You Like Joseph Jefferson Farjeon Books, You’ll Love…

No. 17 is the first book in the Ben the Tramp series. The book introduces us to Ben as a lovable, humorous ex-sailor who can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble. Ben has returned from the Merchant Navy and is now broke in London. He takes shelter at an abandoned old house when he comes across a dead body. After running into Detective Gilbert Fordyce, he is convinced to help investigate the mystery of the corpse. Things get weird when the corpse itself disappears. Ben finds himself among a gang of villains at the abandoned No. 17 with no way of escape.

Another popular book by Farjeon is Thirteen Guests. The story begins with Lord Aveling hosting a hunting party at his country home. There are many guests of affluence, but the thirteenth guest is John Foss who was injured at the train station and brought here to recuperate. Things get interesting when death strikes at the house and the police are called in. Detective Inspector Kendall is brought in to figure out what is going on and his detective skills will be put to the test as he tries to uncover the pasts of this unique cast of characters.

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