The House Opposite

Description

The return of Ben, the prince of tramps with his rich Cockney humour and naive philosophies - and in trouble as usual. Strange things are happening in the untenanted houses of Jowle Street. There are unaccountable creakings and weird knockings on the door of No.29, where the homeless ex-sailor Ben has taken up residence. But even stranger things are happening in the House Opposite, from where a beautiful woman in an evening gown brings Ben a mysterious message - and an errand that puts him in more danger than he bargained for. Once Ben the 'passing tramp' had been immortalised on film by Alfred Hitchcock in No.17, his return in a new novel was guaranteed. The House Opposite tells the story of criminal goings-on from both sides of a London street, and was admired for being delightfully amusing and genuinely uncanny.

J. Jefferson Farjeon (1883-1955) was the author of more than 60 crime and thriller novels. His work was highly acclaimed in his day. He is now best known as the author of Number 17, a play that was brought to the big screen by Alfred Hitchcock and led to the series of popular 'Ben' detective novels.

'A mixture of humour and excitement, which Mr Farjeon knows so well how to handle.' DAILY MIRROR 'An undiluted joy . . . Ben is the plum of the book; his personality impresses itself upon the imagination.' LIVERPOOL POST 'This delightful writer delivers the gay goods once again.' DAILY HERALD