J. Jefferson Farjeon

Joseph Jefferson Farjeon was an English crime and mystery novelist, playwright, and screenwriter, born in London in 1883. He was the son of Benjamin Leopold Farjeon, a well-known novelist, and came from a family of writers, including his sister Eleanor Farjeon, a children's writer, and his brother Herbert Farjeon, a playwright. His maternal grandfather was the American actor Joseph Jefferson, after whom he was named.

Farjeon's writing career began in 1924 with the publication of 'The Master Criminal' by Brentano's. This novel marked the beginning of a prolific career that would span over 80 published novels, ending with 'The Caravan Adventure' in 1955. His works were known for their "ingenious and entertaining plots and characterization," as noted in his obituary in The Times. Farjeon was recognized for his ability to intertwine romance with crime, and for his keen humor and flashing wit. He also used sinister and terrifying storylines freely, making his works popular and well-received.

In addition to his novels, Farjeon wrote plays and short stories, many of which were adapted for the screen. His play 'Number 17' was made into a number of films, including a 1932 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. He also wrote the screenplay for Michael Powell's 'My Friend the King' (1932) and provided the story for Bernard Vorhaus's 'The Ghost Camera' (1933). Farjeon's crime novels were admired by Dorothy L. Sayers, who called him "unsurpassed for creepy skill in mysterious adventures."

Despite his success and popularity during his lifetime, many of Farjeon's works were forgotten after his death in 1955. However, there has been a resurgence of interest in his novels in recent years, with the British Library reissuing several of his novels, including 'Mystery in White: A Christmas Crime Story' in 2014, 'Thirteen Guests' and 'The Z Murders' in 2015, and 'Seven Dead' in 2016. His works have also been translated into several languages, including Italian, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, and Russian.