Thirteen Guests by J. Jefferson Farjeon – #1936Club

There are a whole bunch of British Library Crime Classics from 1936, and I have quite a few of them on my shelves. Which to choose? Murder in PiccadillyThe Sussex Downs Murder, and The Santa Klaus Murder were options, but I chose Thirteen Guests because I’ve enjoyed other J. Jefferson Farjeon novels.

It starts really promisingly. A jovial young man arrives at a country station, and leaps from the carriage – in so doing, he injures himself quite badly, because the train was in motion. A witty young woman takes pity on him – John and Nadine, for such are their names, at a delightful pair. Farjeon is great at fun dialogue that doesn’t feel forced, and I’d have loved a rom-com where they overcome their obstacles – e.g. Nadine is very funny about the fact that she is ten years older than John. That’s not what this novel is, of course.

John is persuaded to take shelter at a house where Nadine is staying – and he is the thirteenth guest. That means that, as well as the hosts, there are 13 more characters. Among them are a famous painter, a famous actress, a man who manufactures sausages, a gossip columnist, a trashy novelist, an MP…  goodness, there are so many of them.

And guess what guys? The first body that turns up is NONE of them!

I won’t write too much about this one because I’m going to put it in the ‘disappointment’ pile of British Library Crime Classics – because the writing is so good at the start, and I was so into the world he created. And I suppose the writing continues to be good, but before long I stopped noticing that because I was so confused. There are SO many characters, and the police who get involved – while very amusing – are the sort who like to list timings and places and variables over and over.

Anyway, if you have a mind for this sorts of complex detective novels than I do, then you might well love it. Perhaps very slow reading with a notebook and pen would be rewarding? But, for me, I’m afraid this one left me still have no idea who, what, why, where, or when even when I turned the final page.

28 thoughts on “Thirteen Guests by J. Jefferson Farjeon – #1936Club

  • April 13, 2021 at 10:54 am
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    Yes, I’m totally with you on this. Great set-up, but everything seems to fall apart in the execution. I read this a couple of years ago at Christmas, and the fact that I can remember virtually nothing about it (other than the above) must be a reflection of its quality. A rare disappointment in an excellent series of books…

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  • April 13, 2021 at 1:11 pm
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    I completely agree with JacquiWine, I had such hopes for this one and it was utterly forgettable.

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    • April 16, 2021 at 5:19 pm
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      I wasn’t sure about posting, but it has helped to know I’m not alone in my response!

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  • April 13, 2021 at 1:37 pm
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    As I was born in 1936 I was thrilled to happen on your blog also I am partially sighted and this book is on audible so thank you for the review which has inspired me to download Thirteen Guests. Looking forward to it.

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      • April 16, 2021 at 12:14 pm
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        Hello! Not sure how many of these I will be able to get on audio but probably more than I can manage to listen to. Good to see you here.

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        • April 16, 2021 at 5:15 pm
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          Simon’s an old friend of mine via the LibraryThing Virago Group – he reviews some excellent books so well worth following!

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    • April 16, 2021 at 5:19 pm
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      Hope you enjoy!

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  • April 13, 2021 at 3:32 pm
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    Oh interesting! Yes, there *are* stacks of BLCCs from 1936 and I was tempted myself – particularly by this one which I think I own and which I think I haven’t read! I get what you say about the amount of characters; a crime novel really can suffer if there are too many potential suspects to deal with, particularly as if they aren’t well delineated. Sorry one of your 1936 reads wasn’t a success… ;D

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:54 am
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      Yes, can’t have 100% success for every club!

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  • April 13, 2021 at 4:23 pm
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    I haven’t got this one, but I have read The Sussex Downs Murder and I have to say I found it equally disappointing. All to do with very precise timings, and virtually no character development.

    I know that people love some of the British Library Crime Classics (and I do love their covers) but so far I haven’t happened upon any that I felt very positive about. I’ll keep trying!

    I do have The Z Murders by J Jefferson Farjeon (1932), I wonder if that’s any better than this one?

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:53 am
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      Ah yes, I have heard the Budes aren’t the best – which is odd, given he was among the first they did. I haven’t read The Z Murders, but do have it. Alan Melville definitely my favourite of their authors I’ve tried.

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  • April 13, 2021 at 5:09 pm
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    I actually liked this one, but I understand about the plethora of characters. I am glad to see that they are printing a bunch of mysteries by women lately. I feel as if I enjoy the older mysteries by women more, maybe because they pay more attention to character development.

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:52 am
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      Yes, I’ve noticed that they’ve been adding more women!

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  • April 13, 2021 at 6:04 pm
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    Ha, but it lead to your delightful review! Pity it wasn’t better–and the cover is so stylish, too…

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:52 am
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      Thanks Reese :D Yes, they never do badly with their covers.

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  • April 13, 2021 at 6:49 pm
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    A while ago I started to keep a spread sheet of the BL crime classics organized by year of publication. As you say there are a few from 1936, and so far I haven’t really loved any of them even when they’re by writers I’ve previously really liked, but all the titles from the 1950’s which isn’t a decade I thought interested me much have been great. No idea why that should be. I remember this vaguely as okay but not brilliant.

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:49 am
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      Ooo that is an interesting fact…

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  • April 13, 2021 at 9:55 pm
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    Oh dear, I have this in the TBR but I don’t think I’ll be moving it to the top any time soon… what a shame!

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:49 am
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      Yeah, you might have better luck than me, but I think there are better places to start

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  • April 13, 2021 at 10:18 pm
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    That’s a shame – I haven’t read anything by J. Jefferson Farjeon yet, but when I do I’ll start with one of his others. I’m often disappointed by detective novels that concentrate too much on things like timetables and alibis.

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:48 am
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      Mystery in White was definitely good fun!

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  • April 14, 2021 at 10:43 am
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    Shame… if you can’t find out who done it, then why write a crime novel, even if you write beautifully?

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:48 am
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      Right??

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  • April 14, 2021 at 4:57 pm
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    This does sound a shame – I find crime novels confusing as I don’t read many so I don’t know the tropes!

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    • April 15, 2021 at 10:43 am
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      Ah yes, there are definitely many of those!

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  • April 16, 2021 at 11:14 pm
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    I would still give this one a try if I found it for a low price, but I won’t go seeking it out. I do still want to read Mystery in White by Farjeon because of the Christmas setting and starts on a train. I have not read a lot of British Library Crime Classics, although we have a good number on the shelves, but I have heard that they are variable in quality.

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