Room 13

About the book

Johnny Gray hears in prison that Marney, the daughter of Peter Kane, is about to marry. His unexpectedly early release allows him to return to a circle whose apparent respectability conceals old criminal connections. Peter wants safety and happiness for his daughter, but men with grievances against him see her future as an opportunity for revenge. At the same time, counterfeit banknotes point toward the elusive operator known as the Big Printer. Wallace intertwines these threats through disguises, pursuit, and a hotel whose rooms conceal more than ordinary guests' affairs. Johnny's attachment to Marney gives the fast-moving criminal intrigue an immediate personal stake, while his own compromised position complicates the division between protectors and offenders.

• Revenge and family
• Counterfeiting
• Concealed identities

Why read it

Follow a propulsive Wallace thriller in which a promised fresh start is overtaken by the unfinished business of others.

English text of Edgar Wallace's 1924 novel