Farjeon, J Jefferson - Ben Sees it Through (1932)

From the Collins Crime Club sixth impression 1935:

J.JEFFERSON FARJEON'S famous character, "Ben", has become one of the most popular characters in present-day fiction. Ben is a complete success, a real character who makes this thriller thor­oughly human. This poor chump, who gets himself into scrape after scrape, is full of humorous and pathetic appeal. He is the personification of the Cockney type ; a real credit in detective fiction. In his new adventure Ben meets a mysterious stranger on a cross-Channel steamer and is promised a job. On arrival at Southamp­ton they take a taxi. Ben alights to post a letter and on his return to the cab finds the stranger has been murdered. Ben bolts, is pursued by a mysterious foreigner, escapes from his clutches, only to find the police are after him. The hunt is up, the mystery deepens. Jefferson Farjeon packs unexpected twists and turns into his story until we arrive breathlessly at a most exciting finish.