The Safety Pin by J.S. Fletcher

Name: The Safety Pin
Author: J.S. Fletcher

The story follows the investigation of a murder in a small English village. The victim is a young woman, and the only clue to her identity is a safety pin found near her body. The local police are baffled, and the case is taken up by a Scotland Yard detective, Inspector French. French soon discovers that the safety pin is connected to a mysterious group of people who are involved in a criminal enterprise. He must unravel the mystery of the safety pin and the group in order to solve the murder. The novel is a classic example of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, and is considered one of Fletcher's best works. It is a gripping and suspenseful mystery, with plenty of twists and turns.

By J.S. Fletcher · First published 1924 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction · 25 chapters · 67,742 words

First lines

Shelmore, then three-and-twenty years old, had been in practice as a solicitor for precisely six months, and, probably because he had set up in his own native city of Southernstowe, the end of that period found him with exactly twelve clients on his roll. His line was the eminently safe one of conveyancing and the clients were profitable ones; he knew enough of his profession to know that his first half-year's experience was satisfactory and promising. Another fledgling, lower down the street, a former fellow-articled-clerk, admitted at the same time as himself, who had gone in for police-court practice, was doubtless having livelier times, but not making so much substantial gain; his office, perhaps, was more crowded, but Shelmore preferred the dignified quiet of his own, wherein he and his clients talked of nothing less important than the transference or acquisition of real estate.

What this Textopian page supports

The Safety Pin is listed on Textopian as a novel by J.S. Fletcher, dated 1924 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: J.S. Fletcher
Date: 1924 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction
Length: 67,742 words
Structure: 25 chapters, 1,717 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Safety Pin?
How does this novel by J.S. Fletcher fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The title of the book implies a hidden mystery that needs to be solved, which is a common element of mystery novels.
Thriller — The title of the book implies a sense of danger and suspense, which are common elements of thrillers.
Crime Fiction — Mystery and thriller novels often involve criminal activity, making crime fiction a relevant genre.
Historical Fiction — J.S. Fletcher was a prolific writer of historical fiction, so this genre may be relevant to the book.