Queen, Ellery Books

Ellery Queen: 5 Complete Novels

Ellery Queen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Spread across Ellery-the-character's career 4 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

Consists of AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY, CAT OF MANY TAILS, DOUBLE, DOUBLE, INSPECTOR QUEEN'S OWN CASE: NOVEMBER SONG, and THE PLAYER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY (1964) is set during 1944. Ellery, driving across the desert (in those days, he worked in Hollywood as well as his native New York City), encounters by chance an obscure community settled by a religion that doesn't exist outside that community. (The title is a play on words, following the structure of the KJV of Genesis.) It's virtually another world, created anew by its founders - and the isolated community is now dealing with its first murder.

CAT OF MANY TAILS (1949) picks up where TEN DAYS' WONDER left off, so it would have made more sense to include that rather than DOUBLE, DOUBLE (below) as the token Wrightsville story. After the TEN DAYS' WONDER case, in which one character played Ellery like a violin, Ellery resolved to give up detection, feeling that he'd played God once too often and others had suffered for his arrogant confidence in his own cleverness. His father, who hadn't been involved since that had been a case in Wrightsville's jurisdiction, had been unable to persuade Ellery to help with any other cases, until the Cat - a serial killer with few discernable patterns - began stalking New York, and Inspector Queen was put in charge of the task force hunting the murderer down. What really frightens the city's law enforcement and politicians is that a combination of factors - including public hysteria whipped up by the media - seem bound to result in massive panic-stricken riots if the killings continue much longer.

DOUBLE, DOUBLE (1950) is set in Wrightsville, where another serial killer appears to be following the nursery rhyme 'rich man, poor man, beggarman...' Given that this is Ellery Queen, this could be *either* a psychopath *or* a cover for a murder for sane motives - the Queen team has done both, in their time.

INSPECTOR QUEEN'S OWN CASE: NOVEMBER SONG (1956) is a favorite of mine, more than the sequel HOUSE OF BRASS that I happened to read first (don't let that happen to you, this is the stronger book). Inspector Richard Queen has finally reached mandatory retirement, and he has too much pride to let Ellery hover over him - when the story opens, Richard is staying with an old friend, who retired only to take up a much quieter police chief job in a sleepy New England seacoast town. The 3rd-person viewpoint is mainly split between Richard - who's privately depressed, feeling he's outlived his usefulness - and Jessie Sherwood, a professional nurse looking after a newly-adopted baby for a childless rich couple in the area. The story opens, though, with some up-close details of what turns out to have been an illegal adoption - the rich couple would've been too old for an adoption-through-channels, so they essentially bought the child. (The birth mother, an unwed nightclub singer, is actually a decent person - the slimy go-between only persuaded her to go through with it by selling her the idea that the wealthy adoptive parents could give the kid a better life than she could.)

Unfortunately, the flaw in that theory is that various parties - the ne'er-do-well nephew, for one - find it inconvenient to see a sizeable fortune suddenly redirected to an unexpected small baby. After Jessie and Richard meet casually on the beach while she's out with the baby, he insists on coming along with the chief when there's a report of an attempted kidnapping on the estate. When tragedy finally strikes, Richard and Jessie join forces in some unofficial investigating.

THE PLAYER ON THE OTHER SIDE (1963) Title quote is from Huxley, speaking of the universe as the chessboard and natural law as the rules, with the 'player on the other side' metaphorically being God - all-powerful, all-knowing. All the chapters are named for chess moves, though somewhat informally.

In this book, the gameboard is York Square, its corners featuring the four rook-like towers in which the four heirs to the York fortune while away the time until a former heir, missing and presumed dead for many years, finally has to be bypassed under the terms of his father's will. The unseen 'player on the other side' who knows too much about York Square for comfort, however, bypasses all four would-be heirs in going to work directly on Walt, the seemingly insignificant handyman who looks after the Square, and is so starved for human contact that mysterious, flattering notes from the unknown 'Y' carry a lot of weight with him. From Walt's point of view, we see a few of Y's messages before the first murder brings us around to the usual Ellery-and-Inspector-Queen viewpoint.

Their problem, of course, is to find out who might be trying to make Walt a fall guy, and there are far more than 4 suspects. Emily York, for instance, is absorbed in good works; many people, from her assistant Ann to a lot of desperate cases, have a stake in seeing her get funding for her more grandiose philanthropic schemes. Percival's redistribution of wealth would be more personal, involving his fellow woman rather than fellow man. Myra, jilted years ago, seems disconnected from reality, and Robert almost equally so in a different way (he's a fanatic stamp collector).

The Tragedy of Errors and Others

Ellery Queen

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

“ELLERY QUEEN IS THE AMERICAN DETECTIVE STORY” So wrote the great critic Anthony Boucher about the contributions of Ellery Queen to the mystery story. Queen appeared in novels and short stories, in the movies and on television, on the radio and even in comic books.

In honor of the seventieth anniversary of the first Ellery Queen novel, Crippen & Landru is proud to publish the first completely new Ellery Queen book in almost thirty years. “The Tragedy of Errors” is the lengthy and detailed plot outline for the final, but never published EQ novel, containing all the hallmarks of the greatest Queen novels—the dying message, the succession of false solutions before the astonishing truth is revealed, and scrupulous fairplay to the reader. And the theme is one that Queen had been developing for many years: the manipulation of events in a world going mad by people who aspire to the power of gods.

The Tragedy of Errors and Others also contains the six hitherto uncollected Ellery Queen short stories, and a section of essays, tributes, and reminiscences of Ellery Queen, written by family members, friends, and some of the finest current mystery writers.

The Adventure of the Murdered Moths and Other Radio Mysteries

Ellery Queen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

THE ELLERY QUEEN-TENNIAL!!!!! Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee, who wrote under the pseudonym “Ellery Queen,” and whose fictional sleuth was also named “Ellery Queen,” were probably the most important American mystery writers from 1929 until the early 1970's. “Ellery Queen is the American detective story,” wrote Anthony Boucher – and he meant not only their detective novels, but also their critical writings, their editing, and their appearance on television and the radio. From 1939 until 1948, Lee and Dannay wrote a hugely popular radio mystery show, The Adventures of Ellery Queen, which like the EQ books stopped the action toward the end and challenged the audience to deduce whodunit. From the more than 350 surviving scripts, we have chosen fourteen of the most challenging: • The case of the Tontine whose members die off one by one • The disappearance of Napoleon’s Razor on a cross-country railroad train • The case that Sherlock Holmes failed to solve • The strangling in a haunted cave with only the victim’s footprints leading to the corpse • A dying message which seems to name all the suspects • The clue of the dead moth • and 8 other extraordinary mysteries This book is published in honor of the centennial of the births of Lee and Dannay, and (n the fictional world of EQ), the centennial of Ellery himself. The publisher: Founded in 1994 as the only publishing house to specialize in mystery short story collections, Crippen & Landru has been described as “a monument in the making” (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine) and “the best edited, most attractively packaged line of mystery books introduced in this decade” (Mystery Scene), and even “God bless Crippen & Landru” (The Strand). In many ways, however, in introducing completely unknown EQ detections to a new generation of readers, The Adventure of the Murdered Moths may be our most important book.

The Hollywood Murders: Three Mysteries: The Devil to Pay, The Four of Hearts, The Origin of Evil

Ellery Queen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Hollywood from Ellery Queen's Perspective 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

The Devil to Pay (1937), The Four of Hearts (1938), and The Origin of Evil (1951) roughly fall in Ellery Queen's middle period and are unique in that the setting is Hollywood. Four Walls Eight Windows published these three mysteries in 2000 under the title The Hollywood Murders.

Ellery's deductions are dazzling as usual, despite that Ellery himself sometimes seems out of place, even stranded, in the unorthodox milieu of Hollywood. Ellery encounters classic Hollywood stereotypes from movie stars to film producers to gossip columnists. The plots offer humor, some snappy dialogue, and a few extravagant Hollywood effects (e.g., a murderous pilot commandeers a small plane). I commend Four Walls Eight Windows for printing this collection.

The Devil to Pay (1937): Ellery Queen has been persuaded to rush to Hollywood to assist in writing a major production only to find that the producer is unavailable. Ellery becomes increasingly frustrated as he waits and waits for his first assignment. Fortuitously, he becomes involved in solving a bizarre murder of a hard-hearted, unethical financier. The murder weapon is an Italian dueling sword of the seventeenth century; its tip is coated with molasses and cyanide.

Ellery's remarkable reputation on the eastern seaboard is of little value in Los Angeles. Ejected from a crime scene, he subsequently masquerades as Hilary "Scoop" King, a colorful investigative reporter, to gain access to crime sites and confidential information. While somewhat farcical, this device allows the story to proceed.

The Four of Hearts (1938): In this sequel Ellery finally meets the young Jacques Butcher, colloquially known as Boy Wonder, executive vice-president of production at Magna Studios, and Ellery begins his work on a screen play. Unfortunately, an elaborate publicity stunt for the new production is derailed by a double murder. While the portrayal of the Hollywood film industry may not be entirely accurate, the plot is entertaining.

The Origin of Evil (1951): Thirteen years have elapsed and Ellery returns to a Hollywood that is reeling from the advent of television. However, as Ellery observes, Hollywood's post-mortem may be premature. This third Hollywood mystery reveals a growing list of surrealistic clues, including a dead dog, dead frogs, a poisoned sandwich, and a mutilated leather bound book of Aristophanes. The solution within a solution offered by Ellery is quite ingenious.

If you cannot find a copy of The Hollywood Murders, you might look for paperback editions from the 1970s and 1980s published by Ballantine Books, Signet Classics, and the Signet Double Mystery series. They are all inexpensive. The Origin of Evil is easiest to locate - look for a 1992 reprint edition by Harper Perennial.

Editorial Review:

New York's crime-solving genius is adrift in Tinseltown until a series of fatal finales revives him. With ambitious starlets, idols, and majordomos, The Hollywood Murders offers witty proof that the nature of evil is a bit gaudier on the West Coast. "A grand mystery, lightly handled and expertly solved." - The New Yorker

Ellery Queen's Doors to Mystery

Ellery Queen

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The Four of Hearts: An Ellery Queen Mystery

Ellery Queen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Zany Characterization of Hollywood. Another Remarkable Display of Deductive Skills. 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The Devil to Pay (1937), The Four of Hearts (1938), and The Origin of Evil (1951) roughly fall in Ellery Queen's middle period and are unique in that the setting is Hollywood. While the portrayal of the Hollywood film industry could not be more farfetched and inaccurate, the three stories are humorous and entertaining, and make good mysteries.

The Four of Hearts is a zany sequel to The Devil to Pay. Ellery finally meets his employer, the young Jacques Butcher, colloquially known as Boy Wonder, executive vice-president of production at Magna Studios. Unfortunately, as Ellery begins his work on his first screen play, an elaborate publicity stunt for the new production is derailed by a double murder. As Ellery begins his investigation, he finds himself crossing swords again with Inspector Glucke of the Los Angeles Police Department. And perhaps what is most unexpected, Ellery himself becomes enamored with a popular, strikingly beautiful, Hollywood gossip columnist.

Despite the hilarious caricature of movie stars, producers, screen writers, and gossip columnists, the murder mystery itself is still quite good and the puzzle will challenge even the astute reader. Ellery's deductions are impressive.

The Four of Hearts has been reissued by HarperCollins. Sometimes an early Pocket Book edition can be found. Another possibility is a 2000 publication by Four Walls Eight Windows of the three Ellery Queen stories that take place in Hollywood under the title The Hollywood Murders.

The Adventures of Ellery Queen: Startling Tales of Suspense and Murder

Ellery Queen

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Ellery Queen Omnibus

Ellery Queen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

All the early short stories 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

All of Queen's early short stories, from the Adventures and New Adventures of Ellery Queen. Most are excellent. A must for the pure-puzzle mystery fan.

Best Impossible Crime Story ever 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This omnibus includes most of the short early Ellery Queen stories. But the real reason to own it is the short (under 100 pages) novel, "The Lamp of God," which may be the best (and fairest) "impossible crime" story ever written. An entire house - one which may contain a hidden treasure - simply vanishes overnight - no house, no ruins, nothing. It's a fair puzzle, and the reader is given all the clues needed to solve the mystery, although I suspect few will. A truly great book!

Ellery Queen's Champions of Mystery (G.K. Hall Large Print Book Series)

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Lots of stories! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book contains 2 short novels...Counterfeit for Murder by Rex Stout & Volcano in the Mind by Hugh Pentecost. 2 novelets...The House in Goblin Wood by John Dickson Carr & The Missing Sister Case by Ross MacDonald.
13 short stories...
Such a Nice Man by Christianna Brand,
Invitation to a Murder by Josh Pachter,
No Time to Lose by David Ely,
The House of the Shrill Whispers by John Breen,
Golden Tuesday by Celia Fremlin,
Wynken, Blynken and Nod by William Brittain,
Hunting Season by Jerrold Phaon,
Inspector Maigret Thinks by Georges Simenon,
The Last Sassetta by Haskell Barkin,
The Theft of the Satin Jury by Edward Hoch,
The Murderer by Joel Townsley Rogers,
Hong Kong or Whatever by Florence Mayberry,
The Little Spy by Ellery Queen.

A Study in Terror

Ellery Queen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Strange Encounter 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

In the year 1888, a surgeon's kit mysteriously arrive at Baker Street residence of Sherlock Holmes. Training his marvelous powers on it,Holmes set forth on one of his most fascinating adventures.

Three-quarters of a century later, an equally mystifying package is deliverd to Ellery Queen. It contains a manuscript purporting to be an unpublished Sherlock Holmes novel written byJohn Watson, M.D.-an exceptional tale revealing the long-revealed secret of how Holmes uncovered the identityof Jack The Ripper!

Tracing the origin of the manuscript, Ellerydiscovers a startling connection betweenthe past and the present. Irresistibly intrigued, he journeys back into time to join Holmes in pursuit of the Ripper.
Following the master step-by-thrilling step, Ellery's remarkable powers of deduction lead him to a stunning and ironic solution of his own!

Interesting, but flawed 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

An interesting yet flawed account of Holmes tracking Jack The Ripper, with Ellery Queen added to the mix. Not a terrible pastiche, mind you, but it pales when compared to the wonderful non-Ellery Queen film version that stars John Neville as Holmes. So check out the film first, if you can track it down. And then, if you're so inclined, try the book.