|
|
EDITORIAL
|
If you think you can help us, or would like something to add. Don't be shy! Pick one of the following categories (by clicking on the icons):
|
|
Q.B.I. Covers
added since April 2025:
2 better and 3 new covers.
The latter corresponding with
the red numbers in
this
list.
Latest additions made on
May 18. 2025:        Past additions to the site: April 2024 - April 2025: 17 better and 40 new covers April 2023 - April 2024: 24 better and 17 new covers ... |
|
 |
|
| May 17. 2025 - April 18. 1999 | |
Ellery Queen’s The Dutch Shoe Mystery
(1931) is the third and last of his apprentice works, and it firmly establishes Queen as
a master of the classical detective puzzle. What begins as a straightforward
hospital drama soon spirals into an intricate mystery that delivers both
intellectual satisfaction and the eerie, otherworldly touch that marks the
best of Queen’s early work. The story opens in the sterile, white corridors of the Dutch Memorial Hospital—a setting that provides much more than a backdrop. It becomes a symbolic space of order, rationality, and, paradoxically, hidden chaos. When Abigail Doorn, a wealthy philanthropist and one of the richest women in America, is wheeled into the operating room for a delicate surgery, everyone present is stunned to discover that she is already dead—strangled with wire moments before the procedure. The operating theater, about to witness a life-saving miracle, instead hosts a murder scene. Ellery Queen, present by coincidence while visiting a friend, takes the reins of the investigation, diving headfirst into a mystery steeped in motive, opportunity, and psychological complexity. Michael E. Grost explained that the brilliance of The Dutch Shoe Mystery lies in its opening chapters. The initial ten chapters are particularly taut, delivering not just the central murder, but a vibrant cast of suspects, a compelling floor plan (a hallmark of Golden Age detective fiction), and Queen’s meticulous style of deduction. Queen’s surrealistic flair is evident in the startling presentation of the corpse and the all-encompassing whiteness of the hospital setting. The atmosphere becomes almost abstract, evoking images of Malevitch’s ** White on White and suggesting a visual metaphor of purity invaded by violence. This “white-out” motif lends the novel a visionary quality that is rare among even the most imaginative detective stories. ... Continue here ... |
|
 |
|
| May 7. 2025 | |
| Two teenagers, a shared passion for mysteries, and a dream that began in the halls of a Pennsylvania high school: that’s how the extraordinary writing duo William Link and Richard Levinson got their start. What began with magic tricks and co-written detective stories evolved into a legendary partnership that would redefine the foundations of American television drama. | |
 |
|
|
From their first creative steps at the Wharton School—where they secretly wrote plays while officially studying business—to winning prestigious honors like the Golden Globe and the Edgar Award, their friendship remained the driving force behind their success. They brought iconic characters to life, including the unforgettable Columbo, and helped shape groundbreaking television moments such as That Certain Summer, the first Emmy-winning program to address homosexuality on American TV. Their love of the mystery genre also took form in their creation of the unique television version of Ellery Queen (NBC, 1975 – 1976), in which they gave the classic detective tale an innovative twist: the viewer was invited to solve the mystery themselves. Although the series lasted only one season, it was later seen as a cult classic and a respected reinterpretation of the literary icon. |
|
|
Behind the scenes, their careers were infused with innovation, humor, and a deep love of storytelling. They wrote, produced, and directed with flair, captivating audiences for decades. Levinson’s death in 1987 broke Link’s heart, but he channeled that grief into storytelling—driven by the feeling that his friend was still looking over his shoulder. This two-part biography offers a compelling look behind the scenes of television’s golden age, told through the lives of two men whose paths were forever intertwined. Click their photos right to keep reading... |
 Richard Levinson  William Link |
|
|
|
| April 26. 2025 | |
|
We've just passed our 26th year online! To celebrate an update on of almost
everyone's favorite character: Nikki Porter! In the multifaceted world of Ellery Queen, no female character has intrigued readers and listeners quite like Nikki Porter. Originally created for the radio dramas, Nikki’s role quickly expanded, though her core remained most strongly tied to the medium where she was born. While her appearances in films, short stories, and novels cannot be ignored, it was on the airwaves that she came into her own—her voice, quite literally, giving color and warmth to the cerebral world of Ellery Queen. From a radio production standpoint, casting a female lead was practical due to the tonal contrast a woman’s voice offered, but it also opened the door to romantic dynamics that further humanized Ellery. The mystery of Nikki Porter, however, lies not just in her fictional adventures but in her shifting identity across different formats. Every time we meet her, Nikki’s appearance and background seem to change: in one version, she’s a pert blonde; in another, a red-haired secretary from West 94th Street; and in yet another, a wealthy young woman originally named Sheila Potts or Sheila Brent. Despite these discrepancies, one thing remains constant—her charming presence and the subtle tension of her relationship with Ellery. It's an "amazing" trait of the Queen universe that Nikki meets Ellery in no fewer than four different ways, depending on the source—books, radio, or film. This narrative flexibility may have been deliberate, as it added freshness and romantic suspense to their evolving connection. ... Continued here... |
|
|
|
|
| April 1. 2025 | |
 After
serving as managing editor for both Ellery Queen’s
Mystery Magazine (EQMM) and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery
Magazine, Jackie Sherbow is stepping into a new role as EQMM’s
editor (Jan 2025). She becomes only the fourth
person to hold this position in the magazine’s nearly eighty-five-year
history, following in the footsteps of Frederic Dannay, Eleanor Sullivan,
and Janet Hutchings.Sherbow brings a deep appreciation for EQMM’s legacy and a strong connection to its readership, having worked closely with the magazine’s community over the past fifteen years. As she takes on this new responsibility, she is committed to upholding EQMM’s core mission—publishing the best in detective and crime short fiction, championing both established and emerging writers, and maintaining the magazine’s tradition of literary excellence. With EQMM now part of the newly formed publishing group 1 Paragraph, Sherbow looks forward to leading the magazine into an exciting new chapter, embracing change while honoring its rich history. She remains dedicated to bringing readers the high-quality mystery fiction they have come to expect, ensuring that EQMM continues to be a vital and dynamic publication for years to come. More on EQMM's history here... |
|
|
TIP:
Interested readers should know that the
icons/covers of books, used throughout
the website have extra descriptions/information
not included in the text on the same page.
Pointing your cursor at the icon/cover used to
reveal this extra information. To achieve the
same effect
Firefox users can install
an add-on called 'Popup
ALT Attribute'. When installed pointing your cursor at an icon/cover results in showing you the details or additional information. |
|
 |
|
| March 25. 2025 | |
|
For many of our readers, their
fascination with Ellery
Queen either began or
grew with NBC's TV series
Ellery Queen.
We've now added a
dedicated page for the
actors and crew involved in the
TV series. Some of the profiles
were available earlier but are
now brought together in a
"reunion" page. Profiles
will be added in the future... Starting with the actors who shaped 3 added characters all sprung from the minds of Levinson and Link! |
|
| John Hillerman (Dec 20. 1932 - Nov 9. 2017) imperiously nailed the role of radio detective Simon Brimmer, which was the creation of producers Levinson and Link, and very much became an integral part in the success of the series. Every one of these episodes amounted to a mental duel between the two. And Brimmer always lost. ... (click on picture for more) |
 John Hillerman |
| Ken Swofford ( Jul 25. 1933 - Nov 1. 2018), frequently appeared as pugnacious journalist Frank Flannigan in "Ellery Queen" was also a creation of producers Levinson and Link. Swofford said in a 1975 interview, “They tell me I'll be on the show more often. If the show is picked up.” ... (click on picture for more) |
 Ken Swofford |
|
Arch Johnson
( Mar 14. 1922 - Oct 9. 1997). It might surprise some of you to hear there was another recurring character in the series: Deputy Commissioner Hayes. Played by veteran actor Arch Johnson he was in at least 3 episodes. ... (click on picture for more) |
 Arch Johnson |
|
|
|
| March 2. 2025 | |
    |
|
|
For many of our readers, their
fascination with Ellery
Queen either began or
grew with NBC's TV series
Ellery Queen.
It was certainly the incentive
for me to read more books by the
American author. In 1975, Levinson and Link, lifelong Queen fans, were allowed by NBC to do Queen the way they wanted. The result was Ellery Queen which ran for only one full season. Stylistically, the producers went back to the radio show, setting this series in 1947. Although the pilot was based on a Queen novel, and one episode on a short story, the rest of the episodes were original stories, but stories that well-captured the spirit of an Ellery Queen mystery. Jim Hutton played Ellery as a good-natured, absent-minded young man for which there were legitimate bases in the books. Frederic Dannay said Hutton's portrayal reminded him not so much of the fictional Ellery, but of himself at about Hutton's age. Hutton's charm and natural manner played perfectly against David Wayne's crusty Inspector (despite lacking the moustache so often mentioned in the books, the definitive depiction of 'The Old Man'). The show had a sense of good humor, and its setting in 1947 lent a welcome sense of nostalgia to the stories. Although the episodes varied in quality, none was poor, and even the weakest of them is redeemed by the plot, the production values, and the marvelous casts. The series and its episodes are extensively featured on this site in the "Other Media" section, with both spoiler-free and spoiler-containing episode pages. We've now added a dedicated page for the actors and crew involved in the TV series. Some of the profiles were available earlier but are now brought together in a "reunion" page. Profiles will be added in the future... |
|
    |
|
|
|
|
| February 16. 2025 | |
| Coincidence is more common than one might initially think or even want to accept. We are still working on profiles of individuals who were in some way connected to the production of Ellery Queen media, be it film, radio or television. | |
| Over the past few weeks, we have begun working on such a profile for announcer Ken Roberts (Feb 22, 1910 - Jun 19, 2009). This radio and television announcer was known for his work during the Golden Age of Radio. He was an announcer at the start of the radio series “The Adventures of Ellery Queen” (1939 - 1940). |
 Ken Roberts |
| Married several times, he had two children Tony and Nancy, both of whom chose the profession of acting. Coincidentally, son Tony Roberts died of lung cancer in his Manhattan apartment on February 7. 2025. Tony made himself especially deserving on stage. But father Ken's career was also extensive. Read his full profile here ... | |
|
Rex
Marshall was an announcer and program
host. He announced 47 episodes of DuMont's "The Adventures of
Ellery Queen"
(1950 -
1952). Read his full profile here ... |
 Rex Marshall |
| Charles F. Paul was an American composer and organist. Originally providing musical accompaniment to such old-time radio programs as "The Adventures of Ellery Queen" and others, he transitioned to television in the 1950s. Read his full profile here ... |
 Charles F. Paul |
|
|
|
| February 1. 2025 | |
|
Suzanne
Bray is a professor of British
literature and civilization at
the Université Catholique de
Lille in the north of France.
Her research is mainly concerned
with the interaction between
religious thought and popular
culture in twentieth-century
Britain. She has published
extensively in English and in
French on detective fiction,
Anglican thought and several
twentieth-century authors
including C. S. Lewis, Dorothy
L. Sayers and Charles Williams The following text is part of the book The Metaphysical Shudder of the Detective novel (Le Frisson métaphysique du roman policier) (Suzanne Bray, “A ‘Pretext for Something Deeper’: Ellery Queen and the Dead Sea Scrolls”, Estelle Jardon (éd.),Le Frisson métaphysique du roman policier - The Metaphysical Shudder of the Detective Novel, Éditions de l’Université de Lorraine, 2023, p.121-134.) Suzanne had worked a lot on the interaction between popular fiction and religious ideas, although mainly on British, Christian authors. However, when Estelle Jardon invited her to write a chapter for her book, it struck her as an opportunity to write about On the Eighth Day, a novel she has always liked. "I’ve read nearly all of Ellery Queen’s work, most of it a very long time ago". Read the full text here...  |
|
A challenge to the reader: if you think you
could add additional information (even
corrections) please do so...
 You can reach us by clicking
the "Uncle Sam" icon (right).
We've always appreciate
corrections and additional information, however
small the detail may be... |
|
 |
|
| January 12. 2025 | |
|
There is a page where we have also included links to biographies of producers, directors, and announcers who worked on an Ellery Queen production, whether it be film, radio, or a TV series. The term "production men" was commonly used at the time. Historically, women were almost entirely absent from production roles in early radio and television. While actresses were plentiful, women in production roles were comparatively rare. This was especially true in radio and early TV productions, where composers, announcers, directors, producers, and writers were predominantly men. Researching the biographies of these individuals is often more challenging than for actors. While information on actors, both minor and major, is often accessible, it is nearly non-existent for production professionals. However, for some, fairly complete biographies exist online, leaving little to add. |
|
| Three biographies have been added: TV producer Albert K. McCleery, film producer Larry Darmour, and announcer Ernest Chappell. As in many cases, finding information such as the names of their spouses or photographs requires thorough research. While photographs are commonplace today, in the early 20th century, only well-known actors were frequently photographed and published. |
 Albert K. McCleery |
| Equally significant is the role their wives played in their lives. Some wives pursued ambitious careers while married—an uncommon practice at the time. |
 Larry Darmour |
| A few notable connections: McCleery knew Marlene Dietrich and Sarah Churchill (Winston Churchill's daughter). Darmour played a key role in launching Mickey Rooney's career. Ernest Chappell tutored Eleanor Roosevelt for her radio appearances, including her own show. |
 Ernest Chappell |
| Click on their names or photograph to go to their specific pages... | |
|
|
|
| December 23. 2024 | |
|
On January 1. 2025, The Roman Hat Mystery
will enter the public
domain, allowing a new generation of readers and scholars to explore its
intricacies. The novel’s clever plot, rich characterization, and innovative
approach to mystery writing ensure its enduring appeal. The Roman Hat Mystery is more than just a whodunit; it is a cornerstone of the Ellery Queen legacy and a milestone in detective fiction. Its ingenious use of a missing hat as a pivotal clue, combined with its intellectual rigor and fair play, makes it a timeless classic. As the first entry in a storied series, it offers a glimpse into the creative minds of Dannay and Lee, whose contributions continue to shape the genre to this day. |
|
| Click here to continue... | |
|
The most recent addition to the
page now showcases no fewer than
105 covers of the book! Silinterihatun Arvoitus - cover Finnish paperback edition, Saga Egmont, October 31. 2024 |
 |
|
|
|
| December 9. 2024 | |
Ellery Queen’s The Finishing Stroke
(1958) is one of the most memorable entries in the legendary series,
combining suspense, clever plotting, and a fascinating historical backdrop.
Set during the 12 days of Christmas in 1929, the story unfolds in a
snowbound mansion where a joyful holiday party turns sinister. Anonymous
gifts arrive for the hosts, each accompanied by cryptic messages. With every
day, the tension escalates, culminating in a chilling warning: on the
Twelfth Night, someone will die. At the heart of the novel is Ellery Queen’s struggle to unravel a mystery that spans nearly 30 years. The story begins in Queen’s youth and concludes in 1958, with him solving a case that haunted him for decades. The interplay between past and present gives the novel a unique, almost "epic" quality, enriched by its exact historical references and attention to period detail. The plot is driven by the recurring "12" motif—twelve guests, twelve days, twelve mysterious gifts—and a dead man whose identity baffles everyone. As the mounting unease forces the guests to stay in the house, Ellery must confront an intricate web of secrets and suspicions. Critics praised the book's carefully crafted suspense, with The New York Times highlighting its “detailed and delightfully accurate picture of America at the end of the 1920s.” The novel was also celebrated for its inventive structure and gripping surprises. Dorothy Quick of the .... Continue here ... |
|
|
|
|
| November 23. 2024 | |
The Tragedy of X by Ellery Queen (under the
pseudonym Barnaby Ross) is a quintessential 1930s mystery novel that
introduces readers to Drury Lane, an eccentric retired Shakespearean
actor-turned-sleuth. Set in the bustling heart of New York City, the novel
follows the mysterious murder of Harley Longstreet, a prominent and
well-disliked broker, who dies unexpectedly aboard a crowded streetcar.
Though everyone on board saw Longstreet fall, no one witnessed the killer,
marking the start of a baffling murder investigation. The crime is unusual: Longstreet reaches into his pocket for his glasses, only to pull out a bloody hand before collapsing dead on the floor. This grisly scene, punctuated by the revelation of a nicotine-tipped-needle hidden within a cork ball, is Queen’s first experiment with what would later become known as the “dying message.” The novel follows two additional murders on public transportation, as both the killer’s methods and motives unfold with chilling precision. Inspector Thumm and District Attorney Bruno find themselves without leads and turn to Drury Lane, who lives on an estate known as The Hamlet—a grand castle on the Hudson River filled with medieval halls and Shakespearean grandeur. Lane, who is both a celebrated matinee idol and a master of disguise, has an affinity for mysteries, viewing them as a "refinement of human drama.” Seated in his ornate home, Lane listens to the details of the case and almost immediately deduces the identity of the murderer. However, he refrains from disclosing the culprit’s name until he can substantiate his theory with solid evidence, opting to tease out the truth through further investigation. As the novel’s "amateur sleuth," Lane’s exaggerated theatricality makes him a unique figure in crime fiction. Described as "greater than life," he embodies dramatic flair and sophisticated reasoning, coupled with his signature skill in adopting various disguises—a talent reminiscent of Arsène Lupin and Sherlock Holmes. These disguises allow him to infiltrate circles unknown, though critics like Charles Reed Jones expressed frustration at the unrealistic nature of his transformations, which deceive even those closest to the killer. ... Continue here ... |
|
   |
|
Recommended
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introduction |
Floor Plan | Q.B.I. |
List of Suspects | Whodunit?
| Q.E.D. | Kill as
directed | New |
Copyright Copyright © MCMXCIX-MMXXV Ellery Queen, a website on deduction. All rights reserved. |
