The Roman hat mystery

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76339

Title

The Roman hat mystery

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this classic Ellery Queen mystery, Inspector Queen and his son Ellery investigate the murder of Monte Field at the Roman Theatre. Through brilliant deduction, they uncover a web of blackmail, forged documents, and a cleverly staged frame-up involving a mysterious poison. With tight plotting and sharp dialogue, the story delivers a satisfying resolution that showcases the Queen family's mastery of the detective genre.

Summary up to 500 words

In Ellery Queen's *The Roman Hat Mystery*, the investigation begins with the discovery of Monte Field's dead body in the Roman Theatre. Inspector Queen and his son, Ellery, lead the inquiry, interrogating key figures including the suspicious Parson Cazzanelli, lawyer Benjamin Morgan, and the enigmatic Angela Russo. Critical clues emerge from Field's program, which notes the time of his appointment, and the discovery of six missing tickets for empty seats. Inspector Queen deduces that Field was killed by an unknown poison, tetra ethyl lead, and that the murderer was likely someone Field was blackmailing. Facing a lack of physical evidence to secure a conviction, Inspector Queen orchestrates a daring plan. He blackmails Field's former associate, Barry, using forged documents, knowing Barry will attempt to kill him with the same poison. The plan succeeds, leading to Barry's arrest. The narrative explores themes of justice, the nature of evidence, and the psychological profiles of criminals. The story concludes with the Inspector reflecting on his son's crucial role in solving the case, highlighting the collaborative genius of the Queen team. The plot thickens as the Inspector analyzes the timeline established by Field's program, noting the figures '9:30' and '8:15,' which pinpoint the murderer's arrival and the time of death. The investigation involves a meticulous search of the theatre, the collection of audience lists, and the interrogation of witnesses like the orangeade boy, Jess Lynch. Inspector Queen also employs a clever frame-up involving Benjamin Morgan, using an anonymous letter to plant a false trail, while simultaneously ensuring Morgan's silence regarding Field's blackmail activities. The climax occurs when Barry, desperate to silence the new blackmailer (Inspector Queen's agent Charley Michaels), attempts to use the poison on Michaels. Detective Ritter intervenes, capturing Barry with the poison apparatus in hand. Ultimately, the case is solved not through a single clue, but through a combination of deduction, psychological manipulation, and the Inspector's willingness to manufacture evidence to catch a guilty man, a feat he credits entirely to his son's strategic suggestions.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery