The 9-word clue was one of 9 cryptic notes that had been sent to taunt Inspector Queen and Ellery 9 days after the murder. Nino Importuna had been obsessed with the number. He had lived by it. Now the killer who brought a trio of gory deaths to Nino's 9th-floor penthouse at No. 99 East was camouflaging his identity in a jungle of 9s. And daring Ellery to find him. The case was destined to be a dazzling contest of wits-to the 9th degree!

It all begins when Ellery Queen receives a manuscript that appears to be a genuine Sherlock Holmes novel written by John H. Watson, M.D. Where did it come from? The manuscript itself tells the long-concealed story of how Holmes stalked Jack the Ripper—and discovered who he was! Now you can follow Ellery Queen—the logical successor to Sherlock Holmes—as he literally follows the greatest detective of them all. The story of “Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper” is presented with the full approval of the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and is a legitimate addition to the Holmes canon.

At last another full-length mystery story by Ellery Queen — his first in three years.Observe Queen, detective, as he realizes that a murder is to be committed, as he watches the supposed murderer before the crime, as be sees the death but even then isn’t sure of the who and the why. Follow the intensely dramatic trial scene, then unravel with Queen the solution which bring happiness to those who should be happy and punishment to those who deserve it.Of course, Ellery Queen didn’t want to get into all this trouble, for the went to the small town of Wrightsville under a pseudonym to write a novel. Neither did he intend to fall for Patricia nor did he want to get in the middle of malicious gossip with wicked results in a town turned topsy-turvy by a murder.“Calamity Town” has action, excitement, novelty, atmosphere. With some security, the publisher queries: “Will this be considered a minor classic in the field of the American mystery novel?”

JanuaryJanus, the god of two faces, and a college alumni class introduce Ellery to a secret society...FebruaryEllery wrestles with the ghost of a President of the United States to solve a buried coin mystery...MarchA stolen income-tax form, a kleptomaniac, a bookie, and an artist become the ingredients of a murder...AprilEllery unravels an old crime with the help of the Roman Emperor, Caligula, and a pair of dice...MayA battle-scarred bugle and three Civil War veterans almost baffle Ellery...JuneThe goddess Juno, shades of the Borgias, and a modern Helen of Troy play havoc with a June wedding...JulyA stone gargoyle, falling from a gloomy, Gothiclike tower, nearly causes sudden death... AugustIn the moonstone month, Ellery hunts for buried treasure... SeptemberA Missouri professor, interested in Edgar Allen Poe, leads Ellery to a frightening conclusion... OctoberA Halloween party turns out to be more grim than expected... NovemberEllery and Nikki deliver Thanksgiving baskets to the needy and discover a dangerous secret... DecemberThe famous jewel thief, Comus, nearly outwits Ellery in a Christmas mystery of dolls, danger and deception...

Ellery Queen’s subtle attack on his longest and most complicated ease to dale developed out of a baffling series of murders in New York City. Victim followed victim with no apparent connection except that each was found strangled by a cord of India silk. The city’s tension mounted to mob hysteria. First in a cartoonist’s drawing, then in the feverish minds of the citizens, especially in that of Ellery himself, stalked the CAT, adding a new tail with each new murder, brandishing also a huge question mark — who would be the next victim?Clues were nonexistent. Ellery had to employ all his canny skill and play every hunch before he could find even a hopeful direction in which to move. Then he opened the throttle, using the police, the mayor, the psychiatrists, even the enamored heirs of two of the CAT’S victims, to speed into a climax as astounding as it is incontrovertible.

Who are you, Malone? Just a little while ago you were a cop. That was before the two punks and their girl hit town. That was before they boosted a payroll and shot down a man and took your 9-year-old daughter as insurance to cover their getaway. Now you're just a man. Scared. Not for yourself-that would be easy. But for your child, the only thing in the world you love enough to make you play ball with the kind of scum you've hated all your life.

"Zufall?" Ellery seufzte. "Würden Sie es auch als Zufall bezeichnen, wenn ich Ihnen erzählte, daß vor einem halben Jahr in West Virginia ein Mord verübt worden ist, zu dessen Besonderheiten die Kreuzigung des zuvor enthaupteten Opfers an einem T­förmigen Wegweiser zählte, der widerum an eine T-förmigen Kreuzung stand. Nicht zu vergessen das T, das der Mörder mit dem Blut des Toten an die Tür seines kaum hundert Meter entfernten Hauses geschmiert hat?" Ellery Queen ist das gemeinsame Pseudonym von Frederic Danney (1905 - 1982) und Manfred Bennington Lee (1905 - 1971), die zu den einflussreichsten und produktivsten Kriminalromanautoren gehören. Die der Übersetzung zugrundeliegende amerikanische Originalausgabe erschien 1932 unter dem Titel »The Egyptian Cross Mystery« bei Frederick A. Stokes, New York.

»Laßt uns über die Verdienste von Mr. Field zu einem passenderen Zeitpunkt reden«, sagte der Inspektor ernst. »Ich weiß eine Menge über ihn, und nichts ist besonders erfreulich.«Er drehte sich um und wollte schon weggehen, als Ellery, der die ganze Zeit angestrengt auf die Leiche und den Sitz starrte, fragte: »Ist hier schon etwas entfernt worden, Dad – irgend etwas?«Inspektor Queen wandte sich um. »Wie kommst du zu dieser klugen Frage, junger Freund?« »Wenn mich nicht alles täuscht«, antwortete Ellery leicht blasiert, »liegt der Zylinder von dem Knaben weder unter dem Sitz noch auf dem Boden neben ihm oder sonstwo in der näheren Umgebung.« »Das ist dir also auch aufgefallen, Ellery?« sagte der Inspektor grimmig. Es war das erste, was ich sah, als ich mich runterbeugte, um ihn zu untersuchen – oder vielmehr das erste, was ich nicht sah.«Ellery Queen ist das gemeinsame Pseudonym von Frederic Danney (1905-1982) und Manfred Bennington Lee (1905-1971). Sie gehören mit zu den einflußreichsten und produktivsten Kriminalromanautoren. »Der mysteriöse Zylinder«, der erste Band der Reihe der Ellery-Queen-Romane, liegt hier erstmals in ungekürzter deutscher Übersetzung vor.Von Ellery Queen ist in der DuMont’s KriminalBibliothek ebenfalls erschienen: »Sherlock Holmes und Jack the Ripper« (Band 1017).© 1929 by Ellery Queen

Über Langeweile konnten sich die sechs geladenen Gäste ganz sicher nicht beklagen. Dem einen wurde Gift serviert – da waren’s nur noch fünf. Ein anderer wurde aufgespießt – da waren’s nur noch vier. Rechnet man den verflixt gut aussehenden Gastgeber Dr. Jack Richmond und seine Gattin noch dazu, dann waren’s wieder sechs.Detektivleutnant Masters begann aber gar nicht erst zu rechnen – er kombinierte. Er kam der Lösung auch verteufelt nahe, aber erst ein vergessener Hausschlüssel half ihm, das Rätsel zu lösen.Titel der amerikanischen OriginalausgabeBLOW HOT BLOW COLDCopyright © 1964 by Ellery QueenDeutsche Übersetzung von Gisela Stege

`Heredera que huye, padre implacable, madre angustiada, novio en un aprieto. ¿Qué más se puede pedir para empezar?`. Pues aún hay más: una escritora empeñada en contar una buena historia, un hombre dedicado a la adoración del cuerpo, a quien le diagnotican un cáncer, quizás, un impostor, un cadáver fugitivo y un detective kantiano de los que piensan que la razón pura es el bien esencial para descubrir las trampas de este caótico mundo.

Ellery Queen y su padre deben poner todo su ingenio a trabajar para resolver un caso en el que todo parece duplicado: los muertos, los hermanos, las claves, las soluciones y quizá incluso los culpables. Pero no hay nada que se resista a la sagacidad e imaginación de los Queen.

No suspense collection is complete without this anthology. Originally published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, the stories in this volume represent many of the biggest names in detective and suspense fiction: Ellery Queen, Harold Q. Masur, Celia Fremlin, Jack Ritchie, Patricia Highsmith and Bill Pronzini are only a few of the prize-winning authors in this amazing volume.

a book to remember...In this book you will investigate crime with such Famous Detectives asPerry MasonNero WolfeEllery Queenand read stories of detection and suspense by such Famous Mystery Writers asAgatha ChristieJohn Dickson CarrGeorge Harmon CoxeCharlotte ArmstrongHugh Pentecostand be surprised at tales of mystery and crime by such Famous Literary Figures asW. Somerset MaughamBen Hecht,John Van DrutenA book to remember, a book to read and reread — a book to treasure and keep permanently in your library...