Like many 'book' detectives, my introduction to Ellery Queen was through other media, in this case the 1970's TV show. That show turned me into a fan. I was surprised when I started reading the novels at how more complex Ellery was in them. This novel is my favorite of the novels. I actually did figure out who the killer was, only to be surprised when someone was arrested, so the last part of the book was waiting to see how the killer would be caught. But there's a final twist, as that doesn't really happen, at least in the way we think. Another interesting thing about this is we never really get to see any of this from the killer's perspective. There is never a final mystery novel style confrontation with the killer, and any motives for his/her actions is merely speculation and theories. I don't believe the arrested suspect actually killed anyone. I think he knew who the killer was for a while, quite possibly before the novel even began, and probably realized he was at least partially responsible for what happened. But he couldn't fix the problem, and didn't want to see the killer arrested, put through what would have been a media circus of a trial, and possibly executed. This is why I don't believe he killed the person whose death brought the police to his doorstep, so to speak. That would have been a stupid move if he was trying to hide his and the killer's involvement. I noticed you used some stills from the TV movie adaptation, 'Don't Look Behind You'. I've seen this, but fortunately it was long after reading the novel. I saw it on UA-cam, but I'm not sure it's still available. Either way, I don't recommend it, or at least would advise the audience to read the book first. Something I realized at the very end of the video: Some of the victims have alliterative names, like Archibald Abernathy. It turns out this has nothing to do with the actual murders, but maybe it was another 'shout-out' to the ABC Murders.
I also would not recommend "Ellery Queen Don't Look Behind You" as it replaces the Cat with a Hydra for starters. But it is available still on UA-cam. It's the other adaptation of this novel that doesn't appear to be anywhere. I think not having any sort of perspective from the actual murderer is both interesting and frustrating. Frustrating because we don't know but interesting because it is symbolic of them not being able to speak and being sidelined and ignored.
Love this review! Thanks it rekindled my interst in Ellery Queen. Do "The Finishing Stroke" next. It's, imo, a Queen take on Christies' Ten Little Indians. What say you?
The Finishing Stroke is one of my favorite Ellery Queen novels. It's a Christmas/New Years one. I've already picked the Christmas and New Year's book reviews but I am not at all indebted to the New Year's one so maybe when it gets closer I'll put a poll up between the Finishing Stroke and the other book and see which one wins. Finishing Stroke doesn't have a milestone anniversary until 2028 but I don't want to wait that long to cover this one.
@@nonadeplume1145 I decided that the Finishing Stroke is definitely the Christmas or New Years book this year (it works for either holiday). I don't want to hold off until 2028 for this one and since you're passionate about it, I might as well.
Let me first write that I'm so grateful for these longer reviews. I made CoMT my audiobook companion for running this week and thoroughly enjoyed it. As you said, the story feels very modern and captures the life cycle of a moral panic / local news hype storm excellently. SPOILER BLOCK I managed to guess the culprit fairly early on, albeit because I focused on the mechanics of the murders (ie, what sort of person would a wide swath of humanity be most likely to lower its guard around). I ruled out the men immediately, especially because the pervasive fear would probably make the female victims more cautious. Four of Hearts is the only other Queen I've read thus far, and I solved that one before the ending as well, but CoMT's solution was much more satisfying. It's a hybrid of a manhunt and a detective novel, but as you noted there are enough clues and they're placed quite carefully. I'm sure you know that Dario Argento named his second giallo film (Cat o' Nine Tails) after this book, but I couldn't help but think of his entire animal trilogy and Deep Red after reading it. Of course giallo as a genre grew out of detective and mystery paperbacks, but the lines from this novel in particular to early Argento are readily apparent. It takes someone like him to really infuse the words on the page with the rich visual symbolism necessary to make it pop.
Even though CoMT is a mystery, I don't believe the mystery is the main premise so it is perfectly fine to be able to solve it before the end. The point is never made in the novel and I never really thought of it until you mentioned it that the murderer is someone victims would let their guard down around. Excellent point! Four of Hearts is a good, not great Queen novel. The plot there is so bizarre and when that happens, it really limits the number of suspect who could have done it. CoMT is much, much more satisfying. And yes I am familiar with Dario Argento. I can't believe I didn't think of his film until you brought it up.
Very interesting! I read this many years ago.
Like many 'book' detectives, my introduction to Ellery Queen was through other media, in this case the 1970's TV show. That show turned me into a fan. I was surprised when I started reading the novels at how more complex Ellery was in them. This novel is my favorite of the novels. I actually did figure out who the killer was, only to be surprised when someone was arrested, so the last part of the book was waiting to see how the killer would be caught. But there's a final twist, as that doesn't really happen, at least in the way we think. Another interesting thing about this is we never really get to see any of this from the killer's perspective. There is never a final mystery novel style confrontation with the killer, and any motives for his/her actions is merely speculation and theories. I don't believe the arrested suspect actually killed anyone. I think he knew who the killer was for a while, quite possibly before the novel even began, and probably realized he was at least partially responsible for what happened. But he couldn't fix the problem, and didn't want to see the killer arrested, put through what would have been a media circus of a trial, and possibly executed. This is why I don't believe he killed the person whose death brought the police to his doorstep, so to speak. That would have been a stupid move if he was trying to hide his and the killer's involvement.
I noticed you used some stills from the TV movie adaptation, 'Don't Look Behind You'. I've seen this, but fortunately it was long after reading the novel. I saw it on UA-cam, but I'm not sure it's still available. Either way, I don't recommend it, or at least would advise the audience to read the book first.
Something I realized at the very end of the video: Some of the victims have alliterative names, like Archibald Abernathy. It turns out this has nothing to do with the actual murders, but maybe it was another 'shout-out' to the ABC Murders.
I also would not recommend "Ellery Queen Don't Look Behind You" as it replaces the Cat with a Hydra for starters. But it is available still on UA-cam. It's the other adaptation of this novel that doesn't appear to be anywhere. I think not having any sort of perspective from the actual murderer is both interesting and frustrating. Frustrating because we don't know but interesting because it is symbolic of them not being able to speak and being sidelined and ignored.
Love this review! Thanks it rekindled my interst in Ellery Queen. Do "The Finishing Stroke" next. It's, imo, a Queen take on Christies' Ten Little Indians. What say you?
The Finishing Stroke is one of my favorite Ellery Queen novels. It's a Christmas/New Years one. I've already picked the Christmas and New Year's book reviews but I am not at all indebted to the New Year's one so maybe when it gets closer I'll put a poll up between the Finishing Stroke and the other book and see which one wins. Finishing Stroke doesn't have a milestone anniversary until 2028 but I don't want to wait that long to cover this one.
@@summationgathering This is the book which started my love of Christmas murders.The Finishing Stroke is probably my favorite Ellery Queen.
@@nonadeplume1145 I decided that the Finishing Stroke is definitely the Christmas or New Years book this year (it works for either holiday). I don't want to hold off until 2028 for this one and since you're passionate about it, I might as well.
Let me first write that I'm so grateful for these longer reviews. I made CoMT my audiobook companion for running this week and thoroughly enjoyed it. As you said, the story feels very modern and captures the life cycle of a moral panic / local news hype storm excellently.
SPOILER BLOCK
I managed to guess the culprit fairly early on, albeit because I focused on the mechanics of the murders (ie, what sort of person would a wide swath of humanity be most likely to lower its guard around). I ruled out the men immediately, especially because the pervasive fear would probably make the female victims more cautious. Four of Hearts is the only other Queen I've read thus far, and I solved that one before the ending as well, but CoMT's solution was much more satisfying. It's a hybrid of a manhunt and a detective novel, but as you noted there are enough clues and they're placed quite carefully.
I'm sure you know that Dario Argento named his second giallo film (Cat o' Nine Tails) after this book, but I couldn't help but think of his entire animal trilogy and Deep Red after reading it. Of course giallo as a genre grew out of detective and mystery paperbacks, but the lines from this novel in particular to early Argento are readily apparent. It takes someone like him to really infuse the words on the page with the rich visual symbolism necessary to make it pop.
Even though CoMT is a mystery, I don't believe the mystery is the main premise so it is perfectly fine to be able to solve it before the end. The point is never made in the novel and I never really thought of it until you mentioned it that the murderer is someone victims would let their guard down around. Excellent point! Four of Hearts is a good, not great Queen novel. The plot there is so bizarre and when that happens, it really limits the number of suspect who could have done it. CoMT is much, much more satisfying. And yes I am familiar with Dario Argento. I can't believe I didn't think of his film until you brought it up.