A review by robinwalter
The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

An engaging mystery but  the ingrained casual misogyny and racism of the Queen debut was a bit of a surprise. I knew that a book written in the late 1920s would be different in that regard, but to have lengthy passages extolling the way their POC houseboy idolised his massa while repeatedly comparing him physically to a monkey was still hard to stomach. And women casually contemned with almost every mention.