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A review by art_cart_ron
The Greek Coffin Mystery by Ellery Queen
4.0
My first Ellery Queen novel, and technically his as well (first case chronologically).
This is a mystery lover's mystery. If you want something other than a straight up labyrinth of a mystery, you probably should look elsewhere.
It's a novel from 1932. Anybody expecting 2020 sensibilities may want to talk to their doctor about that expectation. That said - it's considered among the best mystery novels ever written, and the people who broadcast such considerations are obsessively informed.
While characterization was less a priority at that time, especially with a pretty broad cast of characters (my copy had a reference page in the front to help you keep track of them all - and I used it a couple of times), I think there's enough. More elaboration could upset some of the careful conditions of the puzzle box. I like Ellery and his father quite a bit, and look forward to reading more about them.
I didn't find it to be a fast read. It was difficult to motivate myself to choose it over other entertainment at times (I'm not actually a mystery reader most of the time). But at the end of the day, it worked quite well - and was a fair mystery that plays by rules. It spools out great reveals throughout the last 20% or so.
The red herrings are enjoyable and plentiful. I latched onto one and felt anxious that it was too clear and I anticipated disappointment for a little while. That's a heck of a thing to manipulate a reader to feel.
I'll trust Ellery Queen in the future.
This is a mystery lover's mystery. If you want something other than a straight up labyrinth of a mystery, you probably should look elsewhere.
It's a novel from 1932. Anybody expecting 2020 sensibilities may want to talk to their doctor about that expectation. That said - it's considered among the best mystery novels ever written, and the people who broadcast such considerations are obsessively informed.
While characterization was less a priority at that time, especially with a pretty broad cast of characters (my copy had a reference page in the front to help you keep track of them all - and I used it a couple of times), I think there's enough. More elaboration could upset some of the careful conditions of the puzzle box. I like Ellery and his father quite a bit, and look forward to reading more about them.
I didn't find it to be a fast read. It was difficult to motivate myself to choose it over other entertainment at times (I'm not actually a mystery reader most of the time). But at the end of the day, it worked quite well - and was a fair mystery that plays by rules. It spools out great reveals throughout the last 20% or so.
The red herrings are enjoyable and plentiful. I latched onto one and felt anxious that it was too clear and I anticipated disappointment for a little while. That's a heck of a thing to manipulate a reader to feel.
I'll trust Ellery Queen in the future.