A review by craigkingsman
The Dutch Shoe Mystery by Ellery Queen

4.0

Ellery Queen mysteries are classics. The Dutch Shoe Mystery, first published in 1931 is a prime example. An elderly woman, the benefactor to a local hospital, is in a coma due to a fall. As she is readied for surgery, someone strangles her. The entire hospital staff and one of the patients, a local gangster, are suspects. The clues (or clews as the authors wrote it), lead no where. Ellery and his police inspector father are frustrated. When their houseboy says something, it breaks the case for Ellery. As in every Ellery Queen, there is a point where the authors stop the story to tell you that you have all the clues and it's time for you to figure it out. I had two suspects at that point, one that was correct.

While not the first Ellery Queen mystery, The Dutch Shoe Mystery can still be a place to start enjoying the series.