The Roman Hat Mystery
The narrative unfolds in a Broadway theatre during a performance of a play titled "Gunplay." The audience is captivated until a commotion arises, leading to the discovery of a dead man, Monte Field, slumped in his seat. The police, led by Officer Doyle, quickly secure the scene, preventing anyone from leaving. The investigation begins with the arrival of Inspector Richard Queen and his son, Ellery Queen. As the investigation progresses, various characters are introduced, including William Pusak, who claims to have witnessed the murder, and several members of the theatre cast, including Frances Ives-Pope, who is connected to the deceased. The police gather testimonies, revealing that Field was a lawyer with a questionable past, having previously been involved in shady dealings. His financial situation is scrutinized, revealing a surprisingly low personal bank account despite his lavish lifestyle. The narrative delves into the relationships Field had, particularly with his former partner Benjamin Morgan, and a woman named Angela Russo, who claims to be engaged to him. Tensions rise as the police uncover inconsistencies in the testimonies and the circumstances surrounding Field's death. The investigation reveals that Field had been seen alive shortly before the murder, and the absence of his tophat raises suspicions about the identity of the murderer. Ellery Queen, with his keen analytical mind, deduces that the murderer must have been present in the theatre during the performance, as all exits were secured. The plot thickens as the Queens piece together clues, including a program with cryptic notes written by Field, hinting at a significant business deal involving a sum of $50,000. As the investigation unfolds, the characters' motives and connections to Field are scrutinized, leading to a web of deceit and betrayal. The narrative culminates in a tense confrontation where the true nature of the relationships and the events leading to Field's murder are revealed, showcasing the intricate dynamics of crime, loyalty, and the pursuit of justice in the world of theatre and law.
By Ellery Queen · First published 1929 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime · 22 chapters · 115,306 words
First lines
"The policeman must oft follow the precept of the ‘bakadori' -- those fool-birds who, though they know disaster awaits them at the hands and clubs of the beachcombers, brave ignominious death to bury their eggs in the sandy shore. So the policeman. All Nippon should not deter him from hatching the egg of thoroughness. " From A Thousand Leaves, by Tamaka Hiero
What this Textopian page supports
The Roman Hat Mystery is listed on Textopian as a novel by Ellery Queen, dated 1929 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Ellery Queen
- Date: 1929 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Literary Fiction
- Length: 115,306 words
- Structure: 22 chapters, 2,172 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Roman Hat Mystery?
- How does this novel by Ellery Queen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Canary Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine
- The Charing Cross Mystery by J. S. Fletcher
- The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine
- Mystery At Lynden Sands by J. J. Connington
- Trents Last Case by E. C. Bentley
- The Markenmore Mystery by J. S. Fletcher
Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around solving a murder case, which is central to the narrative.
- Detective Fiction — Features a detective character, Ellery Queen, who investigates the crime.
- Crime — Involves criminal activities and the investigation of a murder.
- Thriller — Contains suspenseful elements as the investigation unfolds.
Tags
Mystery · Detective Fiction · Classic Whodunit · 1920s Setting · New York City · Private Investigator · Amateur Detective · Clue-based Plot · Red Herring · Misdirection · Plot Twist · Suspenseful
Contents
- In which are Introduced a Theatre-Audience and a Corpse
- In which One Queen Works and Another Queen Watches
- In which a "Parson" Comes to Grief
- In which Many are Called and Two are Chosen
- In which Inspector Queen Conducts some Legal Conversations
- In which the District Attorney Turns Biographer
- The Queens Take Stock
- In which the Queens Meet Mr. Field's very Best Friend
- In which the Mysterious Mr. Michaels Appears
- In which Mr. Field's Tophats Begin to Assume Proportions
- In which the Past Casts a Shadow
- In which the Queens Invade Society
- Queen to Queen
- In which the Hat Grows
- In which an Accusation is Made
- In which the Queens Go to the Theatre
- In which more Hats Grow
- Stalemate
- In which Inspector Queen Conducts more Legal Conversations
- In which Mr. Michaels Writes a Letter
- In which Inspector Queen Makes a Capture-
- And Explains