Series
Publication
Penzler Publishers (2020), Edition: Reprint, 288 pages
Original publication date
1933
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Genres
Subjects
Description
Ellery Queen and his father take refuge with a killer in this classic manor-house mystery starring one of crime fiction's most legendary sleuths. Driving along a lonely mountain road, detective Ellery Queen and his father, Richard, round a bend and nearly run headlong into a forest fire. To escape, they race up the mountain and take shelter at the cliffside manor of Dr. John Xavier, a surgeon of considerable repute. Ellery quickly suspects something strange is going on inside the house--from Xavier's bizarre references to his work to the pair of eyes Ellery sees burning in the dark--but before he can confront Xavier about what he's doing in his laboratory, the good doctor is found shot dead while playing solitaire--and the only clue is a ripped six of spades. With the help of his father, a gruff police inspector, Ellery sets about solving the crime. The suspects include the victim's valet, a pair of conjoined twins, and the mysterious Mr. Smith. In this game, the stakes are life and death. One of the earliest novels starring the storied Ellery Queen, The Siamese Twin Mystery is a classic golden-age murder mystery. From the manor-house setting to the gothic atmosphere, it presents an Edgar Award-winning author at his very best. … (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member mmyoung
In the reviewer’s opinion there is little reason to read this book unless one is a particular fan of Queen, or feels a pressing need to read every book in this series, or is interesting in development of American detective stories or wishes to peer into one aspect of popular culture at the time
Both authors center most of their books around a detective who, the reader is told, is brilliant. Stout manages to demonstrate Wolfe’s brilliance so convincingly that it is often only later that the reader notices any holes in his arguments or gaps in his logic. Queen’s deductions not only require credulity they are too often obviously overstretched or simply wrong.
The broad setup of this book is strangely reminiscent of Murder in the Calais Coach/Murder on the Orient Express. In both cases the detective (Poirot/Queen) is cut off from the outside world with a small number of people among whom is a murderer. In both cases the detectives are without access to information, backup, and forensic analysts. While Christie’s book is by no means among my favourites it is technically competent. Queen’s is neither technically competent nor well-paced and contains some egregious forensic/medical errors and a truly disturbing level of prejudice. In addition to the normal catalog of simplifications, over-generalizations and stereotypes the reader comes to expect in books published in this period there are constant, incessant and gratuitous reminders of how “fat” one of the characters is. There is scarcely a passage in which that character appears in which his weight is not brought up--often in the most vivid and denigrating fashion.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Queen (the detective) overlooks a simple and obvious clue/detail when the first body is discovered. This reviewer noticed it immediately for the simple reason that the knowledge necessary to “catch” the clue was central to discovering the murder in an earlier Queen novel. That Ellery Queen forgets and then remembers that diabetes speeds up the onset of rigor mortis allows him to first ‘buy into’ clumsy attempts to frame different individuals as murderers and then to ‘brilliantly’ debunk those same attempts. The reader can be forgiven for not knowing or remembering a rather obscure forensic fact but an individual (Queen) whose memory and knowledge of such details is central to his characterization cannot. Queen also apparently thinks that kleptomania is hardly distinguishable from the type of mania that leads to paranoia and murderous rages.
In addition to all of the other problems in this book there is basic lack of good sense on the part of everyone unable to leave a house where a murder has taken place. Ellery is at one point surprised to find that one of the women has locked her bedroom door before going to sleep. The reviewer was surprised to find out that not everyone did so. Nor did any of the characters feel a need to avoid being alone with any of their housemates.
In addition to the problems touched on above this book is dreadfully paced. Pages are devoted to the literary equivalent of treading water. Finally, after the author demonstrating that Ellery is not a particularly a good detective by having him “solve” the murder incorrectly several times, the real murderer finally confesses under laughably unbelievable circumstances and brings about her own death so that Ellery has no need to find the kind of clues or information that would have been necessary to actually arrest the culprit.
Five minutes after finishing the book the reader will realize that the fire that destroyed the house in which most of the action took place also destroyed most of the evidence against the murderer. The only persons left who could be charged with a crime are Ellery and his father since between them they brought about the death of the brother of murdered man.
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the book was written. Although The Siamese Twin Mystery was published within a year of the first Nero Wolfe novel there is little to suggest that Queen and Wolfe lived in the same city. And while Stout’s sparse style reveals an amazing amount of about characters Queen’s more convoluted writing results in two-dimensional characters that are often little more than stereotypes.Both authors center most of their books around a detective who, the reader is told, is brilliant. Stout manages to demonstrate Wolfe’s brilliance so convincingly that it is often only later that the reader notices any holes in his arguments or gaps in his logic. Queen’s deductions not only require credulity they are too often obviously overstretched or simply wrong.
The broad setup of this book is strangely reminiscent of Murder in the Calais Coach/Murder on the Orient Express. In both cases the detective (Poirot/Queen) is cut off from the outside world with a small number of people among whom is a murderer. In both cases the detectives are without access to information, backup, and forensic analysts. While Christie’s book is by no means among my favourites it is technically competent. Queen’s is neither technically competent nor well-paced and contains some egregious forensic/medical errors and a truly disturbing level of prejudice. In addition to the normal catalog of simplifications, over-generalizations and stereotypes the reader comes to expect in books published in this period there are constant, incessant and gratuitous reminders of how “fat” one of the characters is. There is scarcely a passage in which that character appears in which his weight is not brought up--often in the most vivid and denigrating fashion.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Queen (the detective) overlooks a simple and obvious clue/detail when the first body is discovered. This reviewer noticed it immediately for the simple reason that the knowledge necessary to “catch” the clue was central to discovering the murder in an earlier Queen novel. That Ellery Queen forgets and then remembers that diabetes speeds up the onset of rigor mortis allows him to first ‘buy into’ clumsy attempts to frame different individuals as murderers and then to ‘brilliantly’ debunk those same attempts. The reader can be forgiven for not knowing or remembering a rather obscure forensic fact but an individual (Queen) whose memory and knowledge of such details is central to his characterization cannot. Queen also apparently thinks that kleptomania is hardly distinguishable from the type of mania that leads to paranoia and murderous rages.
In addition to all of the other problems in this book there is basic lack of good sense on the part of everyone unable to leave a house where a murder has taken place. Ellery is at one point surprised to find that one of the women has locked her bedroom door before going to sleep. The reviewer was surprised to find out that not everyone did so. Nor did any of the characters feel a need to avoid being alone with any of their housemates.
In addition to the problems touched on above this book is dreadfully paced. Pages are devoted to the literary equivalent of treading water. Finally, after the author demonstrating that Ellery is not a particularly a good detective by having him “solve” the murder incorrectly several times, the real murderer finally confesses under laughably unbelievable circumstances and brings about her own death so that Ellery has no need to find the kind of clues or information that would have been necessary to actually arrest the culprit.
Five minutes after finishing the book the reader will realize that the fire that destroyed the house in which most of the action took place also destroyed most of the evidence against the murderer. The only persons left who could be charged with a crime are Ellery and his father since between them they brought about the death of the brother of murdered man.
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LibraryThing member rabidsamfan
One of the most atmospheric of the Ellery Queen mysteries, the action is haunted by the forest fire which prevents any help from reaching the remote house where Ellery and Inspector Queen have stumbled onto a strange house party.
LibraryThing member Jiraiya
I thought I had solved the murder here. I thought this would be the easiest - read worst - mystery ever. The fact that it's not the cleverest either doesn't deter from the fact that the actual worth of the story is readable. The writers tried to add some filler to stretch this book to acceptable
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proportions. Nonetheless (SPOILERS) the old french adage "cherchez la femme" is doubly meant. I leave you with a recommendation and my taciturnity; I'll say no more. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
On their way back to New York from a vacation in Canada, Ellery Queen and his father, Inspector Queen, are trapped on a burning mountain seemingly with no way out. The only way to go is up, where they discover a large house with strange occupants. The owner, Dr. Xavier, reluctantly opens his home
Ellery Queen mysteries are usually convoluted, and this one is even more convoluted than most. The dying man leaves a cryptic clue, the murderer leaves complex red herrings, and another unrelated crime complicates matters. All the while the fire keeps creeping closer. It's so poorly plotted that it's laughable. Just ask the friends who listened to most of this with me on a road trip.
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to them when he realizes that fire gives him no alternative. Dr. Xavier is murdered during the night, and the investigation gives Ellery and the Inspector something to do while they're trapped by the fire.Ellery Queen mysteries are usually convoluted, and this one is even more convoluted than most. The dying man leaves a cryptic clue, the murderer leaves complex red herrings, and another unrelated crime complicates matters. All the while the fire keeps creeping closer. It's so poorly plotted that it's laughable. Just ask the friends who listened to most of this with me on a road trip.
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LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
This is one of the earlier mysteries in the Ellery Queen series. It seemed to have more drama, was more drawn out in descriptions and in action.
Ellery and his dad, Inspector Queen, are on the way home from a vacation, driving through a mountain area. They find they have gotten caught in a wild fire
The inhabitants are an odd group: Dr. Xavier - the owner, his wife - who appears jealous of one of their guests, Dr. Percival Holmes - assistant to the Dr., Mark Xavier - Dr. Xavier's brother, Mrs. Marie Carreau - the guest Mrs. Xavier is jealous of, Francis and Julian Carreau - sons of Mrs. Carreau, Ann Forrest - Mrs. Carreau's secretary, and a Mr. Smith - who seems to have some sort of connection. There is also the domestic staff. It is quite a cast.
The day after the Queens' arrival, Dr. Xavier is discovered dead in his study. He is clutching a clue - the dying clue. When Inspector Queen calls down the hill to notify the local law, he is told that the fire is getting out of control and there is no idea when someone can make it up the mountain. the Inspector is given authority over the situation.
The various characters seem to have secrets of their own, and there is a strange atmosphere to the house...and it isn't just due to the smoke and increasing heat of the approaching fire. This all plays together to add tension to the story. Will the mystery be solved? Will the fire be extinguished? Will the characters survive. All the while there is the question of who is the murderer and why.
This seem to have a great many more twists and turns, and a few dead ends, that usual. It was not a book to be read quickly due to so much going on.
Ellery and his dad, Inspector Queen, are on the way home from a vacation, driving through a mountain area. They find they have gotten caught in a wild fire
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and end up taking shelter at a home that is built at the top of a mountain. The inhabitants are an odd group: Dr. Xavier - the owner, his wife - who appears jealous of one of their guests, Dr. Percival Holmes - assistant to the Dr., Mark Xavier - Dr. Xavier's brother, Mrs. Marie Carreau - the guest Mrs. Xavier is jealous of, Francis and Julian Carreau - sons of Mrs. Carreau, Ann Forrest - Mrs. Carreau's secretary, and a Mr. Smith - who seems to have some sort of connection. There is also the domestic staff. It is quite a cast.
The day after the Queens' arrival, Dr. Xavier is discovered dead in his study. He is clutching a clue - the dying clue. When Inspector Queen calls down the hill to notify the local law, he is told that the fire is getting out of control and there is no idea when someone can make it up the mountain. the Inspector is given authority over the situation.
The various characters seem to have secrets of their own, and there is a strange atmosphere to the house...and it isn't just due to the smoke and increasing heat of the approaching fire. This all plays together to add tension to the story. Will the mystery be solved? Will the fire be extinguished? Will the characters survive. All the while there is the question of who is the murderer and why.
This seem to have a great many more twists and turns, and a few dead ends, that usual. It was not a book to be read quickly due to so much going on.
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
1613161557 / 9781613161555
Physical description
288 p.; 5.3 inches
Pages
288