14 best ellery queens

Ellery Queen is a pseudonym used by two American cousins, Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee, who were prolific authors of detective fiction in the 20th century. They are best known for their contributions to the mystery and detective genres and for creating the fictional detective Ellery Queen.

Key points about Ellery Queen:

1. Ellery Queen Character: The central character in their mystery novels is Ellery Queen, a brilliant amateur detective. He is often portrayed as a writer and occasionally assists his father, Inspector Richard Queen of the New York City Police Department, in solving complex and puzzling murder cases.

2. Collaborative Writing: Dannay and Lee collaborated on writing under the pseudonym Ellery Queen. Their partnership began in the 1920s and continued for several decades. Together, they wrote numerous novels, short stories, and radio scripts featuring Ellery Queen.

3. Mystery Series: The Ellery Queen series includes over 30 novels and numerous short stories. Some of their most famous works include "The Roman Hat Mystery" (1929), "The French Powder Mystery" (1930), and "The Greek Coffin Mystery" (1932).These novels often follow the classic whodunit style of mystery storytelling.

4. Fair Play: Ellery Queen stories are known for their emphasis on "fair play." The authors provided readers with all the necessary clues to solve the mystery themselves, challenging them to deduce the solution before Ellery Queen reveals it.

5. Variety of Formats: In addition to novels, the cousins wrote short stories, radio scripts, and even worked on the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, which featured stories by other mystery authors.

6. Adaptations: The popularity of Ellery Queen's character led to adaptations in other media, including radio shows and television series. The most notable adaptation was the 1975-1976 television series "Ellery Queen," where the character was portrayed by Jim Hutton.

7. Legacy: Ellery Queen's contributions to the mystery genre had a significant impact. They were influential in popularizing the detective genre in the United States and helped shape the conventions of modern mystery writing.

Overall, Ellery Queen, the fictional detective and the pseudonym behind the two authors, played a significant role in the development and popularization of traditional detective fiction. Their works continue to be enjoyed by fans of the genre for their intricate puzzles and engaging storytelling.