The Egyptian Cross Mystery

An Ellery Queen Mystery, Book 5

By: Ellery Queen

Narrated by: Richard Waterhouse

The Queens are intrigued when a grisly murder mars a small town's Christmas.

It's Christmas in Chicago, and Detective Richard Queen is enjoying a busman's holiday at a conference on gangland violence - but his son, amateur sleuth Ellery, is bored silly. Until, that is, Ellery reads of an unusual killing in rural Arroyo, West Virginia. A schoolmaster has been found beheaded and crucified. Ellery hustles his father into his roadster and heads east, since there is nothing he'd like better for Christmas than a juicy, gruesome puzzle.

When the Queens arrive in Arroyo, they learn that the victim was an eccentric atheist, but not the sort to make enemies. What initially looks to be the work of a sadistic cult turns out to be something far more sinister. In the months ahead, more victims will turn up all over the world - all killed in the same horrifying manner. It will take several bodies before Ellery divines the clue that unlocks the mystery of the Christmas crucifixion.

©1943 Ellery Queen (P)2013 AudioGO

how come this says optional, if required?

Quirky, intricate, just enough horror. (I think I put it succuntly enough not to need 20 words!)

Much too long. Labours the point.

I finished this book and was glad to end it. It could be half the length and more interesting.
It’s a gruesome story that has its roots in reality. If you enjoy procedural police/crime stories this one will interest you. There’s too much of it for me, but if you listen well and ask yourself some questions about the homicides you will be able to identify the culprit.

full of suspense, cleverly written

cleverly written and engaging. one of the best Ellery Queen thrillers I've read in the series. it encourages me to read more

Who is who?

great story, narrator better than when he narrated Calamity Town, but, he should research the book so he could pronounce words correctly.

Kept my Attention

This is one of those rare books in which I could not stop listening to it. Yes, very long in explanations, as was the style of the early Ellery Queen books, but that is what I love about these books. Definitely not like modern writing where action takes the place of cognitive deduction. A little on the gory side…but it IS a murder mystery after all. My only regret is that these books are out of print. I love to go back and re-read certain parts. More difficult to do in audiobook form.