This is a collection of 18 short stories involving Ellery Queen and crime. Compact stories of blackmail, kidnapping, murder, embezzlement and more.

In the embezzlement case, Ellery finds himself working with a policeman from England who is well-versed in Shakespeare. The case involves some indiscreet letters written by a young lady of a highly placed family. She is due to marry into another high ranking family. If the letters become public or known to her intended's family, all sort of scandal will happen and the wedding wuld be cancelled.

Of course it isn't a simple matter to ask the man they were written to to hand them over. It seems they were stolen from him.

The British policeman is found dead in his room and it is determined to be suicide. Or is it? Ellery thinks not.

These short stories were entertaining and complete mini-mysteries. Nice! ( )

I feel that Ellery Queen, like several other writers, was really better in the short story form, and these are some of his best, usually neat little mysteries solved in a few pages on the basis on one significant clue. They are also excellent examples of briskly introduced but memorable characters, such as Daisy Brothers/, the stripper widow of a coal millionaire. ( )

A 1955 collection of EQ’s short stories, titled Queen’s Bureau of Investigation. The only one I came close to solving was the first one and it was over before I realized I wasn’t reading a full-length novel. Very enjoyable quick read – and it fulfilled two of my reading challenges – the ‘Q’ title in A-Z Reading Challenge and the ‘1955’ in Read the First Years of your Life Challenge.

Read this if: you enjoy short mysteries such as those found in Ellery Queen or Alfred Hitchcock magazine; or want short, intelligent challenges. 3 stars ( )