Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (November 1965)

 Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (November 1965) edited by Ellery Queen

Another in a small batch of EQMM editions that I picked up some time ago. A very good selection of stories this time--with just one that I wouldn't recommend highly ("The Seeker of Ultimates"--which I'm very doubtful is a mystery at all) . The Pentecost is advertised as a "complete action-suspense novel," but at 58 pages I just don't see how you can call it a novel. Even novella would be pushing it. I'm calling it a long short story--and a terrific debut for the lead character. It is the first appearance of Pentecost's artist turned amateur detective, John Jericho. Here, he is on a quest to find the man who killed a woman on the street outside his apartment--in full view of about 30 witnesses. None of whom will speak. The pastiche of Poirot is delightful. And I enjoyed the nonfiction pieces by Gardner and Innes. ★★★★

"Jericho & the Silent Witnesses" by Hugh Pentecost: All John Jericho wanted to do that night was get down on canvas the look, the mood that he had seen in Lucinda Laverne's face at the bus stop. But a scream outside his window interrupted and he found himself in the middle of a murder investigation (the first of many for Jericho) with ties to a riverfront kingpin. [various references on the internet indicate that this was based on the murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964] (one stabbed)

"Getting Away with Murder" by Erle Stanley Gardner (nonfiction): Gardner examines hard-boiled crime and the changes wrought from its infancy to the 1960s. He also says that the "school of realism" isn't as solidly based in the real world as its practitioners might want to claim.

"Death as a Game" by Michael Innes (J.I.M. Stewart; also nonfiction): Innes argues for murder mysteries as entertainment and that if things become too realistic (and literary) that all the mystery goes out of it.

"The Scientist and the Bagful of Water" by Arthur Porges: Lieutenant Trask is sure that Preston Whitney has killed James Connors for financial gain, but has little hope of proving it. It appears that Connors was killed by a prank with water balloons gone wrong. He takes the case to his scientific friend, Cyriak Skinner Grey, on the outside chance he can spot something the good lieutenant has missed. (one hit on head)

"Elementary, My Dear Job Seeker" by Charles McIntosh: An applicant for a private investigator's job finds a unique way to guarantee he gets it.

"The Teccomshire Fen Mystery" by Cathie Haig Star: A delightful send-up of Christie's Hercule Poirot. The master sleuth Pierre Choulot must find out who shot the artist while he was painting. (one shot)

"Poirot Indulges a Whim" (aka "The Adventure of the Cheap Flat") by Agatha Christie: Mrs. Robinson lands an incredible deal on a new flat in a fairly prestigious building. So incredible that Poirot decides he must investigate.

"The Halloween Mystery" by Ellery Queen: Ellery's secretary Nikki is invited to a Halloween party where everyone is directed to dress up as black cats. The invitation specifically says, "Be sure to drag your boss-cat along, also costumed." Ellery is reluctant...but goes. He's expecting to be bored silly by a society party. Of course, there's a murder game. And, of course, there's a real murder. But which of the black cats was unlucky enough to kill while Ellery Queen was in the house? (one throat cut)

"They's Things in the Deep Woods" by M. L. Dunn: About what a man's willing to do when he sees his kin disrespecting the wood. There's some things go on that a man just doesn't want to know about. (four drowned)

"Tiger in the Cellar" by Joan D. Ladd: The wife of a policeman takes on a burglar with interesting results.

"The Seeker of Ultimates" by Joe Gores: A couple of physicists decide to prove that Satan doesn't exist and use a computer in the attempt. But what if Satan doesn't want to be disproven?

"A as in Accident" by Lawrence Treat: Officer Mitch Taylor investigates a murder that's been covered by a fake auto accident. But even that little trick isn't as straight-forward as it looks. (one broken neck)

First line (1st story): A woman's scream, heard at two o'clock in the morning, will produce different results in different localities.

Last line (last story): Lee Fanning sighed