Dutch Shoe Mystery

When Ellery Queen, described by the London Times as “the logical successor to Sherlock Holmes,” is invited by his friend, a doctor, to witness an operation, he accepts the offer in hopes of furthering his capabilities as an amateur detective, but soon ends up testing those same skills. The patient who is about to undergo the delicate procedure is Abagail Doorn, the richest and most famous woman in America; the doctor who will perform it is her protégé, one of the leading surgeons on the East Coast. It will all take place in the main operating theater of the vast hospital that she founded.


Relatives and friends, and even some enemies, wait with bated breath to learn the outcome of the operation. The institution is hushed, the audience seated, the theater ready. The surgeon calls for his distinguished patient, and the doors swing open. A still form covered in a white sheet is wheeled into the theater. But when the sheet is removed, it reveals Ms. Doorn’s corpse, strangled to death with a picture wire. Who among the attendees was ruthless enough to carry out this gruesome operation? It’s up to Ellery Queen—and his most perceptive readers—to uncover the clues and find out.

Cand Ellery Queen, descris de London Times drept „succesorul logic al lui Sherlock Holmes”, este invitat de prietenul sau, un medic, sa asiste la o operatie, el accepta oferta in speranta de a-si continua capacitatile de detectiv amator, dar in curand ajunge sa testeze aceleasi abilitati. Pacienta care urmeaza sa fie supusa procedurii delicate este Abagail Doorn, cea mai bogata si mai cunoscuta femeie din America; medicul care o va efectua este protejatul ei, unul dintre principalii chirurgi de pe coasta de est.