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Beware the Young Stranger
John Vallancourt, the cool, calm diplomat, is worried stiff. A dear friend is dead and his daughter Nancy is missing. John fears the worst and the worst is Nancy s sweetheart Keith Rollins. Keith is the prime suspect in the case and he is running scared, dragging Nancy into danger with him. If Keith is a murderer, John is certain of one he has to catch Keith before the cops do, or he might find himself with one very dead daughter!"
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
14 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Ellery Queen
1,782 books490 followersaka Barnaby Ross.
(Pseudonym of Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee)
"Ellery Queen" was a pen name created and shared by two cousins, Frederic Dannay (1905-1982) and Manfred B. Lee (1905-1971), as well as the name of their most famous detective. Born in Brooklyn, they spent forty two years writing, editing, and anthologizing under the name, gaining a reputation as the foremost American authors of the Golden Age "fair play" mystery.
Although eventually famous on television and radio, Queen's first appearance came in 1928 when the cousins won a mystery-writing contest with the book that would eventually be published as The Roman Hat Mystery. Their character was an amateur detective who used his spare time to assist his police inspector father in solving baffling crimes. Besides writing the Queen novels, Dannay and Lee cofounded Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, one of the most influential crime publications of all time. Although Dannay outlived his cousin by nine years, he retired Queen upon Lee's death.
Several of the later "Ellery Queen" books were written by other authors, including Jack Vance, Avram Davidson, and Theodore Sturgeon.
(Pseudonym of Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee)
"Ellery Queen" was a pen name created and shared by two cousins, Frederic Dannay (1905-1982) and Manfred B. Lee (1905-1971), as well as the name of their most famous detective. Born in Brooklyn, they spent forty two years writing, editing, and anthologizing under the name, gaining a reputation as the foremost American authors of the Golden Age "fair play" mystery.
Although eventually famous on television and radio, Queen's first appearance came in 1928 when the cousins won a mystery-writing contest with the book that would eventually be published as The Roman Hat Mystery. Their character was an amateur detective who used his spare time to assist his police inspector father in solving baffling crimes. Besides writing the Queen novels, Dannay and Lee cofounded Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, one of the most influential crime publications of all time. Although Dannay outlived his cousin by nine years, he retired Queen upon Lee's death.
Several of the later "Ellery Queen" books were written by other authors, including Jack Vance, Avram Davidson, and Theodore Sturgeon.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 28, 2019
I liked this story by Ellery Queen - the characters were well developed, and I knew that Fun quick read for mystery lovers.
August 16, 2025
A rather lame psychological mystery-thriller about two murders possibly committed by the same "young stranger." Not one of Ellery Queen's proudest moments.
January 13, 2018
Career diplomat and government troubleshooter John Vallancourt, now retired, is unsure about the man his daughter Nancy wants to marry, Keith Rollins. Even though Keith is the nephew of the woman the long-time widowered John trusts above all others and indeed loves, Dorcas Ferguson, and even though Dorcas vouches for him, there's still something about him . . .
And then one morning John is summoned urgently by phone to Dorcas's house. Arriving there, he discovers her dead, her skull bashed in . . . and also kinds Keith hiding behind some drapes. The young man goes on the run before John can stop him, and is joined by Nancy. The cops think there's only one possible suspect for the murder, Keith -- who's already under suspicion for the sex-killing of a student in Florida -- and at first John, nerves coiled to breaking point by worry over the possible fate of Nancy, holed up somewhere with a potentially violent man, agrees with them. But then one or two little pieces of circumstantial evidence -- trivialities, really -- begin to raise doubts in his mind. Can he save both his daughter and the man she loves . . .?
This was one of the late series of "Ellery Queen" paperback originals ghostwritten by other authors (in this instance, according to Wikipedia, by Talmage Powell) and not featuring the detective himself. Although there's one scene that had my eyes rolling, in which Keith lapses into dreadful sub-Rebel With a Cause language, daddy-o, aside from that burst of instant nausea Beware the Young Stranger is really a pretty good little thriller, negotiating its way carefully between hardboiled and, well, Ellery Queen.
And then one morning John is summoned urgently by phone to Dorcas's house. Arriving there, he discovers her dead, her skull bashed in . . . and also kinds Keith hiding behind some drapes. The young man goes on the run before John can stop him, and is joined by Nancy. The cops think there's only one possible suspect for the murder, Keith -- who's already under suspicion for the sex-killing of a student in Florida -- and at first John, nerves coiled to breaking point by worry over the possible fate of Nancy, holed up somewhere with a potentially violent man, agrees with them. But then one or two little pieces of circumstantial evidence -- trivialities, really -- begin to raise doubts in his mind. Can he save both his daughter and the man she loves . . .?
This was one of the late series of "Ellery Queen" paperback originals ghostwritten by other authors (in this instance, according to Wikipedia, by Talmage Powell) and not featuring the detective himself. Although there's one scene that had my eyes rolling, in which Keith lapses into dreadful sub-Rebel With a Cause language, daddy-o, aside from that burst of instant nausea Beware the Young Stranger is really a pretty good little thriller, negotiating its way carefully between hardboiled and, well, Ellery Queen.
March 5, 2012
This is one of the mid-60s books sporting the Ellery Queen moniker but without the fabled detective. This one is a bit of a soft thriller with a mystery tucked into it involving a person and a couple murders committed and the people who chase him about it. There is very good character development and a real sense of place. There are a few places where the writer cuts some corners to get to the conclusion. The writer also could have created some real suspense but instead lept into the next scene. Otherwise, it is well written and the conclusion just might surprise you.
March 15, 2019
This was very strange, I enjoyed the mystery element to it and felt like it evokes feelings of adrenaline, but then I found it a bit weird and not laid out enough. Keith was so weird throughout the story, so the author really sets it up that he is the murderer and rapist from the original crime. So many things pointed that way, that even though I now know it was Howard, I still feel like Keith is a creep and shouldn’t have married Nancy! I guess this was probably good for it’s time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2019
I went into this one literally just doing it for a challenge, and thought I would have a hard time getting into it. However, by chapter 4 I was invested. It all got crazy. I really believe that Keith was guilty because of it actions. Imagine my surprise when it ended up being Nancy's dad's friend Howard. It ended with Keith and Nancy getting married which is cute in a way but kind of predictable.
March 23, 2023
Beware The Young Stranger (1965) by Ellery Queen. I bought an original copy of this book for 25 cents. I got it for half price as the cover clearly proclaims a 50 cent cost for this Pocket Books issue. Despite the low cost, I was very disappointed by this book, but not so much by the story. I have been reading mysteries written by the duo of cousins who called themselves Ellery Queen for decades and hoped for one I had missed. Turns out this story was penned by Talmage Powell who, upon occasion, wrote an E.Q. (the author not the character) book.
Usually when I see the name Ellery queen on the cover, I assume the character of Queen is in the book. Not so with this novel.
So two major disappointments with this book without even reading it.
But upon reading I discovered I liked the story. Not loved it, but it was a well told tale. The main character is John Vallancourt, an American diplomat home from overseas at last. The time is mid 1960’s. John is single due to the passing of his wife years before. Now he is faced with a daughter, Nancy, in her early 20’s, who is in love with a very nice and presentable young man. Keith Rollins is the nephew of one of John’s close friends. Dorcas Ferguson is a powerful leader and formidable woman, eldest of the three Ferguson sisters. She managed to resurrect the family’s fortunes and property holdings, and has her nephew for the summer. Keith and Nancy are in love.
John finds out more about Keith in a very short time. The only thing he actually learns about the young man is that he was the prime suspect in a rape/murder crime in Florida over spring break. He was the victim’s close friend and possibly the last friend she ever was with. The police had questioned him but there is no strong evidence linking him to the actual crime and released him.
John is faced with the ever lasting struggle between father and daughter. Forbidding her to see Keith will only drive her into his arms faster, but John must do something.
But when two men, John being one, find Dorcas dead in her home, thoughts turn to Keith. John actually discovers Keith hiding behind the drapery of the murder room, but Keith escapes.
This is a suspense thriller that will capture your interest, especially if you are a father of a young woman. I don’t suppose it would come as a shock to you dear reader, but Nancy, even after hearing the news that her Keith is wanted on suspicion of his aunt’s murder, still believes in him.
I overcame my initial disappointment and got into this thriller. It turned out pretty good, especially as it captures the time it was written in so well. Golfing and drinks at the club, local businessmen with ties, sport coats and Fedoras talking earnestly over cigarets and dinner, large lumbering autos run too fast and stopping suddenly to have the car’s front end take a bow. All these things and more evoke the feel of the mid-sixties.
I enjoyed the nostalgia as much as I did the story.
Usually when I see the name Ellery queen on the cover, I assume the character of Queen is in the book. Not so with this novel.
So two major disappointments with this book without even reading it.
But upon reading I discovered I liked the story. Not loved it, but it was a well told tale. The main character is John Vallancourt, an American diplomat home from overseas at last. The time is mid 1960’s. John is single due to the passing of his wife years before. Now he is faced with a daughter, Nancy, in her early 20’s, who is in love with a very nice and presentable young man. Keith Rollins is the nephew of one of John’s close friends. Dorcas Ferguson is a powerful leader and formidable woman, eldest of the three Ferguson sisters. She managed to resurrect the family’s fortunes and property holdings, and has her nephew for the summer. Keith and Nancy are in love.
John finds out more about Keith in a very short time. The only thing he actually learns about the young man is that he was the prime suspect in a rape/murder crime in Florida over spring break. He was the victim’s close friend and possibly the last friend she ever was with. The police had questioned him but there is no strong evidence linking him to the actual crime and released him.
John is faced with the ever lasting struggle between father and daughter. Forbidding her to see Keith will only drive her into his arms faster, but John must do something.
But when two men, John being one, find Dorcas dead in her home, thoughts turn to Keith. John actually discovers Keith hiding behind the drapery of the murder room, but Keith escapes.
This is a suspense thriller that will capture your interest, especially if you are a father of a young woman. I don’t suppose it would come as a shock to you dear reader, but Nancy, even after hearing the news that her Keith is wanted on suspicion of his aunt’s murder, still believes in him.
I overcame my initial disappointment and got into this thriller. It turned out pretty good, especially as it captures the time it was written in so well. Golfing and drinks at the club, local businessmen with ties, sport coats and Fedoras talking earnestly over cigarets and dinner, large lumbering autos run too fast and stopping suddenly to have the car’s front end take a bow. All these things and more evoke the feel of the mid-sixties.
I enjoyed the nostalgia as much as I did the story.
January 22, 2020
This is listed under Ellery Queen, but is not written by the Queen team (Dannay & Lee) but is written by Talmage Powell, another well known mystery writer of the time. It also doesn't have Ellery Queen in it.
John Vallancourt is a handsome, cool, calm, collected diplomat. His daughter, Nancy, is blonde, beautiful and 21. She has fallen for Keith Rollins, a fellow with a shady background. Vallancourt is concerned by not too worried about this as he can find out more about Robins and his background.
When Keith Rollins' aunt, Dorcas Ferguson, is found murdered and Rollins is seen running from the house, Vallancourt becomes concerned. Nancy has taken off with Rollins, as Rollins tries to escape capture by the police. Rollins is their prime suspect.
While trying to track down the two, Vallancourt learns the truth about the hot tempered Rollins background and his relationship to Ferguson. It turns out to be fairly complicated.
Written in 1965, it has the feel of the 1950s movies, where the couple is on the lam, being chased by someone other than the cops. It is also a short book of 157 pages and easy read type.
I was expecting another Ellery Queen read, and this wasn't it. It was OK and a quick read.
John Vallancourt is a handsome, cool, calm, collected diplomat. His daughter, Nancy, is blonde, beautiful and 21. She has fallen for Keith Rollins, a fellow with a shady background. Vallancourt is concerned by not too worried about this as he can find out more about Robins and his background.
When Keith Rollins' aunt, Dorcas Ferguson, is found murdered and Rollins is seen running from the house, Vallancourt becomes concerned. Nancy has taken off with Rollins, as Rollins tries to escape capture by the police. Rollins is their prime suspect.
While trying to track down the two, Vallancourt learns the truth about the hot tempered Rollins background and his relationship to Ferguson. It turns out to be fairly complicated.
Written in 1965, it has the feel of the 1950s movies, where the couple is on the lam, being chased by someone other than the cops. It is also a short book of 157 pages and easy read type.
I was expecting another Ellery Queen read, and this wasn't it. It was OK and a quick read.
July 15, 2018
Good book under the EQ name
One of the better books written under the Ellery Queen name. Two crimes both point to the same young man.
One of the better books written under the Ellery Queen name. Two crimes both point to the same young man.
June 8, 2019
Hmm - it was short but not short enough! Way too wordy and not terribly interesting.
May 20, 2020
A quick tight murder suspenser with a satisfying ending. Can be read in a day but read it a little slower to savor the setting and characterization.
Read
October 29, 2020Surely I’m not the only one that found this story troubling. . . . :/
December 28, 2024
Good, easy to read mystery story.
August 31, 2025
Not at all like "real" Ellery Queen books (ones that Nathan and Lepofsky (Dannay and Lee) had a hand in creating). It was a fast easy read, but more of a thriller/crime drama than a mystery. There is a mystery, and it is solved at the end, but it's more of the detective-tells-what-happened-because-he-has-read-the-script than one where clues are followed up and logical deductions are made. The focus is on chasing down some runaways.
The thing that stood out the most in this book, and the most annoying thing about it, was the fact that in a good portion of the lines of dialogue the speaker mentions the name of the character being spoken to. For example something like:
"How are you today, Howard?"
"I'm doing fine, John. Let's go golfing."
"Okay, Howard, golfing sounds great."
"See you on the green, John."
Didn't an editor read this before publication? People don't use the other person's name as frequently in natural speech, at least not as much as in this book.
Another minor annoying point was the multiple uses of the phrase "under the wheel" - "He got under the wheel of the car," not "He got behind the wheel of the car." It sounds like he's getting run over. Perhaps in some dialect this is a common phrase, so it didn't bother me much.
Why they ever let the name of Ellery Queen be farmed out I'll never know.
The thing that stood out the most in this book, and the most annoying thing about it, was the fact that in a good portion of the lines of dialogue the speaker mentions the name of the character being spoken to. For example something like:
"How are you today, Howard?"
"I'm doing fine, John. Let's go golfing."
"Okay, Howard, golfing sounds great."
"See you on the green, John."
Didn't an editor read this before publication? People don't use the other person's name as frequently in natural speech, at least not as much as in this book.
Another minor annoying point was the multiple uses of the phrase "under the wheel" - "He got under the wheel of the car," not "He got behind the wheel of the car." It sounds like he's getting run over. Perhaps in some dialect this is a common phrase, so it didn't bother me much.
Why they ever let the name of Ellery Queen be farmed out I'll never know.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews