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Tim Corrigan
Why So Dead?
Chuck Baer and Tim Corrigan chase a sultan’s assassin to recover a million-dollar ruby
Chuck Baer is a brilliant private detective, but he’ll never be called graceful. Hired by the all-powerful sultan of Morojaca to provide security for a banquet, this bearlike PI requires backup with class, and there is no tough guy in New York quite as classy as Tim Corrigan. A 1-eyed cop with a sense of style, Corrigan is happy to tag along to the event. Once there, he finds himself guarding not only the crown jewels, but also the cream of the sultan’s harem. Sometimes, a cop’s life isn’t so bad.
The sultan is opening gifts from well-wishers when an explosion rocks the ballroom, blowing the monarch to smithereens. When the smoke clears and the sultanas stop screaming, it becomes clear that the killer has made off with the Akhoond—a million-dollar ruby as red as the blood that stains the floor. Corrigan is about to embark on the wildest chase of his career. . . .
Chuck Baer is a brilliant private detective, but he’ll never be called graceful. Hired by the all-powerful sultan of Morojaca to provide security for a banquet, this bearlike PI requires backup with class, and there is no tough guy in New York quite as classy as Tim Corrigan. A 1-eyed cop with a sense of style, Corrigan is happy to tag along to the event. Once there, he finds himself guarding not only the crown jewels, but also the cream of the sultan’s harem. Sometimes, a cop’s life isn’t so bad.
The sultan is opening gifts from well-wishers when an explosion rocks the ballroom, blowing the monarch to smithereens. When the smoke clears and the sultanas stop screaming, it becomes clear that the killer has made off with the Akhoond—a million-dollar ruby as red as the blood that stains the floor. Corrigan is about to embark on the wildest chase of his career. . . .
134 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1966
7 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Ellery Queen
1,781 books488 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 5, 2016
Another good novel by Queen. Love these novels. Fun to try and figure out what everyone is really doing.
December 1, 2018
As usual in Corrigan stories a fair intrigue and murder mystery.
January 12, 2026
Audiobook 3 - Corrigon is back with another murder, of a sultan this time and a thrift of a priceless ruby. But not all is as it seems. Another quick and enjoyable listen.
December 1, 2025
Μια υπέροχη αστυνομική νουβέλα που σε μεταφέρει σε έναν κόσμο γεμάτο μυστήριο και εξωτικά αντικείμενα. Η ιστορία περιστρέφεται γύρω από την κλοπή ενός πολύτιμου ρουμπινιού και τις προσπάθειες του ντετέκτιβ Κουήν να λύσει την υπόθεση, αναδεικνύοντας την ευφυΐα και την παρατηρητικότητά του.
Ο συγγραφέας θέλει να προσφέρει μια κλασική αστυνομική ιστορία, όπου η λογική και η παρατήρηση οδηγούν στη λύση. Το βιβλίο παραμένει στην επιφάνεια, καθώς η έμφαση δίνεται στην πλοκή και όχι στην ψυχολογική ανάλυση, κάνοντας την αφήγηση να μοιάζει με ένα ευχάριστο, αλλά όχι βαθύ, ανάγνωσμα.
Το ύφος γραφής είναι απλό, άμεσο και ευκολοδιάβαστο, χαρακτηριστικό του Έλερι Κουήν. Ωστόσο, η αφήγηση στερείται εκπλήξεων, καθώς το τέλος είναι λίγο προβλέψιμο, κάτι που μειώνει το σασπένς και την ένταση που θα περίμενε κανείς από ένα αστυνομικό ανάγνωσμα.
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που προσφέρει μια ενδιαφέρουσα, αν και προβλέψιμη, αστυνομική νουβέλα. Η έλλειψη ανατροπών και το προβλέψιμο τέλος το καθιστούν μια μέτρια ανάγνωση.
Μια μέτρια ανάγνωση που δεν εντυπωσιάζει .
Ο συγγραφέας θέλει να προσφέρει μια κλασική αστυνομική ιστορία, όπου η λογική και η παρατήρηση οδηγούν στη λύση. Το βιβλίο παραμένει στην επιφάνεια, καθώς η έμφαση δίνεται στην πλοκή και όχι στην ψυχολογική ανάλυση, κάνοντας την αφήγηση να μοιάζει με ένα ευχάριστο, αλλά όχι βαθύ, ανάγνωσμα.
Το ύφος γραφής είναι απλό, άμεσο και ευκολοδιάβαστο, χαρακτηριστικό του Έλερι Κουήν. Ωστόσο, η αφήγηση στερείται εκπλήξεων, καθώς το τέλος είναι λίγο προβλέψιμο, κάτι που μειώνει το σασπένς και την ένταση που θα περίμενε κανείς από ένα αστυνομικό ανάγνωσμα.
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που προσφέρει μια ενδιαφέρουσα, αν και προβλέψιμη, αστυνομική νουβέλα. Η έλλειψη ανατροπών και το προβλέψιμο τέλος το καθιστούν μια μέτρια ανάγνωση.
Μια μέτρια ανάγνωση που δεν εντυπωσιάζει .
April 13, 2016
Always good to read a classic mystery. I don't think I've read any Ellery Queen before. This was published in 1966, so a few references were dated (lack of cell phones and computers, a few phrases) - but overall it stood the test of time as a classic mystery.
January 17, 2016
Good audio while walking.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews