The House of Brass

Ellery Queen Detective #32

by Ellery Queen

Book by Queen, Ellery

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Detective, Murder Mystery

397 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

aka 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.

Reviews

[Emi.acg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reto 2021 : Un libro de segunda mano/regalado

Este libro lo leí solo por el reto xd así que fue una buena oportunidad para leer un libro de mi pequeña estantería 💞 casi todos mis libros son viejitos y regalados jajaj 🤭
Pues bueno, entre todos lo escogí porque se suponía era policial y aunque si había un toque de ello, le faltó, me dejó con gusto a poco, toda la acción giraba en torno a una herencia y el crimen pasó a segundo plano y al final se retomo pero no fue suficiente, no hubo mucha emoción.
La historia parte describiendo a los personajes; un matrimonio recién casado, un matrimonio ya avanzado, una treintañera que recibe una pensión del gobierno, un médico bueno que atiende fiado a gente acaudalada, un hombre que participó en las guerras pero tiene problemas de dinero y una joven que hace poco perdió el empleo. Lo que los une, es que todos recibieron un sobre con un billete de 100 dólares y la mitad de un billete de 1000 más una carta invitándolos a ir a la casa de latón y la promesa de que por participar recibirían la otra mitad del billete. Ya sea por curiosidad, por ganas de aventura o por dinero estas personas deciden ir. Cuando llegan a la casa, se conocen entre ellos y ven que la casa y varios de los objetos y muebles están echos de latón, dato curioso. Más tarde el dueño de la casa revela el por qué están ahí y en simple palabras será como Willie Wonka, quiere hacer a uno o a más, sus herederos. Durante la primera noche pasa un accidente y se empiezan a descubrir cosas, y que no todo era como parecía. Le tocara a Richard Queen, el esposo de una de las invitadas, que da la casualidad es un inspector de la policía retirado desentrañar el misterio.
No estaba mal, de hecho pintaba bastante bien pero llegué a la mitad del libro y no había pasado nada y cuando al fin sucede pasa a segundo plano, como dije arriba. Los personajes ni fu ni fa, de hecho creo que estaban más cerca de caerme mal, andaban todos arrastrados en busca del dinero, ah y mandaron a las mujeres a la cocina >:c como si ellos tuvieran los dedos crespos, hasta para buscar una taza de café 🤦‍♀️
Pero en fin xd a pesar de todo igual estuvo bien para pasar el rato, por eso dejo en 3 estrellitas

Pd: descubrí que aquí puedo tomar apuntes xd empiezo la reseña y si no la publico la guarda como borrador xd me sirvió porque como estaba leyendo en físico no tenia donde anotar para no perderme cuando mezclo con otros libros xd

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mid-20th Century North American Crime and Mystery
My Favorites: #24 (of 250)
One of my favorite lines from this genre appears in this novel: "What's the matter, granddad, aren't the wedding bells swinging anymore?"
Hook - 3 stars: Richard's getting married, Ellery is giving his father away in the ceremony. An okay opening.
Pace - 4 stars: Even, almost a 1-sit read if one has the time.
Plot - 5 stars: A riff on a familiar plot: Hendrik Brass invites a number of people to his home and says he has $6 million and is about to make a will to distribute wealth to nine people. You think you know this story? There are many, many twists.
Atmosphere - 5: An incredible house that, as the story goes along, is pretty much demolished. There MUST be this house for this story to work. Then there is a graveyard with a certain gravestone that reads, "Pompey-Faithful Until Death" and I had a blast studying that cypher! This novel has stupendous red herrings, so beware!
Cast - 4: Gotta include Hendrik's house, of course. Then there is the eccentric Hendrik. Jessie Sherwood has traded a Dodge for a 'fire-bucket red' Mustang. DeWitt Alistair is a con artist along with his wife, Elizabeth. Dr. Hubert Thornton is such a great doctor that he even pays his patients' bills! Miss Cornelius Openshaw pretends disgust as men, especially hairy ones. Keith Palmer is a Vietnam Vet. Harding Boyle, a Chicago slum kid, is also called 'Hard' Boyle. Chief Fleck is a local cop. Very nice characterizations.
SUMMARY - 4.2. This one's a blast to read. As the house is torn apart in search for 'treasure', some members of the cast have to pool their future inheritance to hire a company to continue tearing the place down. But is anything there anyway?

[Lancelot Link · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn’t a terrible book. However, it’s not well written, and has not aged well. But I did get it for free, so I guess you get what you pay for.

[Martina V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Príbeh pekne zapletený, ale mohol byť trošku kratší, rozuzlenie sa príliš naťahovalo.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ellery Queen novels that feature Mr. Queen, Ellery's dad, (as this one does) are terrific.

[Ludovica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Un classico romanzo giallo che in alcuni punti riesce a trovare grip e suspense, ma che in altri cala di ritmo.
Lo stile è molto coinvolgente nella parte iniziale e finale, ma proprio come gli eventi si perde nella narrazione centrale.
La storia ha ottime premesse ma lo scioglimento degli eventi risulta un po' deludente: proprio per questo motivo sono rimasta negativamente colpita perché le prime 70 pagine del racconto erano state davvero entusiasmanti.
Tutto sommato la vicenda che coinvolge Richard Queen (padre del famoso Ellery) fornisce un buono svago e riesce ad intrattenere il lettore senza troppe pretese.
Consigliato per una lettura sotto l'ombrellone!

[Kelly Hassman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always find myself not paying close enough attention in the beginning of the Ellery Queen novels and then racking my brain for the right “whodunit” in the end. Brass is no different and had me barking up all the wrong trees.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Later Queen novels are often retreads of earlier ones, and this uses a lot of what’s in The Siamese Twin Mystery. Unfortunately, it’s not as well-written, the motley characters at the isolated house are half-drawn at best, and a tossed-off storm is no substitute for a raging forest fire. It was still readable, but don’t start here.

[Rick Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never held out much hope for the later Queen novels, with their assisted writing; but this one fills out just fine.

This is the sequel to Inspector Queen's Own Case, and begins like a classic captive-audience mystery, with an odd assortment of people with no apparent connection summoned to a creepy country house. Unlike the usual restriction in mysteries of this type, the guests are free to come and go as they please.

When old Brass announces his intention of leaving each of the six guests $1M in his will, you just know he is not long for this earth. The focus of the book is not so much finding his murderer, as it is finding the lost $6M treasure.

Plenty of surprises at the end (which reminded me of the end of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca).

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really disappointing and simplistic. A later "Ellery Queen", written after the Dannay and Lee had stopped writing them. This one, written by Theodore Sturgeon, is much more of an Inspector Queen tale, with Ellery only showing up in the last 20 pages or so. The situation was an intriguing one, but the execution was pretty pedestrian.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd rate this one somewhere between a three and a four. It was fun, but there were also tedious sections, and I could see why it wasn't listed among the Ellery Queen "favorites" that have been reprinted. Other reviewers stated that a different author than the two original authors (Manfred Lee and Frederic Dannay) had penned this one, but they had differing ideas as to whom (Theodore Sturgeon or Avraam Davidson). So that might account for the differences in tone and style.

I bought this second hand, having enjoyed a couple other Ellery Queen mysteries ("The Chinese Orange Mystery" and "The Siamese Twin Mystery").

I enjoyed seeing the elder Inspector Queen married and enjoying family life. Jessie made a welcome addition to the cast of characters. I did miss seeing Ellery in most of the action. I thought that Richard would end up solving the case without him, but Ellery did slip in at the very end of the book. I also enjoyed seeing the Irregulars at work.

The setting of the house was well done, with its eccentricities and all the brass fixtures and furnishings. The situation was also interesting, with strangers being drawn together into a house, reminiscent of the movie "Clue" (or did this book come first? I don't know.)

Mr. Brass first seemed appreciative of all these strangers' parents as having done good turns for him over the course of his life and considered them for his will, but then it was realized that they all ...

There are some crudities in this book, and the Vaughn character was especially disgusting, but I think he was meant to be. He wasn't meant to be emulated.

The Keith character's plot twist "got" me.

The slow search for the treasure and the destruction of the house, in bits and pieces searching for it became tedious to me. I had thought of a couple of those locations.

I had thought of the perpetrator of the first attack, but had not figured out the events of the final attack. Dr. Thornton had divided the mystery into 3 parts, and some reviewers complained that one part was never solved. I think that it was, but that it just wasn't a satisfying answer. One never really knows, when one imagines what the dead thought, whether that was exactly what he thought. There were other possible answers, but they were not explored. I'm not sure, in the end, it really mattered.

Other reviewers found none of the characters appealing, but I enjoyed seeing Richard's character and his persevering to solve the mysteries. He had gathered everyone for a solution to the case multiple times, being wrong time and time again, and yet, still he persevered, despite the discomfort that brought him.

Favorite quote:

"Then the God you don't believe in has been good to you, Mr. Brass."

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

40 years ago, Ellery Queen was my favorite author. I read and collected nearly the whole set of books in paperback. I devoured anything and everything Ellery Queen wrote.

I think this book was written by different authors under the name of Ellery Queen because it was and an absolute misery to read. There were the classic twists and turns. I was amused by the fact that Inspector Queen was forced to retire at the ripe old age of 63, and the narration made us feel like he was in his dotage. I’m 68 and nowhere near senility. But the plot was so contrived. A group of people are gathered at a rich old man’s mansion and tempted with inheriting $6 million. The reason for his gathering them together was implausible at best. We never do find out why they were chosen or how they were connected to him, with one or two exceptions.

I am all for making allowances for the times in which a story takes place, for the language and attitudes of the day, but this was over the top. I do not remember Ellery Queen books being like this. I am extremely disappointed. I’m halfway tempted to go back and read a book that I know I’ve read before just to see if my “hero“ really wrote this way and I have forgotten. On the other hand, do I really want to spoil a fond memory?

I gave this book 2 stars because I finished it and I was curious enough to find out who done it. And even then, I was disappointed.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is another Queen-outline + ghostwritten by Avram Davidson entry. It shares some similarities with And on the Eighth Day- the most notable being a strange setting, the titular house of brass.

On the one hand, it's quite enjoyable. There are lots of twists and turns, fake solutions, etc. I can't fault the pacing at all.

Also, it's nice to have another Richard Queen outing. Richard Queen somehow gets more development and serialization in two books than Ellery does in the rest of the canon.

On the other hand, House of Brass is both unfair and incoherent while also, somehow, mostly predictable. There is zero evidence for the final solution (though it's easy enough to guess at), and this is one of the cases where the detectives have to trick the perpetrator(s) into confessing because they can't prove a thing. Worse, one of the three central mysteries identified midway through the book is never actually solved. A false solution is provided and dispensed with, leaving readers high and dry.

As much as I'm complaining, I think House of Brass is better than 80% of late Queen. It's worth reading. It shouldn't be your first Queen by a longshot, but it's a fun, if flawed diversion.

[Conni Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best Ellery Queen book I've read since "The Player on the Other Side" (#27), and Ellery isn't even in it until the last several chapters. It was so good seeing Inspector Queen in action again, and I love Jessie so much. It was good seeing them both again, the perfect sequel to "Inspector Queen's Own Case."
It was a bummer that Richard Queen couldn't solve the case on his own without Ellery stepping in at the very end. I really would have preferred it if Richard and Jessie had been able to figure it out all on their own. However, it was very exciting to have Ellery swoop in and finally, for the first time in five or six books feeling really and truly like Ellery Queen again.
2nd small annoyance, once again we had that scene where the "murderer" died and someone (this time it was Dick Queen) went "It was a good thing he died horribly, because he was the murderer" as if that's something good. Why does this man never want to convict anyone? And than it turned out that guy wasn't even the murderer, so...
Still a very fun read, with lots of twists and turns (looking at you, Keith) that I wouldn't have suspected in a million years.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

For those who don't know, "Ellery Queen" is the pseudonym of Frederic Dannay and Manfred Lee, and sometimes other contributors (including Jacques Barzun). The mysteries typically feature a detective named Ellery Queen (he doesn't appear until the last chapter of this one), who is also a novelist. They are puzzle mysteries, sometimes quite good. But this one is all an improbable game. There are some witticisms, which is usual for "Ellery Queen." But also some tiresome quips and wordplays. The novel was published in 1968 but its affect is all 1948. I used to love these. As my father-in-law used to say, "It's short. You'll like it." But I didn't.

[Irene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up at an antique store. I had never read an Ellery Queen mystery and thought I would try it. I was disappointed to find out that the man who wrote this was not one of the original Ellery Queen authors. But my major complaint about this mystery, besides being lame & poorly written, was the gross misogynistic comments. The worst two were:
- her husband stood admiring her C-cups - he did??
- they could see her "virgin udders" - really!!!
I guess he thought he was being funny. It was written in 1968. Were we really that backward then?

[Mark Isaak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book features the newlywed Inspector Richard Queen, whose wife is invited by an eccentric millionaire heir looking to divvy his fortune, only to become murdered soon after writing his will. Furthermore, the fortune seems to be missing. Inspector Queen makes several tries at unraveling the various mysteries, and he gets close, but it takes Ellery to clear it all up in the end. My main problem with this book, aside from the investigations leading to repeated dead ends, was that the setting and half the characters were dismal, which to me put a pall on the whole book.

[Erik Deckers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not one of Ellery Queen‘s better stories. Not only was he not in until the very end, but it made his dad seem rather a buffoon. Lots of accusations and parlor-revealing moments, only for each one to fall flat. It would’ve been better if the Inspector could’ve solved this on his own, or have Ellery show up earlier on.

[James A. Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delivers the twists and turns and detailed plots we expect.

I thoroughly enjoyed the House of Brass...it is a twisted tail with double crosses, lying cheaters and a crazy old man told in a terse carefully crafted style that doesn't get in the way of the plot. Highly recommended.

[Martina Kovaříková · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kniha rozhodně je maximálně průměrná. Byly dokonce i chvíle, kdy jsem si říkala, že ji odložím, protože jsem se do ní nemohla dostat.
Děj mi připadal trošku zmatečný, a snad jediným pozitivem byla celková zápletka. A asi i její nečekané rozuzlení.

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh!

The writing just seamed off, as though this wasn’t written by “Ellery”. It didn’t help that the basic plot was “used” (I didn’t want to say plagiarized) in a recent movie, making it tiring to read.

[Read1000books · Rating 2 out of 5]

A direct sequel to "Inspector Queen's Own Case" (see my review), this mystery novel features retired NYC Inspector Richard Queen, his recent bride, and five other strangers who are guests of an eccentric, elderly millionaire promising all of them a share of six million dollars. And of course, said millionaire ends up dead. But who killed him, and why?? Son Ellery steps in at the conclusion to tie up loose ends. First published in 1968, the unnecessary "racy references" that were so cute and trendy in the 60's only detracted from an otherwise interesting tale. And kudos to the new Mrs. Queen for chiding the Inspector for his repeated profanity! 2 1/2 stars

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Ellery Queen mystery from the late sixties that features Inspector Queen and his new bride in what is basically an "Old Dark House" story. A pleasant read for a relaxing time.

[M. Karpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great old time mystery

This wonderful old time mystery takes the reader back to a before cell phones. Before computers ruled society it is solved with human brains.!!!

[Angelo Ventura · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the run down and dilapidated state of building and inhabitants no one would believe Hendrik Brass has millions to give away. Why stay?

[Faterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Son, Like Father: a Delightful Inspector Queen's Own Case, Part Deux

It is reported that the "Queen cousins" commissioned Avraam Davidson to write this volume for them -- a superb writer in his own right. This sounds plausible, given the highly literary style of the narrative, combined with humour; certainly the type of writing one may associate with Davidson. A sample from chapter 3:

<< The source of the thud they quickly identified. Miss Openshaw was lying across the threshold of her room in a sheer black nightgown that half revealed her virgin udders; her eyes were shut and the hairnet she had slept in had slipped down over one of them; her lips and what could be seen of her chunky legs were on the blue side. Young Palmer, in pajamas, fortunately opaque, knelt by her [...] >>

The House of Brass is as funny and wry and self-ironic as it is suspenseful. In their earliest books, Ellery Queen were known for presenting a number of alternative solutions to their mysteries -- all but one of them exposed as false in the course of the narrative, naturally. The House of Brass takes this to a new humorous level -- no later than 73% through the book, Inspector Queen launches into what feels like it must be the traditional dénouement to close out a classic murder mystery. Needless to say, it turns out to be only one of many failed, and increasingly hilarious attempts by Inspector Queen in this volume to bring the case to closure; yet he never does, until his genius son Ellery appears in the very last chapter of the book, 93% into the book text, to put the requisite finishing touches on his father's labour. Yet the smart thing about The House of Brass is that Inspector Queen is never depicted as a dull-witted Watson character -- on the contrary: he is shrewd and perspicacious throughout, yet that is not enough to catch the culprit. Readers are continuously baffled along with the Inspector as he tries to unravel the threefold conundrum.

Another touch of self-irony is that The House of Brass provides a delightful variation on the age-old, by now entirely humorous maxim of the British-style murder charade: "The _____ did it!" Yes, the book's external setting may be Washington Irving's "Sleeping Hollow" country (rural New York state) in the late 1960s, but the cast and setup of the tale are as British-looking as it can get, remindful of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

Among the volume's brightest stretches is a sidesplitting brass-plated objects auction, ceaselessly interrupted by Inspector Queen. Among the weakest is the final implausible showdown -- more a literary device than any reflection of reality; would four seasoned detectives really have put themselves in harm's way the way it occurs here? Also, it's always a sign of weakness on the part of a murder mystery plotter when, instead of a culprit's guilt being conclusively proved by evidence, the reliance is on a careless verbal admission of guilt by the culprit.

To anyone looking for their first Ellery Queen volume, I would not recommend The House of Brass. It's a late, untypical entry in the series, and not really written by the pair of cousins who had created Ellery. For those already familiar with the classic works in the Ellery oeuvre, The House of Brass provides a refreshing variation on a familiar theme -- a satisfying read.

[Chazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second mystery that finds Inspector Richard Queen retired. But he now married Jessie Sherwood, whom he met in "Inspector Queen's Own Case: November Song". When Jessie is summoned to the Brass mansion millionaire Hendrik Brass, Inspector Queen insists on coming along.

Arriving to a grotesque, gothic style mansion out in the countryside they find they are not the only ones who received the invitation. The Queens arrived to find Mr. and Mrs. Allistairs, a couple looking refined but with a bit of tarnish around the edges; Keith Palmer, young, good looking and athletic; Dr. Thornton, nerdish looking medical type; Miss Openshaw, a spinster with man-eating eyes and Lynn O'Neill, a natural, outdoorsy young girl. Their host was a withered, old man, who wore outrageous sunglasses to hide his blind eyes. Their accommodations were in a mansion where everything that could be brass was brass, shining, heavy and golden coloured. What parts were all these characters to play, and who would be the victim and who would be the perpetrator and what would be the crime? There is also the 87th Street Irregulars and Vaughn J. Vaughn for more colour.

Twists, turns and red herrings. Inspector Queen may be retired, but he can't stop investigating. And his wife Jessie won't let herself be left out.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my opinion, just an average mystery. This must not be a very popular book. The librarian had to dig this out of storage, uncirculated books. It had not been checked out in 10 years. The concept was interesting. 6 people were chosen by letter and received a 100 dollar bill, with a half of a thousand dollar bill. They would get the other half if they agreed to stay at the House of Brass. Hendrick Brass owned a lonely, secluded mansion close to Tarrytown. I remembered Tarrytown from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The story also mentions the Purloined Letter by Edgar Allen Poe. They were tearing the house apart, looking for something. I will not spoil it. All of the characters struggled with should they go or was it a hoax? Hendrick Brass was very eccentric and made the story interesting. The other characters were not very likeable, greedy people looking for extra cash. There were almost too many red herrings and false identity, the ending became very confusing. I still had some questions that became loose ends and never got tied into the final solution.

[Sandra Guzdek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read, but once again, the ending was kind of unsatisfactory. I was thrilled at first that there were a lot of twists and turns, but at the conclusion, I just felt like I was led down a garden path, and looking back down the figurative road, it feels like those twists and turns were largely unnecessary and sometimes internally inconsistent/logically did not make sense. If only Ellery had come back to town sooner, half the book needn’t have happened. I will say though that the narrator (Mark Peckham) did a terrific job.

[Lynn Alan Heath · Rating 2 out of 5]

This being the first Ellery Queen book I have ever read I found it rather dull and slow moving. The mystery to be solved was not solved by Ellery but rather by his father. In fact young Ellery Queen was not even in the book until the final chapter. If all his mysteries are like this it is unlikely that I shall read any more of his adventures.