The Egyptian Cross Mystery Audiobook By Ellery Queen cover art

The Egyptian Cross Mystery

An Ellery Queen Mystery, Book 5

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The Egyptian Cross Mystery

By: Ellery Queen
Narrated by: Richard Waterhouse
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The Queens are intrigued when a grisly murder mars a small town's Christmas.

It's Christmas in Chicago, and Detective Richard Queen is enjoying a busman's holiday at a conference on gangland violence - but his son, amateur sleuth Ellery, is bored silly. Until, that is, Ellery reads of an unusual killing in rural Arroyo, West Virginia. A schoolmaster has been found beheaded and crucified. Ellery hustles his father into his roadster and heads east, since there is nothing he'd like better for Christmas than a juicy, gruesome puzzle.

When the Queens arrive in Arroyo, they learn that the victim was an eccentric atheist, but not the sort to make enemies. What initially looks to be the work of a sadistic cult turns out to be something far more sinister. In the months ahead, more victims will turn up all over the world - all killed in the same horrifying manner. It will take several bodies before Ellery divines the clue that unlocks the mystery of the Christmas crucifixion.

©1943 Ellery Queen (P)2013 AudioGO Amateur Sleuths Detective Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Christmas Winter Egyptian Fiction
Intriguing Twists • Suspenseful Plot • Great Story • Peculiar Characters • Clever Writing • Engaging Mystery
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Quirky, intricate, just enough horror. (I think I put it succuntly enough not to need 20 words!)

how come this says optional, if required?

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I finished this book and was glad to end it. It could be half the length and more interesting.
It’s a gruesome story that has its roots in reality. If you enjoy procedural police/crime stories this one will interest you. There’s too much of it for me, but if you listen well and ask yourself some questions about the homicides you will be able to identify the culprit.

Much too long. Labours the point.

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cleverly written and engaging. one of the best Ellery Queen thrillers I've read in the series. it encourages me to read more

full of suspense, cleverly written

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great story, narrator better than when he narrated Calamity Town, but, he should research the book so he could pronounce words correctly.

Who is who?

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This is one of those rare books in which I could not stop listening to it. Yes, very long in explanations, as was the style of the early Ellery Queen books, but that is what I love about these books. Definitely not like modern writing where action takes the place of cognitive deduction. A little on the gory side…but it IS a murder mystery after all. My only regret is that these books are out of print. I love to go back and re-read certain parts. More difficult to do in audiobook form.

Kept my Attention

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I always love the Queens and their cast of peculiar characters but this one (true to life perhaps but bad for fiction) went nowhere forever. Hard to convey the author's frustration and perplexity without confounding the reader who has much less dedication. On the up side, I had plenty of time and tedium to pick out clues and rethink the facts, throw away buckets of herrings, and was still surprised by the ending.

Long and winding - but not suspenseful

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Compared to the previous four books, I found The Egyptian Cross Mystery to be more convoluted and less satisfying. While there were the usual Ellery touches, the final plot seemed rather contrived and padded. I won't post any spoilers, just that it wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as the previous books. The narration was very good and pleasant to listen to.

More Convoluted and Less Satisfying

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It's an all right story but plays too fast & cute with the business with the story title. Other than the story title it was a fine mystery. You can see why they got away from the beginning title gadget McGuffin.

an adequate entry in the series

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The story was long but had plenty of twists and turns. Like getting all the clues!

Loved it.

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What did you like best about The Egyptian Cross Mystery? What did you like least?

The Ellery Queen stories are getting more gorey as the series goes on. Some of the "conclusions" drawn from the evidence are a little thin. Overall, it still had a nice way of twisting and turning at the very end.

Very Bloody for an Ellery Queen

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