Carl’s Reviews > The Roman Hat Mystery > Status Update

I got the murderer, but still have no idea of his motive. Finish tomorrow

Okay, the book stopped and the author says we have enough to figure out the murderer. Here's my guess.

The hat lining held blackmail information. Our crooked lawyer wore the hat to the play. He'd meet with his victim, collect the cash, and then give the victim his hat. So, must be a male. more: http://goo.gl/qRrKbC

Still very enjoyable. It's really a series of interviews with all the possible suspects and witnesses. Very little physical action.
Death is by poison from a gasoline derivative--prohibition liquor must have been something! It's a mystery to me how a top hat could be the key to this story, but then it is a mystery. Goodreads comments indicate this is one of the bad "Ellery Queen" books. Not bad at all!

Still enjoying this very much. Lots of questions of different people. Where is our dead lawyer's hat? Why doesn't he use a walking stick?
What's equally interesting is the fact that NO MALE goes to the theater without his hat, and similar other time-dated facts. The Queens, father and son, live together and seem to sleep in the same room together. No idea who the murderer is, though others say they solved early.

Still moving along nicely. We have missing ticket stubs, a missing hat, possible wood alcohol poisoning (prohibition era story). An actor informs the Queens that the murder took place precisely at the climax of the play. The patrons of the theatre are all still in the theater, but they seem to be about to be released.

The Queen's (!) ask questions and puzzle out the mystery. Dead guy is a sleazy lawyer. He was drinking booze at the play and had a kid go get him Ginger Ale as a mixer. His hat is missing--hence the title. All the seats around him, weirdly, were empty even though the play is a smash hit. Body discovered by timid man. Doorman (old) can't remember if anyone entered the theatre during the second act. still fun