The Tragedy of Z Author:Ellery Queen, Barnaby Ross (pseudonym) Third of the Drury Lane series. — Detection by rule of Thumm. — Brooding over the quiet countryside of Tilden County in upstate New York stand the grim walls of Algonquin Prison. And on the very day that Senator Fawcett, a man with many enemies, is found stabbed to death in his study, a little man is released from that prison. Inspector Thumm and ... more »his daughter Patience, who have accepted a commission from Elihu Clay to look into the affairs of his 'silent partner', try to unravel the web of circumstantial evidence that has enmeshed an innocent man.
But time grows short, and John Hume, the District Attorney and the Senator's political opponent, finds a quick conviction expedient. Patience refuses to be beaten by lack of evidence, and with the help of her father's old friend, Drury Lane, finally stops an execution and brings the true criminal to justice.
The third installment takes a new turn and, is written in a different style from the first two. The Inspector is off the force, working as a P.I., and his daughter shows up to solve crimes with him—what's more, she is the narrator of the story.« less