Book: ‘What’s in the Dark’ by Ellery Queen – June 8th, 2017
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Jun.08, 2017, under Books
What’s in the Dark by Ellery Queen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
A book too contrived and using too many standard mystery tricks, despite good characters, is best not to read.
‘What’s in the Dark’ starts early with pages of building layout and room descriptions as if to construct building plans than a mystery. Why the author didn’t better intersperse these descriptions is beyond me. The writing gets worse as the suspects to a murder are winnowed to only those on the floor of the building during a blackout. Though 21 floors up, the entire group are written as if they can’t leave. Or even try to escape. Yet leave two do to get food. Instead of escape a party ensues. A party? After a murder of one all knew? Worse is the far too obvious setup of a second murder.
With all the setup of 21st floor layout and reference throughout, the ending is a large let down.
The characters are a treat and the the only worthy part of the book. Though the sexual content is more explicit for a bad pulp novel. Also, again, wholly inappropriate considering a friend and colleague was murdered and laying nearby.
Botoom line I do not recommend this book. three out of ten points.
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