The Scarlet Letters
Cover Artist: Carl BobertzBy: Queen, Ellery pseudonym of Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee
Publisher: Pocket Books, Inc. (1049)
Place of Publication:New York, NY
Catalog #: Kelley Box 357: PS3533 .U4 S2 1955
Contributor: D. Hartman
General
Era: 1950sAuthor as on Cover: Ellery Queen
Publication:1955
Original Date: 1953
Setting: urban; numerous references to famous New York City locations (Central Park, Washington Square, Saks Fifth Avenue, Grant's Tomb, etc.)
Plot Summary
The story revolves around Dirk Lawrence, a drunk and insanely jealous novelist, and his wife Martha, a Broadway producer who inherited millions from her father. The Lawrence's marriage begins to crumble when Dirk starts accusing Martha of sleeping around. Martha turns to her friend Nikki Porter for support, and it's not very long until Ellery Queen finds himself enmeshed in the Lawrence's domestic woes. Ellery soon discovers that Dirk's accusations of adultery may be valid when he learns that Martha is making alphabetically coded meetings in restaurants, hotel rooms, etc. with an aging and once-famous Broadway star. In a fit of jealous rage, Dirk shoots both Martha and her lover; a murder trial ensues, but Ellery's investigations reveal not adultery but duplicity and blackmail.Major Characters
Ellery Queen adult male, writer and detectiveNikki Porter adult female, Ellery's secretary
Dirk Lawrence: adult male, early 30s, writer of mystery novels, drunk, wife-beater
Martha Lawrence adult female, 2 years older than her husband Dirk, amateur Broadway producer, millionaire
Van Harrison adult male, 50s, actor and ex-Broadway idol, ladies' man
Inspector Richard Queen adult male, policeman and father of Ellery Queen
Leon Fields adult male, gossip columnist