MysteryLarge Print EditionIts April 1944 and Ellery Queen has been working for the military making films in Hollywood. Driving through Death Valley on his way home, his car breaks down. Stumbling over a rise in the desert, he encounters an odd man who seems to come from an earlier time, and is welcomed into his community as a sort of prophet. Queen must root out a growing corruption while operating within the limits of an alien world and comes to the realization that evil can invade the most guarded of peoples hearts and societies.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
And on the Eighth Day (An Ellery Queen Mystery Ser.))
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Mass Market Paperback
First, let me explain that I am *NOT* particularly a fan of Ellery Queen. It's of the right generation for the mystery novels I do love best. But, try as I might, I've never really appreciated Queen as a character, and the stories don't intrigue me the way writers like Christie, Rendell or Bramah often do. So why, I've always wondered, did I have such fond memories of this particular novel of Ellery Queen, having read it more than a few years ago. I still had my old (ancient!) copy of it, so one day I took it out...and I found it just as compelling as I remembered! Okay, so I now had a mystery of my own to figure out. Several inquiries and web pages later, I had my answer. This is actually one of two Ellery Queen novels ghost written by none other than Avram Davidson! (The other one, if you're interested, is "The Fourth Side Of The Triangle.") Davidson is much better known for his fanstasy-type short stories...very much in the line of the "weird fantasy" (a genre that hardly exists anymore) published by Arkham House during their first three or four decades of publishing. Consider these quotes: "He was one of the finest short story writers ever to use the English language." "[He] may may have been one of the great short story writers of our times...the equal of, say, Saki and perhaps even John Collier." So, these two novels (if you can find them in print, that is) are more than a little bit of fun. If you're looking for something well worth your time, check them out!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A lost culture in the desert -- great stuff!
Aug 17 2008
By Patrick W. Crabtree
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
First, I have a HarperCollins copy of this book in softcover, published in 1994, 5" x 8", 157 pages. The work was originally published in 1964.
While the saga is slated as a "mystery," and murder does in fact ensue, this story just doesn't fall into the arena of Christie, Rinehart, or even previous Ellery Queen. It's more like a "Cadfael" entry.
A contemporary guy is transported back in time (spiritually speaking) when he gets stranded, and drawn into, an isolated religious community in the American southwest. These folks have existed for generations, virtually unknown to the outside world, only sending out one or two members for necessary supplies once in a great while to a small general store which is located in the desert boondocks. Think "The Village," The Village (Widescreen Vista Series).
Our protagonist interacts with these people and finds himself in the position of "investigator," when a murder occurs amongst the flock. Why does he feel compelled to solve the mystery? Because these pious folks have their own VERY unusual justice system, (which is also a bit rusty from lack of use), and the wrong guy might just be getting tagged for this one.
Folks, this is a very compelling tale, albeit an all-too-short one. In any case, it's a page-turner. Highly recommended.
While the saga is slated as a "mystery," and murder does in fact ensue, this story just doesn't fall into the arena of Christie, Rinehart, or even previous Ellery Queen. It's more like a "Cadfael" entry.
A contemporary guy is transported back in time (spiritually speaking) when he gets stranded, and drawn into, an isolated religious community in the American southwest. These folks have existed for generations, virtually unknown to the outside world, only sending out one or two members for necessary supplies once in a great while to a small general store which is located in the desert boondocks. Think "The Village," The Village (Widescreen Vista Series).
Our protagonist interacts with these people and finds himself in the position of "investigator," when a murder occurs amongst the flock. Why does he feel compelled to solve the mystery? Because these pious folks have their own VERY unusual justice system, (which is also a bit rusty from lack of use), and the wrong guy might just be getting tagged for this one.
Folks, this is a very compelling tale, albeit an all-too-short one. In any case, it's a page-turner. Highly recommended.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT a typical Ellery Queen tale
Mar 29 2008
By Patrick W. Crabtree
- Published on Amazon.com
First, I have a HarperCollins copy of this book in softcover, published in 1994, 5" x 8", 157 pages. The work was originally published in 1964.
While the saga is slated as a "mystery," and murder does in fact ensue, this story just doesn't fall into the arena of Christie, Rinehart, or even previous Ellery Queen. It's more like a "Cadfael" entry.
A contemporary guy is transported back in time (spiritually speaking) when he gets stranded, and drawn into, an isolated religious community in the American southwest. These folks have existed for generations, virtually unknown to the outside world, only sending out one or two members for necessary supplies once in a great while to a small general store which is located in the desert boondocks. Think "The Village," (superb 2004 film).
Our protagonist interacts with these people and finds himself in the position of "investigator," when a murder occurs among the flock. Why does he feel compelled to solve the mystery? Because these pious folks have their own VERY unusual justice system, (which is also a bit rusty from lack of use), and the wrong guy might just be getting tagged for this one.
Folks, this is a very compelling tale, albeit an all-too-short one. In any case, it's a page-turner. Highly recommended.
While the saga is slated as a "mystery," and murder does in fact ensue, this story just doesn't fall into the arena of Christie, Rinehart, or even previous Ellery Queen. It's more like a "Cadfael" entry.
A contemporary guy is transported back in time (spiritually speaking) when he gets stranded, and drawn into, an isolated religious community in the American southwest. These folks have existed for generations, virtually unknown to the outside world, only sending out one or two members for necessary supplies once in a great while to a small general store which is located in the desert boondocks. Think "The Village," (superb 2004 film).
Our protagonist interacts with these people and finds himself in the position of "investigator," when a murder occurs among the flock. Why does he feel compelled to solve the mystery? Because these pious folks have their own VERY unusual justice system, (which is also a bit rusty from lack of use), and the wrong guy might just be getting tagged for this one.
Folks, this is a very compelling tale, albeit an all-too-short one. In any case, it's a page-turner. Highly recommended.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice Story, But...
Jun 27 2012
By Martin D. Gibbs
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I was blown away by this when I first read it, mainly because it was so far outside of the traditional Queen book that it really caught my attention. One reviewer states that it fits more with Cadfael and that comparison does hold.
There is a murder, of course, and the ensuing tale is fast. Maybe too fast, too quick. But the story is wonderfully written and captivating. As the outsider descends into the secluded conclave, the story weaves well among the then-modern world and those who have hidden themselves away. The stranger works through their primitive sense of justice and the story ends perfectly.
However, there is a catch--a very big one. This gets three stars for its too-brief storyline and for another, glaring "problem."
Too bad this isn't really "Ellery Queen" (Dannay and Lee) writing this. (Crime Fiction, 1749-1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography by Allen J. Hubin, Garland, 1984). Nope, it was ghost-written by Avram Davidson. You see, a few EQ stories were not written by these men but ghost-written by others. For shame, for shame!)
There is a murder, of course, and the ensuing tale is fast. Maybe too fast, too quick. But the story is wonderfully written and captivating. As the outsider descends into the secluded conclave, the story weaves well among the then-modern world and those who have hidden themselves away. The stranger works through their primitive sense of justice and the story ends perfectly.
However, there is a catch--a very big one. This gets three stars for its too-brief storyline and for another, glaring "problem."
Too bad this isn't really "Ellery Queen" (Dannay and Lee) writing this. (Crime Fiction, 1749-1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography by Allen J. Hubin, Garland, 1984). Nope, it was ghost-written by Avram Davidson. You see, a few EQ stories were not written by these men but ghost-written by others. For shame, for shame!)
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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