by Ellery Queen
First published 1963
Robert York finds a card bearing the letter "J" in his mail. Twenty-four hours later, he's dead. When a second card appears, detective Ellery Queen realizes he faces a methodical killer who turns murder into sport. This murderer warns each victim before striking, transforming death into a twisted game with rules only the killer knows. Queen has one lead: the mysterious signature "Y" left behind at each scene. As more cards surface and more victims fall, Queen races to decode the pattern behind the killer's selection process. The murderer's vendetta follows a precise logic that Queen must unravel before "Y" completes his deadly competition. Each card represents another life at stake, another move in a game where the stakes are absolute and the killer holds all the advantages. Queen must think like his opponent to save the remaining targets and end this calculated spree of violence.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, deadly-game
Paperback · Penguin
Content warnings: murder, violence