The Roman Hat Mystery is the first novel in the legendary Ellery Queen detective series, introducing the brilliant amateur sleuth Ellery Queen and his father, Inspector Richard Queen of the New York Police Department. Originally published in 1929, this classic whodunit is a prime example of the Golden Age of detective fiction, featuring an intricate puzzle, logical deduction, and an unexpected conclusion. The story unfolds in the crowded Roman Theatre during a Broadway performance, where a prominent and unscrupulous attorney, Monte Field, is found dead in his seat—poisoned. But the most baffling clue is not how he was killed, but what is missing: Field's top hat has mysteriously vanished. As the Queens investigate, they uncover a tangled web of blackmail, corruption, and deception in the world of high society and the theatre. Ellery Queen, with his methodical approach and razor-sharp intellect, pieces together the cryptic evidence, challenging the reader to solve the mystery alongside him. With a cleverly placed "Challenge to the Reader" before the final reveal, the novel invites armchair detectives to test their own reasoning skills. Filled with suspense, a carefully constructed plot, and a classic locked-room atmosphere, The Roman Hat Mystery established Ellery Queen as one of the most celebrated figures in detective fiction. A must-read for fans of Agatha Christie, S.S. Van Dine, and Golden Age mysteries, this novel is a brilliant beginning to one of the most iconic series in the genre.