The Murderer is a Fox by Ellery Queen First Edition Little, Brown & Company 1945. Boston. A VG+ copy that's free of any marks or signs of previous ownership. No foxing to contents and no toning. In original VG dust jacket. Not price clipped.

Ellery Queen’s The Murderer Is a Fox (1945) is a cerebral mystery set in the insular New England town of Wrightsville. When reclusive Civil War buff Davy Surratt, a former convict, is found dead—apparently a suicide—in his cluttered home, his widow begs Ellery Queen to investigate. Doubts arise as Ellery uncovers a tangled web of family secrets, wartime grudges, and a long-buried scandal involving stolen bonds. Probing beneath the town’s genteel facade, Queen deciphers cryptic clues tied to historical battles, exposing greed and vengeance. Queen’s logical puzzles and atmospheric prose deliver a taut, twist-filled whodunit exploring redemption and the past’s grip.

Collectors treasure The Murderer Is a Fox for its scarcity in the Queen canon, marking a shift toward psychological depth amid WWII-era tensions, akin to Ngaio Marsh’s character-driven tales. Its innovative use of historical motifs in detection appeals to readers who savor intellectual challenges and small-town intrigue. The novel’s exploration of guilt and legacy resonates with fans of classic puzzles, offering a sophisticated blend of suspense and social commentary that elevates it beyond mere whodunits.