# Ellery Queen — The Roman Hat Mystery character guide > Ellery Queen in The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ellery, Mr. Ellery Queen, Queen **First appearance:** 0004-the-roman-hat-mystery ## Snapshot Amateur sleuth and Inspector Queen's bookish son, he trades wry banter for the sharpest deductions in his father's most baffling theatre murder. ## Who they are Ellery moves through the Roman Theatre case as both insider and amused observer, comfortable enough to joke about actors and orangeade while quietly cataloguing every exit, guard, and missing hat. His bond with his father is affectionate and teasing, but he refuses to let the Inspector's official machinery crowd out his own methodical theorizing. When the audience search turns up nothing, it's Ellery who frames the puzzle as a contest of wits against a clever killer, setting the intellectual stakes for everything that follows. ## Relationships ### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen) _family_ Ellery is the son of Inspector Richard Queen, and they work closely together on cases, with a mix of filial respect and professional collaboration. ### [Benjamin Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/benjamin_morgan) _professional_ Benjamin Morgan is a lawyer or legal figure who interacts frequently with Ellery during the investigation. ### [Monte Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/monte_field) _professional_ Monte Field is a suspect or person of interest in the murder case, and Ellery interrogates and analyzes him. ### [Louis Panzer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/louis_panzer) _professional_ Ellery and Panzer cooperate as part of the police investigation team. ### [Henry Sampson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/henry_sampson) _professional_ Henry Sampson is a district attorney or legal professional working alongside Ellery on the case. ### [Thomas Velie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/thomas_velie) _professional_ Ellery works with Sergeant Velie as part of the police investigation team. ### [Angela Russo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/angela_russo) _professional_ Angela Russo is interviewed by Ellery as part of the murder investigation. ### [Timothy Cronin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/timothy_cronin) _professional_ Timothy Cronin is a witness or person of interest questioned by Ellery. ### [Parson Johnny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/parson_johnny) _professional_ Parson Johnny is a theater employee or underworld figure questioned by Ellery. ### [Monte Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/monte_field) _professional_ Monte Field is a suspect or person of interest in the murder case, and Ellery interrogates and analyzes him. ### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen) _family_ Ellery is the son of Inspector Richard Queen, and they work closely together on cases, with a mix of filial respect and professional collaboration. ### [Richard Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_queen) _family_ Ellery is the son of Inspector Richard Queen, and they work closely together on cases, with a mix of filial respect and professional collaboration. ## In the story ### [Lexicon of Persons Connected with the Investigation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/lexicon-of-persons-connected-with-the-investigation) Astute gentleman whose business it is to discover such things. ### [Explanation for the Map of the Roman Theatre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/explanation-for-the-map-of-the-roman-theatre) Drew the map of the Roman Theatre. ### [In Which One Queen Works and Another Queen Watches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-ii-in-which-one-queen-works-and-another-queen-watches) Observes the investigation, examines the body, and measures the victim's head with a piece of string. ### [In Which a “Parson” Comes to Grief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-iii-in-which-a-parson-comes-to-grief) Observes the proceedings, asks pointed questions about the timing of Jess Lynch's errand and the top hat. ### [IV: In Which Many Are Called and Two Are Chosen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-iv-in-which-many-are-called-and-two-are-chosen) Observes the interrogation of the Parson and assists his father in examining evidence. ### [In Which the District Attorney Turns Biographer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-vi-in-which-the-district-attorney-turns-biographer) Ellery listens intently to Sampson's account, makes a wry comment about losing a first-edition book, and points out the significance of the missing hat. ### [The Queens Take Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-vii-the-queens-take-stock) Leads the review of evidence, deducing that the murderer had no foreknowledge of the missing top hat and that the locked doors eliminate certain escape routes. ### [In Which the Queens Meet Mr. Field's Very Best Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-viii-in-which-the-queens-meet-mr-field-s-very-best-friend) Ellery observes the interrogation and participates in the search, noting the absence of hats and canes in the closet. ### [In Which the Mysterious Mr. Michaels Appears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-ix-in-which-the-mysterious-mr-michaels-appears) Observes Michaels's behavior; picks up the dropped newspaper to expose Michaels's lie; tricks Michaels into admitting his criminal record; protests being dragged along to Field's office. ### [In Which Mr. Field's Tophats Begin to Assume Proportions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-x-in-which-mr-field-s-tophats-begin-to-assume-proportions) Accompanies his father to Field's office, examines the scribbled program, and argues that Field's writing his own name is a natural psychological action, not necessarily egotism. ### [In Which the Past Casts a Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-xi-in-which-the-past-casts-a-shadow) Accompanies his father to both meetings, observes the dynamics, and deduces that blackmail was involved. ### [In Which the Queens Invade Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-xii-in-which-the-queens-invade-society) Accompanies his father to the Ives-Pope residence; observes the proceedings while leaning against a bookcase. ### [Queen to Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-xiii-queen-to-queen) Present at home with his father; engages in discussion about the hat and the case. ### [In Which the Hat Grows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xiv-in-which-the-hat-grows) Rises early with his father, participates in the search of the Roman Theatre, and engages in earnest conversation with Mrs. Phillips on stage before disappearing. ### [XV: In Which an Accusation Is Made](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xv-in-which-an-accusation-is-made) Observes the interrogation while reading a handwriting analysis book; questions Mrs. Russo about Field's top hat. ### [In Which the Queens Go to the Theatre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xvi-in-which-the-queens-go-to-the-theatre) Dines with Benjamin Morgan and his father, then attends the theatre. ### [In Which More Hats Grow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xvii-in-which-more-hats-grow) Initially confident the papers are in the apartment, he later deduces they overlooked the ceiling and canopy. ### [XVIII: Stalemate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xviii-stalemate) Expresses confidence in his father's abilities and eagerly anticipates his vacation to Maine, despite the case's stalemate. ### [Interlude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-interlude) Permitted the interpolation of a challenge to the reader. ### [In Which Inspector Queen Conducts More Legal Conversations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-four-xix-in-which-inspector-queen-conducts-more-legal-conversations) Absent; sends a telegram from Maine suggesting he has solved the case. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/endnotes) Noted as making his bow as his father's unofficial counsel during the investigation. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) Drew the map of the Roman Theatre. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_queen - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters