The Roman Hat Mystery · Character

Monte Field

A slick, blue-blooded schemer with a criminal past, Monte Field is found poisoned in his theatre seat, leaving behind a hat full of secrets worth killing for.

major

Also known as Field, Mr. Field, Q. Monte Field

First appearance: the roman hat mystery

As a major figure in The Roman Hat Mystery, Monte Field is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The victim, described as an important personage.

In the storyLexicon of Persons Connected with the InvestigationOpen this moment free

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Field's shadowy career—bucket-shop swindles, a stool-pigeon, a fortune in compromising papers—makes him the kind of victim whose death opens more doors than it closes. His valet Michaels claims to hold the originals of papers Field kept in his hat, and that claim sets off a blackmail scheme aimed at the killer. Field never appears alive on the page, yet his reputation and the contents of his hat drive every early lead the Queens pursue.

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The fuller portrait of Monte Field sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Monte Field in the roman hat mystery

Character Web

29 connections

A slice of how Monte Field sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Primary suspects and investigators
Secondary characters and associates
Protagonist

+24 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this chapter, the emotional peak occurs when Inspector Queen and Ellery are summoned to meet Franklin Ives-…

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Relationships

Ellery Queen
professional · negative
Monte Field is a suspect or person of interest in the murder case, and Ellery… How this plays out →
Benjamin Morgan
professional · ambivalent
Richard Queen
professional · negative
Stephen Barry
professional · ambivalent
Ellery Queen
professional · negative
Monte Field is a suspect or person of interest in the murder case, and Ellery… How this plays out →
Richard Queen
professional · negative
Benjamin Morgan
professional · ambivalent
Ellery Queen
professional · negative
Monte Field is a suspect or person of interest in the murder case, and Ellery… How this plays out →
Richard Queen
professional · negative
Stephen Barry
professional · ambivalent
Benjamin Morgan
professional · ambivalent
Stephen Barry
professional · ambivalent

Ellery Queen
Monte Field is a suspect or person of interest in the murder case, and Ellery interrogates and analyzes him.
Benjamin Morgan
Morgan and Field have a business or legal connection, possibly as attorney and client.
Richard Queen
Monte Field is interrogated and investigated by Inspector Queen as a suspect.
Stephen Barry
Stephen Barry is likely a colleague or associate of Monte Field, possibly in the theater or legal world.
Ellery Queen
Monte Field is a suspect or person of interest in the murder case, and Ellery interrogates and analyzes him.
Richard Queen
Monte Field is interrogated and investigated by Inspector Queen as a suspect.
Benjamin Morgan
Morgan and Field have a business or legal connection, possibly as attorney and client.
Ellery Queen
Monte Field is a suspect or person of interest in the murder case, and Ellery interrogates and analyzes him.
Richard Queen
Monte Field is interrogated and investigated by Inspector Queen as a suspect.
Stephen Barry
Stephen Barry is likely a colleague or associate of Monte Field, possibly in the theater or legal world.
Benjamin Morgan
Morgan and Field have a business or legal connection, possibly as attorney and client.
Stephen Barry
Stephen Barry is likely a colleague or associate of Monte Field, possibly in the theater or legal world.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Monte Field in the roman hat mystery

In the story

Monte Field appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Lexicon of Persons Connected with the Investigation
The victim, described as an important personage.
Explanation for the Map of the Roman Theatre
His seat is marked with a black square on the map.
I: In Which Are Introduced a Theatre-Audience and a Corpse
The victim, found dead in the theatre; his body lies with a black-sleeved arm over his face.
In Which the District Attorney Turns Biographer
The victim, revealed to have a long criminal history as a lawyer for underworld figures, a former partner of Cohen, and the alleged mastermind of a criminal ring.
In Which the Mysterious Mr. Michaels Appears
The murder victim; mentioned as having told Michaels to come for a check; his relationship with Angela Russo and his partnership with Benjamin Morgan are discussed.
In Which Mr. Field's Tophats Begin to Assume Proportions
The murdered lawyer; his office is searched, and his scribbled program is found among theatre sweepings, showing the number '50,000' and other marks.
In Which More Hats Grow
The deceased; his apartment is searched for hidden blackmail papers.
Interlude
The murder victim whose killing the reader is challenged to solve.
List of Illustrations
Name appears in handwritten notes on the play program.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Monte Field unlock in the free preview.

See Monte Field in the roman hat mystery

See Monte Field in Lexicon of Persons Connected with the Investigation