# Richard Queen — The Roman Hat Mystery character guide > Richard Queen in The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Inspector Queen, Old Queen, Mr. Richard Queen, Inspector Richard Queen **First appearance:** 0004-the-roman-hat-mystery ## Snapshot The acid-tongued Inspector Queen commands the official hunt for Monte Field's killer, balancing departmental pressure with a father's pride in his amateur-sleuth son. ## Who they are Queen runs the Roman Theatre investigation from a cramped headquarters office, issuing orders to Velie and Ritter while coaxing witnesses like Benjamin Morgan into reluctant cooperation. His manner swings between snappish impatience with the press of the case and genuine warmth toward his son Ellery and the boy Djuna. He matters because the entire procedural spine of the novel—searches, interrogations, the careful reading of Michaels's blackmail letter—runs through his hands. ## Relationships ### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_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. ### [Louis Panzer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/louis_panzer) _professional_ Louis Panzer is a detective or police colleague working under Inspector Queen. ### [Benjamin Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/benjamin_morgan) _professional_ Morgan interacts with Inspector Queen in an official capacity, likely as a legal advisor or witness. ### [Monte Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/monte_field) _professional_ Monte Field is interrogated and investigated by Inspector Queen as a suspect. ### [Thomas Velie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/thomas_velie) _professional_ Thomas Velie is a police sergeant or detective subordinate to Inspector Queen. ### [Angela Russo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/angela_russo) _professional_ Angela Russo is a witness or suspect questioned by Inspector Queen. ### [Timothy Cronin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/timothy_cronin) _professional_ Inspector Queen interrogates Timothy Cronin as part of the police investigation. ### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_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. ### [Monte Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/monte_field) _professional_ Monte Field is interrogated and investigated by Inspector Queen as a suspect. ### [Ellery Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/ellery_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. ### [Louis Panzer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/louis_panzer) _professional_ Louis Panzer is a detective or police colleague working under Inspector Queen. ### [Benjamin Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/benjamin_morgan) _professional_ Morgan interacts with Inspector Queen in an official capacity, likely as a legal advisor or witness. ## 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. ### [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) Takes command of the crime scene with calm authority, interviews witnesses, and directs detectives. ### [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) Directs the investigation, orders a search of the audience and theatre, and interrogates Jess Lynch. ### [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) Leads the investigation, orders the audience list compilation, and interrogates the Parson. ### [In Which Inspector Queen Conducts Some Legal Conversations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-v-in-which-inspector-queen-conducts-some-legal-conversations) Conducts interviews in the manager's office, questioning suspects and gathering 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) Inspector Queen is portrayed as a chameleon-like figure, adaptable and keen, but inwardly sensitive. He is troubled by the case and the effect on Frances Ives-Pope, and eagerly awaits Ellery's return. ### [The Queens Take Stock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-one-vii-the-queens-take-stock) Listens to Ellery's analysis, questions the missing hat and ticket stubs, and orders the theatre closed to prevent removal of evidence. ### [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) Inspector Queen leads the investigation, interrogates Angela Russo, and directs the search of Field's apartment. ### [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) Leads the interrogation of Michaels; notes the valet's change in demeanor and voice; searches the suitcase; decides to visit Field's office on Chambers Street. ### [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) Leads the investigation at Field's office, interviews Lewin, examines theatre sweepings, and deduces Field went to the theatre for business. ### [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) Arranges a meeting with Ives-Pope and later interviews Benjamin Morgan to uncover Field's past. ### [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) Leads the investigation at the Ives-Pope home; apologizes to Frances for his harsh treatment and explains his methods. ### [Queen to Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-xiii-queen-to-queen) Hosts Dr. Prouty and Dr. Jones; later debates the hat mystery with Ellery. ### [In Which the Hat Grows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xiv-in-which-the-hat-grows) Leads the investigation, arranges to meet Panzer and Mrs. Phillips at the theatre, conducts a meticulous search of the premises, and receives a parcel from Cronin via Panzer. ### [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) Presides over the interrogation of Mrs. Russo, probing her story and deciding to delay Morgan's arrest. ### [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) Arranges the dinner with Morgan and later goes to the Roman Theatre with Ellery. ### [In Which More Hats Grow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xvii-in-which-more-hats-grow) Leads the search of Field's apartment, growing irritable and determined as the search progresses. ### [XVIII: Stalemate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-xviii-stalemate) Visibly exhausted and frustrated by the lack of tangible evidence; receives the disappointing news from the housebreaker and reviews surveillance reports. ### [Interlude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-three-interlude) Quoted from his book 'American Crime and Methods of Detection' on the nature of the perfect criminal. ### [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) Irritable and depressed due to Ellery's absence; conducts interviews at the theatre. ### [XX: In Which Mr. Michaels Writes a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-four-xx-in-which-mr-michaels-writes-a-letter) Inspector Queen is cheerful and back to his old self, orchestrating a scheme involving Michaels' blackmail letter. ### [XXI: In Which Inspector Queen Makes a Capture—](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-four-xxi-in-which-inspector-queen-makes-a-capture) Disguises himself as a black-clad man to set a trap in Central Park; orchestrates the capture and reveals the suspect's identity. ### [XXII: —and Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-four-xxii-and-explains) The Inspector narrates the case's resolution, explaining the logic behind the missing hat and the blackmail motive. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/endnotes) His statement about Benjamin Morgan's innocence is corrected by Ellery Queen. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/characters/richard_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