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This title was also pubished as The Vanishing Corpse (Pyramid Books, 1968).
About the author: According to Francis M. Nevins, this title (based on the screenplay) was ghost written by Laurence Dwight Smith (1895-1952). (from Ellery Queen, A Website on Deduction by Kurt Sercu)
Major characters:
- John Braun, health promoter
- Lydia Braun, his wife
- Barbara Braun, their estranged daughter
- Cornelia Mullins, Braun's assistant
- Rocky Taylor, Cornelia's husband
- Claude L. Zachary, Braun's lawyer and manager
- Dr. Jim Rogers, Braun's health article ghost writer
- Dr. Garten and Dr. Henderson, cancer specialists
- Amos, Braun's gardener; and Joseph, his pet raven
- Nikki Porter, Barbara's roommate, a mystery writer
- Ellery Queen, Private Investigator
- Richard Queen, his father
- Dr. Samuel Prouty, medical examiner
Locale: New York City
Synopsis: Famous New York City health farm owner John Braun calls his employees in to tell them he has camcer, and perhaps six weeks to live. He is closing the health farm. He is also changing his will to leave his estate - exclusively - to his wife Lydia Braun. He is cutting out their daughter, Barbara Braun due to a disagreement over her marriage plans. She wants to marry Dr. Jim Rogers, who Braun employs as a ghost writer of his health articles; but Braun disapproves.
With death imminent, the family tries to locate Barbara with the help of the police. She is staying - well, hiding - with mystery writer Nikki Porter, who resembles her. Ellery Queen tries to help out, and goes to the apartment to find her. Nikki Porter pretends to be Barbara, and is taken to the Braun home.
Nikki, thinking this a swell plot for a mystery, finds her way into Braun's suite. She observes him lock the door from the inside, then retreat to his bedroom. Later, trying to find her way out, she discovers his body - with its throat cut.
Review: This story introduces Nikki Porter, who will become EQ's girlfriend throughout the series. This story also plugs several other EQ books along the way, Hardy Boys style. The health farm fad seems reminded me of Jack LaLanne and his fitness empire, which flourished a few years after this story.
The story moves right along. I had to reread some to get a handle on how the Braun suite was laid out, as that is pertinent to the plot; and to understand how Nikki got herself locked inside.
The body gets lost - twice - in a couple of amusing episodes, and the reactions of the indignant medical examiner are enjoyable.
The hook behind the disappearing murder weapon is a stunt recycled in later EQ books as well.
It's hard to see, but the illustration on the cover is Claud Zachary kneeling on the floor as he throws the books of the business into the furnace.
You may also enjoy this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.
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