The Copper Frame

I picked this up expecting an Ellery Queen mystery. I isn't. It is written under the Ellery Queen name and is one of a number that were not Ellery Queen mysteries.

Ted Saxon is a lieutenant on the local police department where his dad, Andy, is the Chief of Police. When Andy is ambushed and killed, Ted is made interim chief. Ted vows to find out who killed his dad.

A new mayor has been voted into office and there are questions as to who is behind him. A faction is pushing to bring harness racing into the small town of Iroquois, along with the syndicate and gambling. Something most of Iroquois doesn't want.

On New Years Eve, Ted winds up working so the majority of the department can enjoy the evening. Normally a quiet evening, it turns bad for Ted when a detective stops in the station with a female prisoner he is transporting. The detective isn't feeling well and wants to leave her in the custody of the Iroquois police while he visits the local hospital ER t find out what is wrong with him. Ted is fine with that and locks her in a cell. He has also wound up with another prisoner due to a traffic violation.

When Ted goes to do a routine check on the female prisoner, he finds she has attempted to hang herself with her scarf. When he unlocks the cell door he finds it's all a set-up and he is framed for something he didn't do. He is dismissed from the department while an investigation is done to find out the truth.

Even though he has no police power or privileges he continues to investigate and use his contacts to find the truth about his dad's murder and his frame-up.

It's a short book and fast read. It was OK, but I really had my heart set on Ellery... ( )