Books like The Chinese Orange Mystery by Ellery Queen

In this classic mystery, a successful publisher and avid collector of rare stamps and precious stones keeps a private suite in a hotel as a refuge for his business dealings and personal affairs. When an anonymous young man is locked alone in the suite’s anteroom with a bowl of tangerines—also called Chinese oranges—he is later discovered dead with his skull crushed, his clothes turned inside out, and two African spears fixed between his body and garments, leaving the room’s furnishings in reverse order. No one appears to have entered or exited during the hours of the crime, yet valuable jewelry, rare stamps, and business papers are implicated. Ellery Queen is called upon to sift through the motives, deceptions, and mirrored situations that surround the publisher and his relatives, friends, and associates to uncover the twisted logic behind the murder. The novel blends classic detective work with an almost surreal tableau, featuring intricate puzzles and a keen exploration of human duplicity.

First publish date: 1934