ELLERY QUEEN’S MYSTERY MAGAZINE – February 1968. Overall rating: ***

STANLEY ELLIN “The Last Bottle in the World.” Novelet, A story that wine lovers will really enjoy the most. Ending a bit weak, but Ellin stands high above every other writer of the suspense story, (5)

DOROTHY L. SAYERS “A Matter of Taste.” First appeared in Lord Peter Views the Body (Gollancz, UK, 1928, as “The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste”.) A test by wine tasting, but it is obvious who the real Lord Wimsey is. (2)

CHARLES A. PETERSON “The Arithmetic of Poison” Poison from the office coffee machine, Effective, (3)

EDWARD D. HOCH “The Spy Who Clutched a Playing Card.” Rand of Double-C deciphers a clue given by the ten of clubs, (2)

HELEN HUDSON “The Thief.” First appeared in The Reporter, January 12, 1967, as “A Constant Caller.” Good story of a reclusive old lady, spoiled by poetic ending, (3)

HENRY T, PARRY “The Baker Street Irregulars Murder Case.” A waste of paper, (0)

ELLERY QUEEN “The Inner Circle.” Novelet. First appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, January 1947, as “The Adventure of the Inner Circle.” A club, and a secret society within that club, and a secret society within that select society… (4)

CHRISTIANNA BRAND “The Wicked Ghost.” A story of a haunting, to be believed or not, meant to discourage infidelity, (5)

JAMES HOLDING “The Philippines Kay Mystery.” Martin Leroy & King Danforth. Escape from a bamboo prison, with a tedious epilogue. (2)

JAMES POWELL “The Eye of Shafti.” Fantasy and Fable. Comic story of the stolen eye of an idol. Slowed by it own ending, (2)

WILLIAM MacHARG “Tell ’Em at Headquarters.” O’Malley. First appeared in Collier’s, September 17 1932, as “Soiled Diamonds.” Hold-up in a taxi. Diamonds in a soup. (2)

ROBERT J. TILLEY “The Great Golf Mystery.” Near slapstick story of golf nuts. (3)

ROBERT L. FISH “The Adventure of the Disappearance of Whistler’s Mother.” Schlock Homes cracks Louvre kidnapping case, in his own style. (4)

LAWRENCE TREAT “B As in Blackmail.” Mitch Taylor & Bill Decker. Mitch Taylor loses a miniature microphone, and credit for solving a murder he listened in on. (#)