the
pen name of two cousins, Frederic Dannay (1905-1982) and Manfred B. Lee (1905-1971), who became
successful American detective story writers. Their
chief fictional
character was also named "Ellery Queen" and more than forty
mystery novels were written about him. The
character was also featured on radio, television and in a number of movies. In 1941 Lee and Dannay founded Ellery Queen's
Mystery Magazine which published reprints of detective fiction classics and original detective fiction works.