Judah Bendigo calmly announced that he would commit a murder. The victim: his brother King, the richest man in the world. The announced day: June 21. The time: exactly 12:00 midnight.

ELLERY QUEEN HAD ALL THE FACTS IN ADVANCE!

The case was the most frustrating in Queen's career. For how could King Bendigo, closely guarded behind steel doors, be shot by Judah, whom Ellery was watching in another room?

But at exactly 12:00 midnight King Bendigo slumped forward with a small black bullet hole in his left breast. Ellery Queen had failed to prevent an "impossible" murder. For once, the world's perfect detective had found the world's most perfect crime.