On vacation with his father, Inspector Richard Queen, and his secretary Nikki Porter, Ellery Queen decides to stop with his fellow travelers at a seaside hotel of a sleepy town called Cliffside. They are greeted by Tom Bridges as the manager of the hotel. Bridges recognizes Ellery Queen as a famous detective.

After bidding good night to Ellery Queen, Nikki goes about settling into her room. She is frightened to discover a black bird she thinks a crow in her room. When the black bird attempts to bite her, she screams, the exclamation being answered by Ellery Queen and his father. Inspector Queen thinks searches the window-view, yet cannot see any bird. Ellery Queen points out the bloody bird tracks on the sheets, confirming the bird's existence as well as an accompanying mystery.

In the hallway, the trio encounters Leona, the hotel maid. She is clearly distraught, telling the hotel guests one Mr. Throckmorton had just fallen to his death. They step onto the veranda to encounter Mrs. Agnes Throckmorton looking over the cliff where her husband fell to his death. Ellery Queen uses his flashlight to confirm the dead body, telling Mrs. Throckmorton to avert her eyes from the gruesome scene. 

Investigating the scene more closely with his father, Ellery Queen is surprised to find little blood. He surmises mentally the corpse was killed elsewhere before being thrown over the cliff. Speaking with Agnes and Leona later, Inspector Queen reveals that his son Ellery Queen suspects murder. Tom Bridges breaks into the conversation, saying he was with Leona when they heard the scream of Mrs. Throckmorton. He suggests it absolves him as a suspect. Leona confirms Tom's testimony.

Giles, the hotel janitor appears at the police chief's request to ask the inspector if he would like to start questioning the suspects. Ellery Queen soon begins interviewing Agnes Throckmorton, who revealed the significant age difference between herself and her husband, their abiding love for each other, and his habit of walking along the cliffside after working in his aviary. Inspector Queen is interested in the hitherto unrevealed existence of the deceased's ownership of an aviary.

Further interrogation reveals Mr. Throckmorton had seven rare ravens from Bolivia, but no crows. They go to investigate the aviary, discovering all seven ravens accounted for, yet nary a one with bloody feet. Inspector Queen places his fingers close to the cage, though Ellery Queen warns him to be careful. Despite his warnings, Ellery Queen's father receives a painful bite from the raven. 

Tom Bridges shows up, informing the investigators the ravens are of a testy breed. Tom knows as he used to assist Throckmorton in their handling. Tom lights a cigarette, and Ellery Queen asks if he will light Ellery Queen's as well. He does so, Ellery Queen detecting a strange smell on Tom's fingers. 

Suddenly, Ellery Queen seizes Tom, saying he has enough evidence to prove Tom is the murderer. A policeman shows up, and Tom Bridges is sat down while Ellery Queen explains the evidence against Tom. Tom was in love with Mrs. Throckmorton, and he decides to murder Mr. Throckmorton despite his Agne's slight protestations. When Tom is killing Throckmorton, the cages are disrupted, releasing the ravens. He recovers all the birds but one, which he does find eventually. He washes its feet with a "strong, yellow laundry soap" that Ellery Queen smelled while having Tom light the detective's cigarette. Another clue was the ease in handling the bird that Bridge's displayed, when the same bird bit Inspector Queen.

Tom Bridges and Agnes Throckmorton are placed in the jail, to await their future trials.

*Ellery Queen (Superior) #4
*Strange Fantasy #1 (edited reprint)

This Ellery Queen story "The Case of the Seventh Raven" was later reprinted as a Emmet Blake story, retitled "Death Claws" in an unnumbered issue of 'Strange Fantasy' #1 (Aug. 1952, Ajax Farrel), with additional edits made to change some of the character's names, Inspector Richard Queen became Inspector Blake and Nikki Porter became Sally.

* Strange Fantasy #1 at [http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/preview/index.php?did=22400&page=8 Digital Comic Museum]
Category:Male Characters
Category:Ajax-Farrell Character
Category:1949 Debuts
Category:Comic Book Characters
Category:Non-Powered Characters
Category:Villains
Category:Unknown Creator
Category:Superior Publishers Characters
Category:Eerie Publications Characters