Three short stories with Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Nice for the Nero Wolfe lover! Good thinking mysteries.
Nero Wolfe is still the most pompous ass since Poirot. Archie Goodwin, as picturesque and lovable as ever, throws his wit and muscle around: he's not quite Philip Marlowe but entertaining enough. The police are never quite up to the task, so nothing's new in detective fiction. At least no one breaks down on the witness stand and confesses to the crime. And, the plot it is somewhat plausible. This is an easy read for an afternoon, or evening.
This is the first time I've read a Nero Wolfe book. However, even I know that Nero Wolfe doesn't leave his home - or handle divorce cases - or tolerate dogs in the house. But Rex Stout forces his hero to face each of these horrors in this small volume.
THE NEXT WITNESS: Who killed a young switchboard operator? Nero Wolfe doesn't think it is the man he sees in the dock fighting for his life in court. As the judicial system grinds towards a final verdict, Nero and Archie hunt for the murderer.
WHEN A MAN MURDERS ... A dead millionaire comes back to life and messes up the status-quo. While his family is in chaos, Sidney Karnow dies again. Each of the family members has different feelings about the murdered man. But who done it?
DIE LIKE A DOG: Archie's problems really begin when a Labrador retriever follows him home from a murder scene. All Archie wanted to do is exchange the raincoat that had accidentally been taken from Nero Wolfe's house earlier that day. The sky must be getting ready to fall because Wolfe is enchanted with the Lab.
I thought this last one was over-the-top; as in -- I don't think so. Still, it is fun to watch Archie and Nero work their magic.
THE NEXT WITNESS: Who killed a young switchboard operator? Nero Wolfe doesn't think it is the man he sees in the dock fighting for his life in court. As the judicial system grinds towards a final verdict, Nero and Archie hunt for the murderer.
WHEN A MAN MURDERS ... A dead millionaire comes back to life and messes up the status-quo. While his family is in chaos, Sidney Karnow dies again. Each of the family members has different feelings about the murdered man. But who done it?
DIE LIKE A DOG: Archie's problems really begin when a Labrador retriever follows him home from a murder scene. All Archie wanted to do is exchange the raincoat that had accidentally been taken from Nero Wolfe's house earlier that day. The sky must be getting ready to fall because Wolfe is enchanted with the Lab.
I thought this last one was over-the-top; as in -- I don't think so. Still, it is fun to watch Archie and Nero work their magic.
