Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed on 1/26/2018 + 1033 more book reviews

Called a "Nero Wolfe double mystery"; there are two novellas sort of tied together: Not Quite Dead Enough and Booby Trap. At first it looked like fun - Archie is a Major in the Army! In Not Quite Dead Enough, the Army wants very badly for Nero Wolfe to work for them, but when Archie is sent to the brownstone he discovers Wolfe has decided to get fit and join the infantry. It's highly amusing but doesn't take long to dispel. The part I didn't like about this one is Lily Rowan desperately running after Archie and him treating her like a grade-A jerk. I'm no expert on all the Nero Wolfe stories but it didn't feel right to me. In Booby Trap, an anonymous letter claims someone is defrauding the military; when they look into it, a grenade kills a colonel in his office. I felt that one was just dull, no spark from the characters. And I had to keep the time period firmly in mind during all the sexist jibes at a female Sergeant character. So, I usually like Wolfe, but this one left me cold.

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