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Nero Wolfe #35
The Final Deduction
When Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin become involved in a high-society kidnapping, the case is complicated by two bizarre, unexpected murders
140 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1961
145 people are currently reading
718 people want to read
About the author
Rex Stout
833 books1,030 followersRex Todhunter Stout (1886–1975) was an American crime writer, best known as the creator of the larger-than-life fictional detective Nero Wolfe, described by reviewer Will Cuppy as "that Falstaff of detectives." Wolfe's assistant Archie Goodwin recorded the cases of the detective genius from 1934 (Fer-de-Lance) to 1975 (A Family Affair).
The Nero Wolfe corpus was nominated Best Mystery Series of the Century at Bouchercon 2000, the world's largest mystery convention, and Rex Stout was nominated Best Mystery Writer of the Century.
The Nero Wolfe corpus was nominated Best Mystery Series of the Century at Bouchercon 2000, the world's largest mystery convention, and Rex Stout was nominated Best Mystery Writer of the Century.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
April 8, 2020
A rich woman comes to tell Wolfe that her husband's been kidnapped. The ransom is paid, the husband quickly released, but soon two people are dead--and Wolfe and Archie begin to suspect the kidnapping is not what it seems.
Not a particularly memorable Wolfe adventure, but still entertaining.
April 6, 2020
I will say the same thing that I always say about Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books..........fantastic!! It is not the plot that is the attraction but the interaction between Wolfe and Archie that makes these books so appealing. The plot here concerns a rich woman's husband who has been kidnapped and Wolfe is hired to get his back safely. He does but that is when the story takes a sudden turn to the deadly. Lots of fun.
If you haven't tried Rex Stout and you are a mystery fan, get busy and find one in the corpus of 40+ Nero Wolfe books. But caution.....do not start with A Family Affair which is the last book in the series written by Stout since you must be familiar with the characters prior to reading it.
by
Rex Stout
If you haven't tried Rex Stout and you are a mystery fan, get busy and find one in the corpus of 40+ Nero Wolfe books. But caution.....do not start with A Family Affair which is the last book in the series written by Stout since you must be familiar with the characters prior to reading it.
by
Rex Stout
February 20, 2018
Nero is hired by actress Althea Vail when her current husband is kidnapped. She pays the ransom and everything seems to be going well - until someone is murdered.
I'm not super familiar with this series, something I should definitely change. I found Nero a little egotistical at times, but it certainly helps that we are spending time away from him thanks to Archie's narration and trips outside Nero's home. The plot is fast paced with plenty of twists to keep me engaged. The suspects are a bit weak, but that is a minor issue overall. There are some dated references since this book was written in the 1960's, so keep that in mind as you read.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I'm not super familiar with this series, something I should definitely change. I found Nero a little egotistical at times, but it certainly helps that we are spending time away from him thanks to Archie's narration and trips outside Nero's home. The plot is fast paced with plenty of twists to keep me engaged. The suspects are a bit weak, but that is a minor issue overall. There are some dated references since this book was written in the 1960's, so keep that in mind as you read.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 3, 2019
Another solid installment in the Wolfe & Archie adventures. Wolfe is originally hired by Mrs. Vail, a wealthy woman whose husband, Jimmy Vail, has been kidnapped. She brings him Wolfe the ransom note, the writer of which identifies himself as Mr. Knapp. She refuses to tell him the instructions she received on paying the ransom of $500,000 which is pocket change to her, apparently. So the note itself, a typewritten one, is the only clue. However, it turns out to be moot; the husband returns home safe and sound.
But now the fun begins. Mrs. Vail’s secretary is found dead at just the spot where Mrs. Vail delivered the money to Mr. Knapp, and not long after, Jimmy Vail is also found dead in the library of their NYC mansion. Mrs. Vail is so distraught by these events that she tells her son, Noel Tedder, that if he can find the $500k he can keep it. So HE hires Wolfe to help find the money, for a 1/5 share, aka 100 grand. It’s only May, and with that much dough, Wolfe can eat gourmet dinners, grow his orchids, pay his staff, and still not have to work the rest of the year. 🤑
But now the fun begins. Mrs. Vail’s secretary is found dead at just the spot where Mrs. Vail delivered the money to Mr. Knapp, and not long after, Jimmy Vail is also found dead in the library of their NYC mansion. Mrs. Vail is so distraught by these events that she tells her son, Noel Tedder, that if he can find the $500k he can keep it. So HE hires Wolfe to help find the money, for a 1/5 share, aka 100 grand. It’s only May, and with that much dough, Wolfe can eat gourmet dinners, grow his orchids, pay his staff, and still not have to work the rest of the year. 🤑
February 22, 2021
Loved this book. Quintessential Nero Wolfe. I always enjoy the interplay between Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe, representing the young and old, the wisecracking and the serious. This book especially grabbed my attention, since we had three good, solid suspects early on in the story. And though I found it a smidge on the easy side to figure out, I didn't have the motive exactly right, and the ending was perfectly satisfying. Though in all honesty, I don't really read these books for the mystery, I mostly read them because it's such a mini-vacation to step into the world of Nero Wolfe and out of reality for a while.
June 9, 2019
COUNTDOWN: Mid-20th Century North American Crime
BOOK 237 (of 250)
There is a good reason the 2 library systems I utilize (City, County) has one copy of this book. Read on, if you will:
HOOK - 1 stars: >>>"Your name, please?"<<This is a sub-standard opener: a woman goes to Nero Wolfe's office for help, as her husband has been kidnapped but, naturally, she can't go to the police. But by 1961, we have 2 overused cliches here. And nothing much happens for several chapters.
PACE - 1 star: Stupendously repetitive lines and plot reviews. The problem is this is novella material, maybe even an idea suitable for a short story, but Stout drags it out...
PLOT - 1 star: You'll know, absolutely, 90% of the story halfway through. There is one element - the why - that is so ridiculous one wonders how this actually passed through a publishing house to book and library shelves. This is THE most ridiculous reason to kill 2 people I've run across in all the crime novels I've read.
CAST - 2 stars: Yes, Nero and Archie and Fritz are here...but I don't believe for a moment Nero wouldn't have just laughed out loud at the silliness of it all. Oh, there is this family and a secretary and 2 of them die...pretty much pointlessly.
ATMOSPHERE - 2:Fritz's cooking skills are abundantly clear and let to my own home snacks which surpassed this book. Archie has a good line when describing a ladies bedroom: "...one glance told me [it] would suit my wife fine if I ever had a wife, which I probably wouldn't because she would probably want that kind of room...soft lights, soft grays and pinks, soft rug, soft drapes." We already know about Nero's brownstone and his sumptuous roof-top glass house for growing...oddly...nothing Nero can eat. Food talk and not much else. I do like to visit Nero's home, but nothing new is added here.
SUMMARY: 1.4. Stout should know better: this story is NOT novel material at all. Must have been some kind of novel-delivery deadline involved. Skip this Nero outing and go for...well, any other Stout/Wolfe novel as I found this one to be the weakest I've read. And that explains the singular copy in the library systems. This #35 was just phoned in work by Stout.
BOOK 237 (of 250)
There is a good reason the 2 library systems I utilize (City, County) has one copy of this book. Read on, if you will:
HOOK - 1 stars: >>>"Your name, please?"<<This is a sub-standard opener: a woman goes to Nero Wolfe's office for help, as her husband has been kidnapped but, naturally, she can't go to the police. But by 1961, we have 2 overused cliches here. And nothing much happens for several chapters.
PACE - 1 star: Stupendously repetitive lines and plot reviews. The problem is this is novella material, maybe even an idea suitable for a short story, but Stout drags it out...
PLOT - 1 star: You'll know, absolutely, 90% of the story halfway through. There is one element - the why - that is so ridiculous one wonders how this actually passed through a publishing house to book and library shelves. This is THE most ridiculous reason to kill 2 people I've run across in all the crime novels I've read.
CAST - 2 stars: Yes, Nero and Archie and Fritz are here...but I don't believe for a moment Nero wouldn't have just laughed out loud at the silliness of it all. Oh, there is this family and a secretary and 2 of them die...pretty much pointlessly.
ATMOSPHERE - 2:Fritz's cooking skills are abundantly clear and let to my own home snacks which surpassed this book. Archie has a good line when describing a ladies bedroom: "...one glance told me [it] would suit my wife fine if I ever had a wife, which I probably wouldn't because she would probably want that kind of room...soft lights, soft grays and pinks, soft rug, soft drapes." We already know about Nero's brownstone and his sumptuous roof-top glass house for growing...oddly...nothing Nero can eat. Food talk and not much else. I do like to visit Nero's home, but nothing new is added here.
SUMMARY: 1.4. Stout should know better: this story is NOT novel material at all. Must have been some kind of novel-delivery deadline involved. Skip this Nero outing and go for...well, any other Stout/Wolfe novel as I found this one to be the weakest I've read. And that explains the singular copy in the library systems. This #35 was just phoned in work by Stout.
October 24, 2018
Always a delight to discover yet another Nero Wolfe I haven't read yet. Stout has written so many novels with our beloved misanthropic detective of size, bless him, that it will be a long time before I will have read all of them.
Brief synopsis: A woman comes to Wolfe, a very, very rich woman I might add, but aren't they all?-to offer Wolfe about five years' salary worth of green backs to find her kidnapped husband.
If you've read any Wolfe, you know the routine. Wolfe and the lady argue back and forth. Wolfe has better things to do with his life, like sit at his desk, read classics and drink beer. The woman argues something sentimental, like, oh, how much she loves her husband and wants him back etc...Wolfe remains unmoved...meanwhile Archie, Nero's foot man is on the sidelines screaming in his head, "But half a million dollars, Wolfe, sheesh!"
What I liked about this mystery, and there was nothing I did not like, was the seamless way the characters: detectives, police, suspects and ultimately the guilty party, are introduced, woven in, and dispensed with as the case narrows down to who did it and why.
Before we find out the why, a few people are murdered without any apparent reason. Naturally these reasons become apparent towards the end, and when we finally discover who did it and why, the reasons are logical (note I did not say moral) and the conclusion lands on two feet. Mysteries don't always do that, sometimes the author strains reasoning to make their solution work.
And as always, we have the witty and playful banter between Archie and, well, everyone else, since the Wolfe mysteries are narrated from Archie's first person point of view, which gives us a better view of the star: Nero Wolfe.
The story was written in 1961, which makes it a later work, but I think that, unlike a lot of mystery writers, Stout not only avoids being formulaic (well, as much as you can avoid that with murder mysteries) and his character analysis matures.
Nero fans will enjoy this book and first time readers of Stout's novels will become Nero fans.
Brief synopsis: A woman comes to Wolfe, a very, very rich woman I might add, but aren't they all?-to offer Wolfe about five years' salary worth of green backs to find her kidnapped husband.
If you've read any Wolfe, you know the routine. Wolfe and the lady argue back and forth. Wolfe has better things to do with his life, like sit at his desk, read classics and drink beer. The woman argues something sentimental, like, oh, how much she loves her husband and wants him back etc...Wolfe remains unmoved...meanwhile Archie, Nero's foot man is on the sidelines screaming in his head, "But half a million dollars, Wolfe, sheesh!"
What I liked about this mystery, and there was nothing I did not like, was the seamless way the characters: detectives, police, suspects and ultimately the guilty party, are introduced, woven in, and dispensed with as the case narrows down to who did it and why.
Before we find out the why, a few people are murdered without any apparent reason. Naturally these reasons become apparent towards the end, and when we finally discover who did it and why, the reasons are logical (note I did not say moral) and the conclusion lands on two feet. Mysteries don't always do that, sometimes the author strains reasoning to make their solution work.
And as always, we have the witty and playful banter between Archie and, well, everyone else, since the Wolfe mysteries are narrated from Archie's first person point of view, which gives us a better view of the star: Nero Wolfe.
The story was written in 1961, which makes it a later work, but I think that, unlike a lot of mystery writers, Stout not only avoids being formulaic (well, as much as you can avoid that with murder mysteries) and his character analysis matures.
Nero fans will enjoy this book and first time readers of Stout's novels will become Nero fans.
July 1, 2018
A rich woman whose husband has been kidnapped comes to Wolfe, not to find her husband, but to make sure he's returned safely. Wolfe has a notice put in the paper addressed to the kidnapper to make sure of this outcome, which does happen. But then the husband turns up dead the day after he returns. Was it murder or an accident? The son of the woman next hires Wolfe to find the ransom, which his mother has told him he can keep if he finds it, with Wolfe getting one-fifth as a fee. How he finds the money and deduces the murderer is quite interesting.
October 5, 2025
As I've said many times before, reading the Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout is so much fun. Always narrated in the first person by Archie Goodwin, we know only what Archie knows. But he knows his boss and is almost as smart. That said, Archie pretends - pretends! - to belittle himself in Wolfe's shadow and draws the contrast.
Here we have a woman showing up at Wolfe's door when her husband has been kidnapped. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of $500,000 in used bills, none larger than $100. She is heading to the bank to get it. She wants to make sure her husband is returned alive and expects Wolfe to pull a rabbit out of a hat to ensure it. Oh yes, Wolfe's genius is legendary.
If you, too, are a fan of this series, the following probably won't do anything to add to your fandom. I do like to get out for a bit of exercise, but I can't hold a candle to Archie. Still, this is the sort of characterization while pursuing a crime that I like.
I don't know that this is the best of the series, but it was a very enjoyable few hours. I'll color in a 4th star, though it just barely makes it. Maybe I was just ready for Archie and Wolfe.
By the way, I read this and the others in Three Aces: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus, which is the edition my library had.
Here we have a woman showing up at Wolfe's door when her husband has been kidnapped. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of $500,000 in used bills, none larger than $100. She is heading to the bank to get it. She wants to make sure her husband is returned alive and expects Wolfe to pull a rabbit out of a hat to ensure it. Oh yes, Wolfe's genius is legendary.
If you, too, are a fan of this series, the following probably won't do anything to add to your fandom. I do like to get out for a bit of exercise, but I can't hold a candle to Archie. Still, this is the sort of characterization while pursuing a crime that I like.
I like to walk. I liked to walk in woods and pastures when I was a kid in Ohio, and now I like to walk even more on Manhattan sidewalks. If you don't walk much you wouldn't know, but the angle you get on people and things when you're walking is absolutely different from the one you get when you're in a car or in anything else that does the moving for you. So after washing and shaving and dressing and eating breakfast and reading about Dinah Utley in the Times, nothing I didn't already know, I buzzed the plant rooms on the house phone to tell Wolfe I was going out on a personal errand and would be back by noon, and went.OK, so that's almost nothing to do with solving a murder, but it's not filler either. The walk got him somewhere that *did* have to do with murder.
I don't know that this is the best of the series, but it was a very enjoyable few hours. I'll color in a 4th star, though it just barely makes it. Maybe I was just ready for Archie and Wolfe.
By the way, I read this and the others in Three Aces: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus, which is the edition my library had.
January 13, 2025
INSUFFERABLE.
June 25, 2024
I had been saving back this particular Wolfe book for a some special occasion and I decided that my 55th b'day was as good an event as any. The book lived up to my expectations. Unlike some of the cases, the deductions were slowly revealed so that at the end Wolfe only needs to resolve one issue, but it's incredibly well done. Satisfactory, he might say!
August 20, 2023
A fairly middle-of-the-road book from the grand master Rex Stout. There were a couple of great lines which elevated the story a bit and had me chuckling.
3.5/5
3.5/5
October 5, 2024
ust as I did ten years ago, I listened to this one as a book on CD during my road trip this past week. And I've mentioned before how much harder it is for me to do a full review when I listen. I just sit back and enjoy the performance. I mentioned in my previous review (which I'm shamelessly re-using below) that Michael Prichard does an excellent job bringing Nero Wolfe and, especially, Archie Goodwin to life. This time around my son joined me on the trip up to my parents' house and he and I had enormous fun listening to Archie's wise-cracking run-down of Wolfe's latest case. I also realized during this listening session that if Archie had just stuck with his first deduction he might have beaten Nero to the punch in figuring out where the suitcase full of cash was stashed.
The story opens with Archie losing a little bet with himself. Althea Vail, wealthy, society lady, arrives at the old brownstone with no appointment and asks to see Nero Wolfe--preferring not to tell Archie what about, but to tell Wolfe himself. Archie is convinced she's come to ask the world's best brain to ask him to tail her most current husband--that's what so often happens when an older woman (with money) marries a younger man (without). But Archie is wrong. Mrs. Vail has come because her husband, Jimmy Vail, disappeared over the weekend and she has received a ransom note. She doesn't want Wolfe to investigate the kidnappers or try to find her husband. What she wants is for him to ensure that her husband is returned, alive and unharmed, once she pays the ransom.
She refuses to share much detail with Wolfe--having been told by "Mr. Nap" that she and her Jimmy would regret it if she talked to anyone--so, the great detective has few options. He decides to place an ad in The Gazette where Lon Cohen owes him favors (and any other papers who can make it happen before the ransom must be delivered):
If her property is not returned to her, or if it is damaged beyond repair, I have engaged to devote my time, energy, and talent, for as long as may be required, to ensure just and fitting requital; and she has determined to support me to the full extent of her resources. If you do not know enough of me to be aware of the significance of this engagement to your future, I advise you to inform yourself regarding my competence and my tenacity.
my hard copy
He also makes it clear that Mrs. Vail has not revealed any details in an effort to save Jimmy's life and then they all settle down to see what happens. Vail miraculously returns--tired, but safe and sound with instructions not to go to the authorities for 48 hours. It looks like Wolfe has earned a hefty fee ($60,000) for very little work. But that same day, the body of Mrs. Vail's secretary is found--run over by her own car--in the same location where the handover of the ransom money took place. Then Jimmy Vail is found dead in his own library, apparently killed by Benjamin Franklin. That is to say...a heavy bronze statue of the historical statesman (whose base was unsteady) toppled over and killed him in what seems to be an accident.
When Mrs. Vail's son comes to Wolfe wanting to hire him to find the ransom money (his mother has promised him the cash if he can locate it), the genius, satisfied with his recent fee, plans to turn him down. But Archie, true to form, goads his boss into action by threatening to take some of his leave time to do the legwork on his own and snag the hefty commission for himself. Wolfe can't do without Archie and takes the case--of course, he can't get involved with out solving the other crimes as well and it takes a rather ingenious "final deduction" to collar the criminal.
My son and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this on our six-hour (round-trip) journey to and from my parents' house. It was absorbing and interesting. And, despite guessing half the solution, I'm giving it ★★★★ for the entertaining reading/performance and the final twist that Stout gives the case. I'm tempted to give it just a little bit more for the added bonus of sharing the good time with my son.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
The story opens with Archie losing a little bet with himself. Althea Vail, wealthy, society lady, arrives at the old brownstone with no appointment and asks to see Nero Wolfe--preferring not to tell Archie what about, but to tell Wolfe himself. Archie is convinced she's come to ask the world's best brain to ask him to tail her most current husband--that's what so often happens when an older woman (with money) marries a younger man (without). But Archie is wrong. Mrs. Vail has come because her husband, Jimmy Vail, disappeared over the weekend and she has received a ransom note. She doesn't want Wolfe to investigate the kidnappers or try to find her husband. What she wants is for him to ensure that her husband is returned, alive and unharmed, once she pays the ransom.
She refuses to share much detail with Wolfe--having been told by "Mr. Nap" that she and her Jimmy would regret it if she talked to anyone--so, the great detective has few options. He decides to place an ad in The Gazette where Lon Cohen owes him favors (and any other papers who can make it happen before the ransom must be delivered):
If her property is not returned to her, or if it is damaged beyond repair, I have engaged to devote my time, energy, and talent, for as long as may be required, to ensure just and fitting requital; and she has determined to support me to the full extent of her resources. If you do not know enough of me to be aware of the significance of this engagement to your future, I advise you to inform yourself regarding my competence and my tenacity.
my hard copy
He also makes it clear that Mrs. Vail has not revealed any details in an effort to save Jimmy's life and then they all settle down to see what happens. Vail miraculously returns--tired, but safe and sound with instructions not to go to the authorities for 48 hours. It looks like Wolfe has earned a hefty fee ($60,000) for very little work. But that same day, the body of Mrs. Vail's secretary is found--run over by her own car--in the same location where the handover of the ransom money took place. Then Jimmy Vail is found dead in his own library, apparently killed by Benjamin Franklin. That is to say...a heavy bronze statue of the historical statesman (whose base was unsteady) toppled over and killed him in what seems to be an accident.
When Mrs. Vail's son comes to Wolfe wanting to hire him to find the ransom money (his mother has promised him the cash if he can locate it), the genius, satisfied with his recent fee, plans to turn him down. But Archie, true to form, goads his boss into action by threatening to take some of his leave time to do the legwork on his own and snag the hefty commission for himself. Wolfe can't do without Archie and takes the case--of course, he can't get involved with out solving the other crimes as well and it takes a rather ingenious "final deduction" to collar the criminal.
My son and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this on our six-hour (round-trip) journey to and from my parents' house. It was absorbing and interesting. And, despite guessing half the solution, I'm giving it ★★★★ for the entertaining reading/performance and the final twist that Stout gives the case. I'm tempted to give it just a little bit more for the added bonus of sharing the good time with my son.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
September 24, 2023
3.5 stars. Mrs. Jimmy Vail appeals to Nero Wolfe to find her kidnapped husband, offering $60K if he is found alive. He is successfully ransomed for half a million dollars, and less than a day later, someone in their intimate circle is found dead. Then Jimmy himself turns up murdered. Mrs. Vail's grown children appeal to Wolfe to assist them in finding the ransom money, which is he quite reluctant to do - Wolfe is Not Interested in wild goose chases. The fact that Jimmy Vail died so soon after being successfully ransomed intrigues him, and he is reluctantly goaded by Archie into taking the case to find the missing money. His cut of the money - $100K - certainly wouldn't wound his pride.
Archie is in top form here, extremely snappy in his narration. Stout delivers another lean, taut novel that wastes little time or effort in dragging the plot out. Wolfe's final deduction is quite something to behold, but the murderer showed their hand with their ludicrous reactions to Wolfe successfully finding the money (I mean, was there ever any doubt??). The denoument is definitely one of the better ones I've seen, and for once it doesn't end with the killer offing themselves.
I really enjoyed this, and am reminded of why I like the shorter novellas. There's no room for faff of any kind, which is definitely an advantage. It's never fun watching someone chase his own tail for 200 pages, so I appreciate it when that doesn't happen and everyone just gets on with it. These shorter novels work for the same reason!
Archie is in top form here, extremely snappy in his narration. Stout delivers another lean, taut novel that wastes little time or effort in dragging the plot out. Wolfe's final deduction is quite something to behold, but the murderer showed their hand with their ludicrous reactions to Wolfe successfully finding the money (I mean, was there ever any doubt??). The denoument is definitely one of the better ones I've seen, and for once it doesn't end with the killer offing themselves.
I really enjoyed this, and am reminded of why I like the shorter novellas. There's no room for faff of any kind, which is definitely an advantage. It's never fun watching someone chase his own tail for 200 pages, so I appreciate it when that doesn't happen and everyone just gets on with it. These shorter novels work for the same reason!
September 2, 2018
A solid Nero Wolfe book with a twist that only becomes obvious at the very end. Exactly where it should be, so the reader can say "Oh yeah! That is obvious!"
Archie Goodwin should certainly tie, or even beat, Dr. Watson as the best sidekick / legman in detective literature. OK, maybe they both come in second to Velda over at Hammer Investigations.
We also got to see Saul and the other West 35th Street Irregulars in this adventure, and that always makes for a better tale. If you enjoy the world's most acerbic detective, this is definitely a good entry for you to peruse.
Find It! Read it!
Archie Goodwin should certainly tie, or even beat, Dr. Watson as the best sidekick / legman in detective literature. OK, maybe they both come in second to Velda over at Hammer Investigations.
We also got to see Saul and the other West 35th Street Irregulars in this adventure, and that always makes for a better tale. If you enjoy the world's most acerbic detective, this is definitely a good entry for you to peruse.
Find It! Read it!
August 12, 2023
The Nero Wolfe series nearly always has some observations on developments in contemporary society. This one from 1961 has two, though neither is completely new. The first is that Wolfe uses an expensive ($1200!) hidden recording setup in his office to record the perp’s confession and deliver the tape to the police. The second has been mentioned in passing in at least half the previous 34 books, but now it takes center stage. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
November 12, 2022
Stout does it again. A woman approaches Wolfe when her husband has been kidnapped—not to find him, but to make sure that he comes home safe after she pays the ransom. Then the deaths start and Wolfe, trying to earn a huge fee, is in between the criminals and the cops. This one spotlights the lengths Wolfe is willing to go to in order to satisfy his greed and in doing so presents the reader with an excellent mystery. I figured out the villain, but with the wrong reason for the crimes.
March 21, 2017
This review of the Final Deduction by Rex Stout may be a bit sketchy. I listened to this one as a book on CD during my road trip this past weekend and I've mentioned before how much harder it is for me to do a full review when I listen. I just sit back and enjoy the performance. Speaking of...Michael Prichard does an excellent job bringing Nero Wolfe and, especially, Archie Goodwin to life.
The story opens with Archie losing a little bet with himself. Althea Vail, wealthy, society lady, arrives at the old brownstone with no appointment and asks to see Nero Wolfe--preferring not to tell Archie what about, but to tell Wolfe himself. Archie is convinced she's come to ask the world's best brain to ask him to tail her most current husband--that's what so often happens when an older woman (with money) marries a younger man (without). But Archie is wrong. Mrs. Vail has come because her husband, Jimmy Vail, disappeared over the weekend and she has received a ransom note. She doesn't want Wolfe to investigate the kidnappers or try to find her husband. What she wants is for him to ensure that her husband is returned, alive and unharmed, once she pays the ransom.
She refuses to share much detail with Wolfe--having been told by "Mr. Nap" that she and her Jimmy would regret it if she talked to anyone--so, the great detective has few options. He decides to place an ad in The Gazette where Lon Cohen owes him favors (and any other papers who can make it happen before the ransom must be delivered):
If her property is not returned to her, or if it is damaged beyond repair, I have engaged to devote my time, energy, and talent, for as long as may be required, to ensure just and fitting requital; and she has determined to support me to the full extent of her resources. If you do not know enough of me to be aware of the significance of this engagement to your future, I advise you to inform yourself regarding my competence and my tenacity.
He also makes it clear that Mrs. Vail has not revealed any details in an effort to save Jimmy's life and then they all settle down to see what happens. Vail miraculously returns--tired, but safe and sound with instructions not to go to the authorities for 48 hours. It looks like Wolfe has earned a hefty fee ($60,000) for very little work. But that same day, the body of Mrs. Vail's secretary is found--run over by her own car--in the same location where the handover of the ransom money took place. Then Jimmy Vail is found dead in his own library, apparently killed by Benjamin Franklin. That is to say...a heavy bronze statue of the historical statesman (whose base was unsteady) toppled over and killed him in what seems to be an accident.
When Mrs. Vail's son comes to Wolfe wanting to hire him to find the ransom money (his mother has promised him the cash if he can locate it), the genius, satisfied with his recent fee, plans to turn him down. But Archie, true to form, goads his boss into action by threatening to take some of his leave time to do the legwork on his own and snag the hefty commission for himself. Wolfe can't do without Archie and takes the case--of course, he can't get involved with out solving the other crimes as well and it takes a rather ingenious "final deduction" to collar the criminal.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this on my six-hour (round-trip) journey to and from my parents' house this past weekend. It was absorbing and interesting. And, despite guessing half the solution, I'm giving it four stars for the entertaining reading/performance and the final twist that Stout gives the case.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
The story opens with Archie losing a little bet with himself. Althea Vail, wealthy, society lady, arrives at the old brownstone with no appointment and asks to see Nero Wolfe--preferring not to tell Archie what about, but to tell Wolfe himself. Archie is convinced she's come to ask the world's best brain to ask him to tail her most current husband--that's what so often happens when an older woman (with money) marries a younger man (without). But Archie is wrong. Mrs. Vail has come because her husband, Jimmy Vail, disappeared over the weekend and she has received a ransom note. She doesn't want Wolfe to investigate the kidnappers or try to find her husband. What she wants is for him to ensure that her husband is returned, alive and unharmed, once she pays the ransom.
She refuses to share much detail with Wolfe--having been told by "Mr. Nap" that she and her Jimmy would regret it if she talked to anyone--so, the great detective has few options. He decides to place an ad in The Gazette where Lon Cohen owes him favors (and any other papers who can make it happen before the ransom must be delivered):
If her property is not returned to her, or if it is damaged beyond repair, I have engaged to devote my time, energy, and talent, for as long as may be required, to ensure just and fitting requital; and she has determined to support me to the full extent of her resources. If you do not know enough of me to be aware of the significance of this engagement to your future, I advise you to inform yourself regarding my competence and my tenacity.
He also makes it clear that Mrs. Vail has not revealed any details in an effort to save Jimmy's life and then they all settle down to see what happens. Vail miraculously returns--tired, but safe and sound with instructions not to go to the authorities for 48 hours. It looks like Wolfe has earned a hefty fee ($60,000) for very little work. But that same day, the body of Mrs. Vail's secretary is found--run over by her own car--in the same location where the handover of the ransom money took place. Then Jimmy Vail is found dead in his own library, apparently killed by Benjamin Franklin. That is to say...a heavy bronze statue of the historical statesman (whose base was unsteady) toppled over and killed him in what seems to be an accident.
When Mrs. Vail's son comes to Wolfe wanting to hire him to find the ransom money (his mother has promised him the cash if he can locate it), the genius, satisfied with his recent fee, plans to turn him down. But Archie, true to form, goads his boss into action by threatening to take some of his leave time to do the legwork on his own and snag the hefty commission for himself. Wolfe can't do without Archie and takes the case--of course, he can't get involved with out solving the other crimes as well and it takes a rather ingenious "final deduction" to collar the criminal.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this on my six-hour (round-trip) journey to and from my parents' house this past weekend. It was absorbing and interesting. And, despite guessing half the solution, I'm giving it four stars for the entertaining reading/performance and the final twist that Stout gives the case.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
February 2, 2019
While the outcome was rather predictable, I was so pleased to discover a Nero Wolfe book I had never read or listened to that I was disposed to be generous. Rex Stout rings the changes on the old home-grown kidnapping trope, but even that wasn't enough to damp my pleasure in the little things. Which is good, because when we are told the reason for it all...well I just sat there, saying, "What? What kind of reason is that?" (It is, however, one Wolfe himself can relate to.)
Wolfe never leaves the house on business, but he doesn't mind going a-visiting if it will keep him out of jail or court. I also really enjoyed the sidelight on Archie's relationship with Wolfe, and Wolfe's relationship to food. We know he's a gourmet and a gourmand, but I didn't realise he was a greedy glutton as well. (And what's Archie's problem with shad roe, anyway? Fritz is an excellent cook. Or was Archie just pretending?)
The only real drawback for me was one character's constant use of the name of Jesus Christ as an epithet of surprise, dislike, disgust or whatever. Perhaps the fact that this was published in the sixties had something to do with it, but I could have done without it. Wolfe later describes that character as a "witling"--perhaps that was proof.
Wolfe never leaves the house on business, but he doesn't mind going a-visiting if it will keep him out of jail or court. I also really enjoyed the sidelight on Archie's relationship with Wolfe, and Wolfe's relationship to food. We know he's a gourmet and a gourmand, but I didn't realise he was a greedy glutton as well. (And what's Archie's problem with shad roe, anyway? Fritz is an excellent cook. Or was Archie just pretending?)
The only real drawback for me was one character's constant use of the name of Jesus Christ as an epithet of surprise, dislike, disgust or whatever. Perhaps the fact that this was published in the sixties had something to do with it, but I could have done without it. Wolfe later describes that character as a "witling"--perhaps that was proof.
January 22, 2014
#35 in the Nero Wolfe series. This is one of the instances in which I wish Goodreads had a rating system with .5 star gradations. Almost all of the Nero Wolfe mysteries have received a 4 star rating (The Black Mountain (1954) got 5 stars); This 1961 entry is above average and I would like to give it a 4.5 rating - but not a 5 (I give that to fewer than 1% of the books I read).
Nero Wolfe is hired by Althea Vail to insure her kidnapped husband, Jimmy, is returned alive. Wolfe and Archie become convinced her secretary, Diana, was involved in the kidnapping. Jimmy returns in good shape but Diana has been murdered. Next, Jimmy is crushed by a statue in his library. Althea's son hires Wolfe to find the ransom money.
Nero Wolfe is hired by Althea Vail to insure her kidnapped husband, Jimmy, is returned alive. Wolfe and Archie become convinced her secretary, Diana, was involved in the kidnapping. Jimmy returns in good shape but Diana has been murdered. Next, Jimmy is crushed by a statue in his library. Althea's son hires Wolfe to find the ransom money.
September 3, 2013
This is a completely typical Nero Wolfe novel, featuring as much routine detective legwork (on the part of Archie, Saul, Fred, and Orrie) as it does inspired deduction (on the part of Nero himself). It doesn't really distinguish itself from the other novels. Most of the "mystery" part is actually secondary to the bits that a dedicated Wolfe fan is really there for-- the sniping between Archie and Nero, the crankiness of the police when they inevitably get shown up, and the descriptions of Fritz's food. Which are all superb as always. Really, this installment is just another chance to hang out with some well-loved characters, and not much more. A solid 3 stars.
January 13, 2016
The Final Deduction is, I'm afraid, not Nero Wolfe at his very best.
It sets up promisingly enough. Theres the kidnapped husband of an older wife, who just so happens to be quite rich. Theres a whimsically named kidnapper, and a whole host of people who look ripe for pinning the crime on. Its all a very good set up. And then it just sort of flops its way through the rest of the story.
I wish this had committed to its plot a little more thoroughly. The mystery only just hangs together in the end, and does a 180 from what you think it will do.
But even a mediocre Nero Wolfe is a Nero Wolfe I would like to read, so I'm pleased to have added it to the shelf.
It sets up promisingly enough. Theres the kidnapped husband of an older wife, who just so happens to be quite rich. Theres a whimsically named kidnapper, and a whole host of people who look ripe for pinning the crime on. Its all a very good set up. And then it just sort of flops its way through the rest of the story.
I wish this had committed to its plot a little more thoroughly. The mystery only just hangs together in the end, and does a 180 from what you think it will do.
But even a mediocre Nero Wolfe is a Nero Wolfe I would like to read, so I'm pleased to have added it to the shelf.
March 4, 2013
Stout hitting his stride in this book. The characters are vivid and again, Wolfe and Archie go as far as they can legally before solving murder! Great dialogue here as well. I feel that in this book, both Archie and Wolfe know each other well enough that they need each other, and even though Archie pesters, Wolfe realizes that the gamble Archie sees, is worth it. And it is.
April 12, 2010
This was definitely not my favorite of the Nero Wolfe books. I thought the plot weak, and Archie not up to his usual standard of wit. Glad it was a library book.
July 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It's a little different in several ways.
First, the kidnapping. There's only one other reference to a kidnapping case, in the first book, FER-DE-LANCE (Goldsborough makes it the subject of one of his books). Technically, Wolfe and Archie are not involved in the kidnapping per se; they are on standby just in case the victim doesn't get safely home. Essentially, Wolfe has been hired to flex his detectival muscles and state: "Ignore me at your peril." The job is not as simple as it seems; as Wolfe points out to his client, he is putting his reputation on the line. If the worst does happen, he will go after the kidnapper with everything he has. If his client wearies of the chase and withdraws her support, his integrity will force him to continue, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs.
Secondly, Wolfe and Archie pick up a whopper of a clue almost as soon as they take on the case. They foresee a swift capture of the criminals once the kidnap victim is safely at home. Even when the case abruptly veers into murder mode, the information is still useful.
Thirdly, Archie mentions one of the all-time best television characters ever to grace the small screen: Paladin. It doesn't surprise me that Archie is a fan of "Have Gun, Will Travel." But I like to think that, if Archie ever manage to persuade Wolfe to take a look, Wolfe would appreciate this excellent Western as well. Paladin, in fact, has a lot in common with Wolfe and Archie. He appreciates fine food and beverages, he loves to read, he enjoys poker and women. He has traveled widely, knows a number of languages, is a brilliant strategist...and, oh, yes, he charges high fees, too.
Fourthly: Archie doesn't link up with the girl! Miss Tedder, daughter of Althea Vail, is attractive enough, but in spite of (or because of?) the fact that her mother was an actress (and her grandfather a bandit) she has turned out a raging snob, not to mention a complete priss who moves like her hips are in a cast. Wolfe doesn't think much of her intelligence or that of her brother Noel. I'm not so sure that they're stupid; its more likely that their lifestyle has simply limited their opportunities to exercise their wits. Even with normal intelligence, Wolfe could run rings around them with one frontal lobe tied behind his back. So rather than the young lady, Archie in fact helps the young man to grow up. Noel Tedder has enough wit to hit his mother up for the ransom money at the proper psychological moment, and he's smart enough to go to Wolfe to ask his assistance--and very smart to offer him a hefty percentage, unlike his nitwit of a sister, who felt Wolfe should help her for nothing, because of his previous large fee. Noel not only learns to stand up to his mother, he keeps his word to Wolfe and Archie, and even throws in a nice bonus for Archie, Saul, Fred and Orrie, that was not in the original oral contract.
There was one thing I found annoying in this book: although a lot of the action takes place in Westchester County, our favorite evil state cop, Con Noonan, is nowhere to be seen. Did the good people of Westchester get fed up with him? His replacement, Captain Saunders, has a virtually identical personality; he just has more authority.
Not a brilliant mystery, to be sure, but a fast, fun ride. Enjoy.
First, the kidnapping. There's only one other reference to a kidnapping case, in the first book, FER-DE-LANCE (Goldsborough makes it the subject of one of his books). Technically, Wolfe and Archie are not involved in the kidnapping per se; they are on standby just in case the victim doesn't get safely home. Essentially, Wolfe has been hired to flex his detectival muscles and state: "Ignore me at your peril." The job is not as simple as it seems; as Wolfe points out to his client, he is putting his reputation on the line. If the worst does happen, he will go after the kidnapper with everything he has. If his client wearies of the chase and withdraws her support, his integrity will force him to continue, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs.
Secondly, Wolfe and Archie pick up a whopper of a clue almost as soon as they take on the case. They foresee a swift capture of the criminals once the kidnap victim is safely at home. Even when the case abruptly veers into murder mode, the information is still useful.
Thirdly, Archie mentions one of the all-time best television characters ever to grace the small screen: Paladin. It doesn't surprise me that Archie is a fan of "Have Gun, Will Travel." But I like to think that, if Archie ever manage to persuade Wolfe to take a look, Wolfe would appreciate this excellent Western as well. Paladin, in fact, has a lot in common with Wolfe and Archie. He appreciates fine food and beverages, he loves to read, he enjoys poker and women. He has traveled widely, knows a number of languages, is a brilliant strategist...and, oh, yes, he charges high fees, too.
Fourthly: Archie doesn't link up with the girl! Miss Tedder, daughter of Althea Vail, is attractive enough, but in spite of (or because of?) the fact that her mother was an actress (and her grandfather a bandit) she has turned out a raging snob, not to mention a complete priss who moves like her hips are in a cast. Wolfe doesn't think much of her intelligence or that of her brother Noel. I'm not so sure that they're stupid; its more likely that their lifestyle has simply limited their opportunities to exercise their wits. Even with normal intelligence, Wolfe could run rings around them with one frontal lobe tied behind his back. So rather than the young lady, Archie in fact helps the young man to grow up. Noel Tedder has enough wit to hit his mother up for the ransom money at the proper psychological moment, and he's smart enough to go to Wolfe to ask his assistance--and very smart to offer him a hefty percentage, unlike his nitwit of a sister, who felt Wolfe should help her for nothing, because of his previous large fee. Noel not only learns to stand up to his mother, he keeps his word to Wolfe and Archie, and even throws in a nice bonus for Archie, Saul, Fred and Orrie, that was not in the original oral contract.
There was one thing I found annoying in this book: although a lot of the action takes place in Westchester County, our favorite evil state cop, Con Noonan, is nowhere to be seen. Did the good people of Westchester get fed up with him? His replacement, Captain Saunders, has a virtually identical personality; he just has more authority.
Not a brilliant mystery, to be sure, but a fast, fun ride. Enjoy.
July 2, 2019
"As I helped myself to clams I held my breath because if you smell them, mixed with shallots, chives, chervil, mushrooms, bread crumbs, sherry, and dry white wine, you take so many that you don't leave enough room for the duckling roasted in cider with Spanish sauce as revised by Wolfe and Fritz, leaving out the carrot and parsley and putting anchovies in."
Ms. Althea Vail, a rich socialite and a retired actress, offers Nero Wolfe an exorbitant fee if he manages to get her kidnapped husband back, alive and unharmed. She disobeys the kidnappers' orders received in a ransom letter. In a somewhat unusual twist, Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin accomplish an impressive feat of detection already by page 16 of the novel. The Final Deduction (1961) is the 35th installment in the celebrated series by Rex Stout. (Interestingly, the paperback I have gives the date of copyright as 1955, which is hardly possible as a 1961 Heron sedan appears in the story.)
The plot involves another serious crime and poor Archie Goodwin has to endure extensive interrogations by state police and the district attorney. Yet all that pales in comparison with what happens on page 56 of the Bantam House paperback:
Another cool passage in the novel involves a situation when Wolfe knows what Archie will do before, in fact, Archie knows what he will do. The "perfect harmony" of knowing each other well is a recurring theme in this novel. There is also some language humor as in the following fragment:
Two-and-three-quarter stars.
Ms. Althea Vail, a rich socialite and a retired actress, offers Nero Wolfe an exorbitant fee if he manages to get her kidnapped husband back, alive and unharmed. She disobeys the kidnappers' orders received in a ransom letter. In a somewhat unusual twist, Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin accomplish an impressive feat of detection already by page 16 of the novel. The Final Deduction (1961) is the 35th installment in the celebrated series by Rex Stout. (Interestingly, the paperback I have gives the date of copyright as 1955, which is hardly possible as a 1961 Heron sedan appears in the story.)
The plot involves another serious crime and poor Archie Goodwin has to endure extensive interrogations by state police and the district attorney. Yet all that pales in comparison with what happens on page 56 of the Bantam House paperback:
"I had my coat on and the door open. He crossed the sill, and as I followed I shut the door. As we descended the stoop I asked, 'The car?' and he said no, and at the bottom he turned right, toward Ninth Avenue."Yes, as incredible as it may seem, Wolfe walks away from his house!!!
Another cool passage in the novel involves a situation when Wolfe knows what Archie will do before, in fact, Archie knows what he will do. The "perfect harmony" of knowing each other well is a recurring theme in this novel. There is also some language humor as in the following fragment:
"As I rolled the paper in Wolfe's voice came at my back.With its unusual focus on Wolfe-Goodwin relationship The Final Deduction avoids the cloying familiarity of characters in a long-running series of novels: it could have been one of the better books in the series. Alas I find the denouement totally ridiculous: the way Wolfe arrives at his final deduction and exposes the murderer is, to put it mildly, implausible. One of the weakest Rex Stout's endings that I can remember. So the rating for this quite interesting read is only
'Dendrobium chrysotoxum for Miss Gillard and Laelia purpurata for Doctor Vollmer. Tomorrow.'
'Right. And Sitassia readia for you and Transcriptum underwoodum for me.' I hit the keys."
Two-and-three-quarter stars.
June 23, 2021
Major characters:
Althea Vail, wealthy client
Jimmy Vail, her husband, a kidnap victim
Ralph Purcell, her brother
Margot Tedder, her daughter
Noel Tedder, her son
Andrew Frost, her attorney
Dinah Utley, her secretary
"Mr. Knapp", alias of the kidnapper
Nero Wolfe, private detective
Archie Goodwin, private detective
Locale: New York City
Synopsis: Wealthy Althea Vail approaches private detective Nero Wolfe to take on a case. Her husband, Jimmy Vale, has been kidnapped. She has received a ransom note from "Mr. Knapp" demanding $500,000. She is willing to pay the ransom, but hires Wolfe to ensure the safe return of Jimmy.
Wolfe places a prominent ad in the newspapers to the kidnapper, advising that he is on the case. Althea pays the ransom as directed on a deserted back road, and the next morning Jimmy returns home safely. All looks resolved until the body of her secretary, Dinah Utley, is found in a ditch at the same back road. It appears she was in on the scheme, and she was killed as she wanted too big a cut of the ransom.
Right away, Archie suspects that this was all theatre, and that Jimmy "kidnapped himself" in order to get a pile of Althea's money. The ransom note was typed by Dinah Utley on her own typewriter, so it quickly becomes an inside job. Althea's son, Noel Tedder, approaches Wolfe and wants to make a deal. If he knows where the money is, and Wolfe helps him retrieve it, he will give Wolfe $100,000 of it. Then Althea's daughter, Margot Tedder, shows up and makes Wolfe a similar offer.
Wolfe accepts Noel's offer, but before he can take any action, Jimmy Vale is found dead in his library, killed by a fallen life-size bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin. It is unclear if it is accidental or murder.
Review: This is a good tight Wolfe, with a small cast of characters. Once Wolfe is convinced it is all an inside job, it is fascinating as he interviews the family members and deduces who is the killer.
The killer was a surprise to me - Stout had me fooled. I had picked a different person.
When the real motive for the kidnapping/theft is revealed, it seems quite a stretch to me that someone would do that for the possible benefit realized.
One little annoyance: much is written about surmises, deductions, inferences, and assumptions; and which clue is which. However, with all the argument about that, they are never defined for the reader.
Althea Vail, wealthy client
Jimmy Vail, her husband, a kidnap victim
Ralph Purcell, her brother
Margot Tedder, her daughter
Noel Tedder, her son
Andrew Frost, her attorney
Dinah Utley, her secretary
"Mr. Knapp", alias of the kidnapper
Nero Wolfe, private detective
Archie Goodwin, private detective
Locale: New York City
Synopsis: Wealthy Althea Vail approaches private detective Nero Wolfe to take on a case. Her husband, Jimmy Vale, has been kidnapped. She has received a ransom note from "Mr. Knapp" demanding $500,000. She is willing to pay the ransom, but hires Wolfe to ensure the safe return of Jimmy.
Wolfe places a prominent ad in the newspapers to the kidnapper, advising that he is on the case. Althea pays the ransom as directed on a deserted back road, and the next morning Jimmy returns home safely. All looks resolved until the body of her secretary, Dinah Utley, is found in a ditch at the same back road. It appears she was in on the scheme, and she was killed as she wanted too big a cut of the ransom.
Right away, Archie suspects that this was all theatre, and that Jimmy "kidnapped himself" in order to get a pile of Althea's money. The ransom note was typed by Dinah Utley on her own typewriter, so it quickly becomes an inside job. Althea's son, Noel Tedder, approaches Wolfe and wants to make a deal. If he knows where the money is, and Wolfe helps him retrieve it, he will give Wolfe $100,000 of it. Then Althea's daughter, Margot Tedder, shows up and makes Wolfe a similar offer.
Wolfe accepts Noel's offer, but before he can take any action, Jimmy Vale is found dead in his library, killed by a fallen life-size bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin. It is unclear if it is accidental or murder.
Review: This is a good tight Wolfe, with a small cast of characters. Once Wolfe is convinced it is all an inside job, it is fascinating as he interviews the family members and deduces who is the killer.
The killer was a surprise to me - Stout had me fooled. I had picked a different person.
When the real motive for the kidnapping/theft is revealed, it seems quite a stretch to me that someone would do that for the possible benefit realized.
One little annoyance: much is written about surmises, deductions, inferences, and assumptions; and which clue is which. However, with all the argument about that, they are never defined for the reader.
March 12, 2022
Private and eccentric investigator Nero Wolfe is drawn into a kidnap case when former actress and millionaire Althea Vail charges in on him and his assistant Archie Goodwin reporting that she has received a ransom note and a phone call from a Mr. Knapp, demanding a $500,000 ransom. She insists that she will make the drop and there is little that she asks Wolfe to do — indeed she pays him to do little more than to hear her out.
Despite her objections, Wolfe places a newspaper ad crouched in vague terms threatening to uncover Mr. Knapp's identity if his client's "property" is not is returned to her "in good condition." He also demands to meet Mrs. Vail's secretary, Dinah Utley, who has heard the kidnapper over the phone. From the interview and clues, Wolfe believes Utley wrote the note.
Mrs Vail follows through, delivering the ransom and Jimmy Vail returns to the family home. But there are other strange things going on and within a short while, Jimmy has died in his own home.
With little to go on, Wolfe and Goodwin must seek out clues to not only the who but the why, while the police and FBI dig around to figure out the kidnapping and determine whether Jimmy was an accident or murder. One thing is for sure, soon Wolfe's client, as well as the police officials, want to know exactly what he knows. But Wolfe needs time and there is no other who can be quite so infuriating and clever all at the same time.
That's what makes Wolfe and Goodwin such wonderful characters. Every story they seem to get in a bind, at least Goodwin does on Wolfe's behest. And Wolfe seems to see things that the cops do not. While there are no police chases, so shootouts, etc., there is plenty of action with conversations, warrants, charges and countercharges. This is a verbal merry go round and its exciting until the very end.
Despite her objections, Wolfe places a newspaper ad crouched in vague terms threatening to uncover Mr. Knapp's identity if his client's "property" is not is returned to her "in good condition." He also demands to meet Mrs. Vail's secretary, Dinah Utley, who has heard the kidnapper over the phone. From the interview and clues, Wolfe believes Utley wrote the note.
Mrs Vail follows through, delivering the ransom and Jimmy Vail returns to the family home. But there are other strange things going on and within a short while, Jimmy has died in his own home.
With little to go on, Wolfe and Goodwin must seek out clues to not only the who but the why, while the police and FBI dig around to figure out the kidnapping and determine whether Jimmy was an accident or murder. One thing is for sure, soon Wolfe's client, as well as the police officials, want to know exactly what he knows. But Wolfe needs time and there is no other who can be quite so infuriating and clever all at the same time.
That's what makes Wolfe and Goodwin such wonderful characters. Every story they seem to get in a bind, at least Goodwin does on Wolfe's behest. And Wolfe seems to see things that the cops do not. While there are no police chases, so shootouts, etc., there is plenty of action with conversations, warrants, charges and countercharges. This is a verbal merry go round and its exciting until the very end.
July 22, 2019
This was a real treat, thanks to a completely different type of plot - kidnapping AND murder! We haven't seen Wolfe take on a kidnapping case yet, and this one was very interesting and twisty. Add in a treasure hunt and I dare to say that this book is unique in the Nero Wolfe corpus (although I haven't quite finished the series yet so I could be wrong :) ).
I've started collecting witty sayings, mostly from Archie, but sometimes from Wolfe, too. Here are a couple from this novel.
Wolfe: "You haven't reported."
Archie: "I reported all you said you wanted."
Wolfe: "That's subdolous. Let him in."
As I went to the front I was making a mental note not to look up "subdolous." That trick of his, closing an argument by using a word he knew damn well I had never heard, was probably subdolous.
(I had to look the word up online - it wasn't in my dictionary!)
(While they are eating a meal, a time when business is forbidden for discussion.)
...he explained why it was that all you needed to know about any human society was what they ate. If you knew what they ate you could deduce everything else - culture, philosophy, morals, politics, everything. ... I wondered how you would make out if you tried to deduce everything about Wolfe by knowing what he had eaten in the past ten years. I decided you would deduce that he was dead.
I would definitely recommend giving this one a read.
I've started collecting witty sayings, mostly from Archie, but sometimes from Wolfe, too. Here are a couple from this novel.
Wolfe: "You haven't reported."
Archie: "I reported all you said you wanted."
Wolfe: "That's subdolous. Let him in."
As I went to the front I was making a mental note not to look up "subdolous." That trick of his, closing an argument by using a word he knew damn well I had never heard, was probably subdolous.
(I had to look the word up online - it wasn't in my dictionary!)
(While they are eating a meal, a time when business is forbidden for discussion.)
...he explained why it was that all you needed to know about any human society was what they ate. If you knew what they ate you could deduce everything else - culture, philosophy, morals, politics, everything. ... I wondered how you would make out if you tried to deduce everything about Wolfe by knowing what he had eaten in the past ten years. I decided you would deduce that he was dead.
I would definitely recommend giving this one a read.
October 19, 2023
The positives of this Nero Wolfe book outweigh the negatives. It’s a typical Wolfe story with the banter between Archie and Wolfe; descriptions of Fritz’s meals; participation of Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin, and Orrie Cather in tracking down the solution; an opportunity to frustrate Cramer (no Purley Stebbins in this one); and for once, a demonstration that Lon Cohen the newspaperman gets paid back for all the help he provides; and the usual solution in the office at the end.
The negatives are difficult to quantify, but there is a distinct lack of Archie admiring the female form and taking women dancing. Instead he keeps reminding us that the one young woman in the story has “stiff hips”, presumably not good for dancing.
One major negative for me was the constantly misspelled words “kidnaped” and “kidnaping”. Some incompetent editor had apparently decided that the double P was unnecessary (perhaps confusing it with the double L in “travelled”, which American spelling would render as “traveled”). Regardless of why, it was a constant irritation in a book which revolved around the kidnapping of a rich woman’s second husband.
But in spite of that, I still recommend this as a typical Nero Wolfe book which will please the fans. (Not the best one to start with if you haven’t read any yet, though.)
The negatives are difficult to quantify, but there is a distinct lack of Archie admiring the female form and taking women dancing. Instead he keeps reminding us that the one young woman in the story has “stiff hips”, presumably not good for dancing.
One major negative for me was the constantly misspelled words “kidnaped” and “kidnaping”. Some incompetent editor had apparently decided that the double P was unnecessary (perhaps confusing it with the double L in “travelled”, which American spelling would render as “traveled”). Regardless of why, it was a constant irritation in a book which revolved around the kidnapping of a rich woman’s second husband.
But in spite of that, I still recommend this as a typical Nero Wolfe book which will please the fans. (Not the best one to start with if you haven’t read any yet, though.)
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