Silver Spire

Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Mysteries #6

by Robert Goldsborough

When a fellow shamus gets charged with murder, Wolfe comes to his rescue.

Staten Island would be forgettable were it not for the gleaming Tabernacle of the Silver Spire, where thousands of congregants come every Sunday to hear the sermons of Barnabas Bay. Millions more tune in on television, giving the good Reverend international fame, and a chance to spread the gospel from New York City's harbor all the way to South Korea. But threatening notes have been appearing in the collection bag, suggesting that one of the faithful has decided it's time this good shepherd get the hook.

Believing organized religion is nothing more than a scam, rotund sleuth Nero Wolfe refuses to investigate the threats, instead recommending veteran investigator Fred Durkin for the case. But when Durkin is accused of murdering the Reverend's assistant, Wolfe fights to clear his name. He may not be a Christian, but he will always help a brother in need.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Historical Mystery, Detective, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

Robert Goldsborough is an American author of mystery novels. He was born in 1937 and grew up in the Chicago area. Although he worked for 45 years for the Chicago Tribune and Advertising Age, he first came to prominence in the 1980s with the publication, with the approval of the estate of Rex Stout, of his Nero Wolfe mystery Murder in E Minor. Written privately for his mother back in 1978, shortly after the death of Stout, creator of the Wolfe stories, the novel received a Nero Award.

Six other Nero Wolfe books followed from Goldsborough, all favorably received. However, more recently he has turned his attention to creating books with his own characters, beginning with Three Strikes You're Dead, a novel set in pre-war Chicago, and starring Steve Malek, a reporter for the Tribune.

Series:
* Nero Wolfe Novels by Robert Goldsborough
* Snap Malek Mystery

Reviews

[Bryan Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by far the best Nero Wolfe book by Goldsborough so far. The voices from Nero and Archie are spot on, and neither is neutralized by circumstance. Archie gets to do real detecting and deducing, and Nero gets to put the found items all together.

Interestingly enough, most of my favorite Nero Wolfe books don't involve Nero getting paid by a client and this book continues that trend. Nero also leaves the house voluntarily and the motivations for it were very clear and believable.

It touches the topics of organized religion which Nero has no use for but it's handled without scorn or ridicule for those who believe.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of the series I've read so far. Some of the dialogue had me laughing out loud.

[John Yeoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the finest Goldsborough 'Nero Wolfe' pastiche that I've read so far, though I've several to go. The plot is complex, the psychology persuasive and the closure satisfying. Goldsborough has wisely placated the Moral Majority, a large US readership, by not querying the central tenets of Christian faith, although the plot implicitly challenges them. But I did yearn - oh, did I yearn! - for a pungent Nero Wolfe Pfui! when the Good Preacher descends into platitudes and schmaltz. The robust, free-thinking creator of Nero Wolfe, Rex Stout, might not have been so kind.

[Frank Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

SILVER SPIRE by Robert Goldsborough has the world of organized religion – specifically one of the so-called “mega-churches” – as a setting. This has the potential for any number of potholes: Not only is Nero Wolfe antagonistic to religion but the world of mega-churches is an easy target to criticize.

Mega-churches (with unusually large congregations, often with slick marketing and a media component) are not a new phenomenon but have become a trend in recent years. Over the past several years numerous “television evangelists” have been embroiled in hypocrisy and scandal. And, sadly, many individual Christians and churches have done themselves no favors, essentially repelling any others who might be open to a positive faith message.

To his credit, Goldsborough avoided taking such cheap shots. While the characters are shown to have very human frailties, they are not reduced to caricatures. Even with the warts, they are shown as sincere and trying to live their faith. Often-cited real-life shortcomings – slick messaging, entertainment rather than worship, unseemly requests for money – are shown but also attempts to improve society. And even the hard-boiled Archie Goodwin, who apparently grew up in a Bible Belt type area – acknowledges a certain validity to his past.

One must keep in mind, of course, that Goldsborough is not writing a sociological treatise. He is writing a mystery in the style of the master, Rex Stout. In this he succeeds – perhaps not as brilliantly as Stout, but still provides enjoyment.

[Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another installment in the Nero Wolfe mystery series first begun by Rex Stout and now continued by Robert Goldsborough. Once again Mr. Goldsborough captures the characters exactly as Rex Stout portrayed them. There is also plenty of excellent dialogue and clever banter between Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin. Both of these main characters come off as likeable people and you enjoy learning of their latest exploits. However, there aren’t enough clues provided that lead to the conclusion Nero Wolfe reveals. So, great on dialogue and characterizations, but weak on plot.

[Neely Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a "light reading for bed-time" type book. It's the kind of thing that doesn't require a lot of attention and in which you can read briefly as you try to relax in bed after an intellectually stimulating day. If you like the old Nero Wolfe novels by Rex Stout, this falls right in line -- a good tale spun in the style of that famous writer -- comfortably familiar and served up with the right degree of familiar phrasing and resonance. I recommend it, if you like mystery novels. Only 216 pages, it is an easy read.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another Nero Wolfe novel that doesn’t measure up to the rest. However it’s an easy and quick read. There’s some religiosity and non-religiosity, but I prefer no religiosity of any kind, especially Christianity.

[Jon Norimann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly the best of the first six Goldsborough books on Nero Wolfe. The first one that to me feels like it's written by Rex Stout. Here Nero is solving problems in an evangelical church in New York. A nice 3 hour read recommended to anyone liking crime and/or Nero Wolfe.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nero Wolfe is a legendary fictional private investigator created by Rex Stout. When Stout died, the series was continued by Robert Goldsborough. This is the 6th Nero Wolfe book by Goldsborough, and - like the rest of the series - can be read as a standalone.

Nero Wolfe is an eccentric, obese private detective who lives and works in a brownstone in New York City. Wolfe almost never leaves his house; spends four hours a day tending his orchids; has a chef who prepares delicious gourmet meals; loves beer; and would rather read books than take new cases.



Wolfe employs Archie Goodwin as his assistant, legman, and gadfly - a smartmouth who prods Wolfe to 'go to work' when the bank account is running low.



Stout's original Nero Wolfe books are set in the 1930s but this story is updated by several decades. Thus Archie has a personal computer to keep up with the orchid germination records and he uses the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to drive to Staten Island.

In this mystery, Nero and Archie investigate the murder of a televangelist's associate pastor.

*****

Reverend Barnabas Bay is head of the 'Tabernacle of the Silver Spire' megachurch in Staten Island and is a also a popular televangelist.



For the past six Sundays, though, someone has been leaving disturbing notes in the offering pouch. The messages read:

REV. BAY: MISFORTUNE PURSUES THE SINNER (PROVERBS 13:21)

REV. BAY: TAKE YOUR EVIL DEEDS OUT OF MY SIGHT (ISAIAH 1:16)

REVEREND BAY: THE STING OF DEATH IS SIN (I CORINTHIANS 15:56)

REV. BAY: DEATH IS THE DESTINY OF EVERY MAN (ECCLESIASTES 7:2)

REVER. BAY: YOU DESERVE TO DIE (I KINGS: 2:26)

REV. BAY: THE TIME IS NEAR (REVELATION 1:13)

Bay and his wife scoff at the missives, believing them to be from a disgruntled tourist who'll soon be leaving town.



Other church functionaries are worried, though, and the Silver Spire's financial officer, Lloyd Morgan, wants Nero Wolfe to investigate.



Wolfe is not a fan of organized religion and he refuses to take the case. Archie, who's worried about the detective agency's dwindling bank account, cajoles and prods Wolfe to no avail.



The upshot is that Archie suggests Morgan hire Fred Durkin, a freelance operative Wolfe uses on occasion. Fred isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but he's honest and reliable.



After Fred is on the job for a couple of weeks, he suggests the notes are an inside job. Soon afterwards, the Silver Spire's senior associate pastor, Royal Meade, is killed.



Unfortunately for Fred, his gun - with his fingerprints - is the murder weapon. Fred is promptly arrested, and Wolfe's nemesis, Police Inspector Cramer, expects a speedy conviction.



Wolfe and Archie KNOW Fred is innocent, and Archie is dispatched to the Silver Spire to investigate. Archie interviews Reverend Bay's employees and colleagues, and learns the victim, Royal Meade, was abrasive and disliked.



Archie reports back to Wolfe, but the case is murky. As a result, Wolfe has one of his 'relapses', during which he remains in his room, reads books, and refuses to work.



Then Archie happens upon a vital clue, Wolfe gets a light bulb moment, and the killer is revealed in the usual 'gathering of the suspects' fashion.



Like many light mystery series, these books are formulaic but fun. It's always entertaining to visit with Wolfe and Archie, partly to observe their scrumptious meals, like shad with sorrel sauce and sweetbreads in patty shells.


Shad with Sorrel Sauce


Sweetbreads in Patty Shells

This isn't among the best books in the series, largely because Wolfe doesn't have the parade of suspects visit his office as usual. Still, fans of the novels would probably enjoy spending a little time with characters they like.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Christopher Rush · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh...this was pretty bad. If real-life nurses and doctors can be irked by inaccurate depictions of them and their work on television and movies, then by jingo I can shake my head and roll my eyes at Goldsborough's depiction of what he so quaintly calls "those religious types." It took him about 100 pages longer to get to that expression than I thought it would, but he does get there. Perhaps Mr. Goldsborough was trying to lampoon televangelists. If so, that's fine. I'm not terribly fond of them either. But if that's his plan, he doesn't do a terrific job of making that clear. One gets the impression Mr. Goldsborough got his feelings hurt by some sermon he accidently overheard that said "thou shalt not make money by using other people's creative ideas." I suspect his research for what "church people" sound like or how pastors talk at church staff meetings went something like "Hey, do you guys like church and the Bible and stuff? No? Okay, great - I'll make sure they all sound like dill knobs," he said to random people out the window one Thursday afternoon. It's pretty poor writing, to say the least.

Aside from the cringeworthy "religious doofuses" talk, Mr. Goldsborough does some other confusing things. Perhaps he wrote this book hastily before his grumpiness wore off. Once again, Mr. Goldsborough relies too much on Archie having nonsensically long red-herring-filled conversations with non-suspects to fill the book. I'm not saying we read Nero Wolfe stories for car chases, bank heists, avalanche slope ski-riding gun shootouts, and the like, but once upon a time Archie Goodwin used to bring people to Nero Wolfe so he could ask them questions and gather clues and generally be in the story. Wolfe makes brief cameos in this one at best, until the surprising finale which is ... let's just say it's an embarrassment to the mystery genre: "Uh, yeah, it's me, the victim speaking...I'm pretty sure I'm in mortal danger, so I'm going to sneakily write the name of my potential assassin in the world's most non-existent word search using Bible verses ... assuming everyone knows which translation I'm using for my secret code, and then can magically stumble on my wholly inscrutable and non-existent code which doesn't exist." I mean honestly. How Wolfe discovers this "secret code" malarky is a head scratcher.

Worse is the fact Mr. Goldsborough puts good ol' Fred Durkin in mortal danger, yet Wolfe vacillates between not really caring and not doing much to show he cares. One would think Wolfe would exert more effort to save Fred, especially after what happened to Orrie. Goldsborough continues to write Fritz as a whiny, weak-willed worrywart. True, he didn't have the benefit of seeing Colin Fox's superb portrayal, but still. For a "Wolfe expert," as Goldsborough purportedly is, this is a tedious and tiresome portrayal of a formerly strong character.

This review has likewise gotten tedious and tiresome, and I apologize for that. This was not very enjoyable to read. But maybe you'll like it.

[Diane K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite interesting. It was a nice change of pace for Wolfe to be involved with (what seemed to be) a religious issue. I also liked the fact that Barnabas Bay, the church's leader, was in fact an honest, sincere man, not out to exploit the gullible. The characters were realistic, the pacing was good, and the resolution was plausible. Even the astonishing situation of Wolfe actually leaving his house was done in a way that made sense. I enjoyed the focus on Fred Durkin, although I confess that I'm a little disturbed that Goldsborough, through several books, keeps reiterating that Fred is hard up for work. Surely there are enough potential clients out there who cannot afford Nero Wolfe's fees. And note--Fred was heading in the right direction towards the resolution of the case. Not bad for someone Archie considers to be "a little thick".

Also, for a change, there was a minimum of those irritating errors that tend to jolt me out of the story. With one exception, there was nothing that overrode my pleasure in the storyline. That exception, however, was a considerable one.

Where the heck was Saul Panzer?

He is mentioned, of course, several times. Archie mentions him along with Fred, right before recommending Fred for the case after Wolfe turns it down. He's mentioned when Archie is needling Wolfe about the necessity of supporting Fanny and Fred's children with weekly visits, because Fred will surely be convicted unless Wolfe gets off his duff and starts working on the case. And he is casually mentioned as attending a ball game with Archie when things are going slowly.

However, those of us who know and love Saul Panzer know that he would not have remained in the background during this case. The moment he heard of Fred's peril, he would either have been on the phone or right at Wolfe's doorstep, demanding to be allowed to help, and no doubt offering his services for free (which Wolfe, no doubt, would ignore). There is no might or maybe about this. Saul would have been there.

Granted, it would have been a little difficult to work Saul into the case, because there is very little that Saul could have been doing "off screen", as it were. Yet this could have been easily dealt with. Saul could have been out of town on a case. He could have been out of town, and even out of the state and the country, on a well-deserved vacation. Or he could have been in the hospital with something not too life-threatening, just enough to keep him out of the way (and on the phone, expressing his frustration at not being able to help!)

If not for this, I would have given this one 5 stars, because it was very well done.

[Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely not Rex Stout but Robert Goldsborough does a good job. This mystery takes place in a mega church and Mr. Goldborough is respectful of religion and the church staff, much more so than I suspect Mr. Stout would have been.

I may be wrong.

BTW, I found this book in a little library stationed outside a local coffee shop.

[Steven Vaughan-Nichols · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say this is just a really poor Nero Wolfe patsche. Goldsborough usually write at least an OK follow-up to Rex Stout's immortal detective hero, but this one was just disappointing all the way around.

[Christine Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh... this book was ok, but just ok.

I will preface by saying I've never read a true Nero Wolfe mystery (which now I feel like I should). Perhaps the original series is better, as they usually are. Fan fiction seems to try too hard.

And that's my own observation: this book just tries too hard. The descriptions seem forced: a woman will say something as she brushes a tendril of hair from her cheek, a man will jut out his chin like a battering ram. The dialogue tags even seem to be over the top--in one exchange, characters mutter, ask evenly, growl, spit, bristle, say smoothly, grump, and groan (all in one page!). The descriptions of male characters are attached only to their clothing, while the female characters are described at length & repeatedly for their physical characteristics, and...of course...they are all just drop dead gorgeous.

I enjoy mysteries, and this had all the hallmarks of a good one. The clues were left for the reader and the solution revealed at the end. However, the mystery itself was of no great challenge: I was able to guess at the culprit early on...and some of the red herrings were obvious (magically people randomly showing up from someone's past in the middle of Manhattan to pick a fight for no reason?). And in the end, I was dissatisfied regarding how absolutely thin the logic/reasoning was behind who the culprit actually was. The conclusion was based on supposition and inference, but there was, quite literally, no tangible evidence to prove that what the great Wolfe had figured out was actually so.

All this said, it was a light read, and it fulfilled my need for a simple mystery. So I finish this review how I started: meh.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subject of this story is really about character and the faces that guilty people wear to mask their weaknesses. A member of the Tabernacle of the Silver Spire went to Wolfe for help because some threatening notes aimed at Barney Bay (the church's charismatic leader) had been discovered each time on one of the collection pouches for 6 consecutive Sundays but Wolfe refused the case. So Archie recommended Fred Durkin... after a while, the most unlikable of the church's Circle of Faith advisors and a Royal pain was shot twice with Durkin's gun and Fred Durkin was arrested for his murder. Before the murder, Durkin told the Circle that one of them sent the threatening notes and that caused an uproar and a heated argument ensued between Durkin and the contentious victim. Wolfe and Archie have no paying client here and Wolfe footed Durkin's bond plus they had to work fast to extricate Durkin before Pastor Royal Mead's murder goes to trial... then Wolfe had a relapse that had everyone worried including the reader because of the excruciating wait and that he might not be able to solve this case, the anomaly seldom happens but it might just be this one, too. Given the character of the victim, though unlikable and devoid of social skills he was also thorough and conscientious in policing and protecting the interests of his church while the murderer though working for the church can not help his weakness in character.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone is threatening the life of a prominent minister, but Wolfe doesn’t like the idea of working for a group of evangelicals no matter how wealthy they are. So, he refuses the case, but when asked for a recommendation on another private investigator, Archie suggests Fred Durkin. A week later, Durkin is arrested for homicide.

Now I understand that it is politically awkward for the NYC police force to investigate and potentially arrest prominent churchmen and women, but the Durkin case always felt like a farce. The police have two pieces of evidence against Durkin. The dead man yelled at him, and Durkin’s gun was used. Durkin’s defense is that he took off his gun and hung it beneath his coat while at the church—something which was easily verifiable. But there we have it. Durkin is going down for murder so that wealthy political doners aren’t offended and Inspector Cramer is going along with it. It still doesn’t make sense.

Wolfe gets involved because Durkin is associated with him. The ending was not as dramatic as a traditional Wolfe case, although the murderer did make sense. It was also nice to see Wolfe do more with a set of bible verses then the bible-thumping church men and women could. But when all is said and done, this is only an average Nero Wolfe mystery.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Dueep Jyot · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am a great fan of Nero Wolfe especially those books written by an extremely talented writer Rex Stout. But alas, Rex stout imitators are a dime a dozen and Robert Goldborough comes in this category.
This is the most pathetic parody and imitation of the master that I have ever seen. I don't need to go beyond para two to see this particular writer does not know the difference between 'nicked' and 'niched'- a word that I think he made up.
Sorry no, it might be a wonderful book for those who want to read a talent less self published hack writing 21st century American with all its bad spellings and bad editing worse writing but I do not have the patience. The first sentence said it all . 'The ferry belched...'
I am sure I am going to see Archie swearing a blue streak here, because Robert G wants a hard boiled detective without any class , dignity or style. No, thanks.

[KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archive better than ever!

I'd give this 4.5 stars. I've rounded it up to 5 cos I'm just that happy and satisfied.

I've read all of Rex Stout's Wolfe books several times. I love most, not all, of them. But I always love Archie and Wolfe.

When I started Robert Goldsborough's Wolfe books I hoped for the best and I have to admit the first few were not the greatest plots. I stuck to them because I could see how dedicatedly the author stuck to canon and I just couldn't stand the idea of Archie and Wolfe moving on with life and me not knowing what they were up to. And boy am. I glad I did. The last three books I've read are fabulous, with Robert finding Archie's true voice -- starting with Last Coincidence, building up in Fade to Black, and now reaching the pinnacle with Silver Spire. I'm almost scared to read the next books in case they don't keep up to this standard!

[Carôle Ceres · Rating 4 out of 5]

NICELY DONE

This is a refreshing unbiased look at the Mega Church phenomenon that has gripped the USA. It’s wonderfully impartial so that you see both the pious and the hypercritical side of both the church and the people!

Onto that arena, Nero Wolfe gets dragged in - kicking and screaming - and is reluctantly forced to church.

I must state that very few of the Christian characters represent God very well, although they talk a good game. But very few Christian readers (if any), can take offence at this tale. It’s a novel setting for a crime scene and it’s handled very well.

I listened to the audiobook version of this title. Great narration as usual by L. J. Ganser.

[Kumari de Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this wasn't Rex Stout and that is why I am rating it so high. As far as sleuths go, Nero Wolf's quirk is that he never leaves his house. Whether this is because he is agoraphobic or because he can't be bothered is never made explicitly clear. In some ways the mystery itself does not travel new ground. There's the initial How Could This Happen! No motive for anyone rather quickly surpassed into everyone had a motive because the dead guy was a jerk. This isn't anything new. But Archie is funny and very throw back to an early 20th century gumshoe, and the book is short. You can finish it in a couple of hours on a plane

[Paul O'Grady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable entry in Goldsborough's Nero Wolfe series. Every once in a while as I read this novel I had a moment of "Rex Stout wouldn't have written that" but for the most part I found the characterizations true to the original. I couldn't give this installment more than 3 stars even though I found it enjoyable because the story itself was a bit mundane. He had a couple of incidents in the book that seem to have been dumped in there just to muddy the waters on the mystery. Over all it was good to spend some time with these characters again.

[Wanda Boyer M.C., Ph.D., RCC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Mr. Goldsborough for having Archie and Nero infiltrate a well respected, yet fictitious, Evangelical church group on Staten Island. Nero’s proclivity for all varied forms of literature including the Old and New Testament of varied versions of the Bible comes in very handy in this modern tale of the violation of the Ten Commandments. See Archie chide and prod Nero into masterful action to save Fred Durkin from wrongful imprisonment! GoodReads community, get ready to purr with delight as you curl up with this good read!

[Writemoves · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rushed through this book to get to the ending. And I found the ending a bit contrived and convenient in order to solve the murder of a member of a televangelist organization. Interesting that Nero left his lair to visit the church and announce the murder. Mysteries are solved primarily by deduction and logic. Archie is the far more interesting character in the series.

I did not enjoy this book as I did The Missing Chapter in the same series that I read a few weeks ago.

Bit disappointing...

[Bella]

The personal computers threw me--Archie's typewriter was practically a character and it's been replaced by a PC! Some bits didn't ring 100% to Stout to me, but I don't think that's a bad thing, I mean how many versions of Sherlock Holmes are there? I enjoyed the plot. There was quite a lot of explanation but it did me no good at all. I had narrowed the field a little, but was happy to have Nero explain it all to me.

[BozCitac · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is an outrageous amount of padding in this relatively short murder mystery. Even though the revelation of who the killer is makes perfect sense and there is one slight hint towards at the very start, the way Nero Wolfe finally solves the case by analyzing the hidden meaning of a single clue after being extremely passive for pretty much the whole story is so preposterous and absurd that it borders on parody.

[Moira Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the Goldsborough variations on the Nero Wolfe theme I’ve enjoyed the most - brisk story, fun interplay between Wolfe and Archie ... and I liked the way our dynamic duo treated the religious beliefs of the other main characters with respect, even though they don’t share those beliefs. Well done!

[Paul Myer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful...an outstanding addition to the Rex Stout legacy.

Having read every Nero Wolfe-Archie Godwin adventure penned by Rex Stout in 2017 I reluctantly began reading the Goldsborough sequels. The first five were good but the Silver Spire is exceptional. Thank you for keeping Wolfe, Archie and the cast of other colorful Stout characters alive.

[Allyn Voorhees · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two and a half stars actually.
I like that someone has taken up the mantle of writing about Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe,
it's just that no one can compare with Rex Stout. Not too keen on the modern touch of Archie using a computer to record his notes. Like a modern reader won't know what a typewriter and carbon paper are. After all, they can just Google the words.

[Kay Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining visit with Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, in which they investigate murder at the Silver Spire, a huge church with an equally impressive TV presence--but only because long-time friend Fred Durkin has been accused of the murder.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nero and the Church of the, and a murderer

Nero almost lost it! Really how? This one has him stumped. At a time like this Nero retreats to think? To mope, and hopefully come up with a solution. His solving this one angered him so, He Left His House to identify the murderer.