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The Last Drive: And Other Stories
Tales of murder and mayhem from one of the twentieth century’s greatest mystery authors
When Colonel Phillips begins his final game of golf, his greatest problem in life is that he has begun to slice the ball. Playing with his lawyer and nephews, Phillips fights his way back into the game and is on the verge of victory when he keels over. He clutches his chest, mumbles a few words, and is dead in minutes. The doctor has no doubt: The colonel was poisoned. Finding the culprit falls to the president of the golf club, amateur detective Canby Rankin, who will do whatever it takes to find the killer on the links.
Written nearly a century ago, “The Last Drive” is now available for the first time in book form. Clever, charming, and absolutely baffling, it is the tale that inspired the first Nero Wolfe novel, Fer-de-Lance, and along with the other stories in this volume represents the early efforts of a modern genius.
When Colonel Phillips begins his final game of golf, his greatest problem in life is that he has begun to slice the ball. Playing with his lawyer and nephews, Phillips fights his way back into the game and is on the verge of victory when he keels over. He clutches his chest, mumbles a few words, and is dead in minutes. The doctor has no doubt: The colonel was poisoned. Finding the culprit falls to the president of the golf club, amateur detective Canby Rankin, who will do whatever it takes to find the killer on the links.
Written nearly a century ago, “The Last Drive” is now available for the first time in book form. Clever, charming, and absolutely baffling, it is the tale that inspired the first Nero Wolfe novel, Fer-de-Lance, and along with the other stories in this volume represents the early efforts of a modern genius.
- GenresCozyAnthologiesMystery
Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2015
About the author
Rex Stout
830 books1,046 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 15, 2026
I’ve mostly appreciated this author through his famous character, Nero Wolfe. Created in 1934, Wolfe is an enthusiastic armchair detective who relies heavily on his assistant, Archie Goodwin, to gather clues while he solves cases, tends to his orchids, and enjoys gourmet cooking.
So, when this book was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, I was curious to read some of the author’s earlier work—stories written before Nero Wolfe came onto the scene. As an early effort, it’s interesting from a literary standpoint, though it lacks the sharp dialogue and lively character dynamics that would later define the Nero Wolfe series.
The Last Drive was his second detective fiction murder mystery novel, originally serialized in Golfers Magazine from July to December 1916. Not a golfing enthusiast, Stout found himself in somewhat unfamiliar territory, yet still managed to weave murder into the setting of a golf driving range.
The book also includes some exquisite black-and-white drawings of the characters in action in The Last Drive. The illustrator is uncredited, but a close look at the signature suggests it may be James H. Crank. Research indicates he was active in the early 20th century and featured prominently in major publications during the Golden Age of illustration, including The Saturday Evening Post. It would make sense that his art appeared in Golfers Magazine as well.
All of these stories were first published between 1912 and 1918. Written for the era—and occasionally leaning toward romance—they remain readable, with straightforward characterizations.
Still, they don’t quite match the entertaining energy of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, and they lack the distinctive sparkle readers have come to expect from the author’s later work. As an early entry in his writing career, the collection feels more notable for its context than for its storytelling.
All in all, these early stories are interesting as a historical curiosity and give insight into the author’s developing style, but they don’t capture the spark, wit, or charm that make Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin so memorable. Fans of the author may enjoy a peek into his early work, but don’t expect the same energy that made his later novels classics.
So, when this book was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, I was curious to read some of the author’s earlier work—stories written before Nero Wolfe came onto the scene. As an early effort, it’s interesting from a literary standpoint, though it lacks the sharp dialogue and lively character dynamics that would later define the Nero Wolfe series.
The Last Drive was his second detective fiction murder mystery novel, originally serialized in Golfers Magazine from July to December 1916. Not a golfing enthusiast, Stout found himself in somewhat unfamiliar territory, yet still managed to weave murder into the setting of a golf driving range.
The book also includes some exquisite black-and-white drawings of the characters in action in The Last Drive. The illustrator is uncredited, but a close look at the signature suggests it may be James H. Crank. Research indicates he was active in the early 20th century and featured prominently in major publications during the Golden Age of illustration, including The Saturday Evening Post. It would make sense that his art appeared in Golfers Magazine as well.
All of these stories were first published between 1912 and 1918. Written for the era—and occasionally leaning toward romance—they remain readable, with straightforward characterizations.
Still, they don’t quite match the entertaining energy of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, and they lack the distinctive sparkle readers have come to expect from the author’s later work. As an early entry in his writing career, the collection feels more notable for its context than for its storytelling.
All in all, these early stories are interesting as a historical curiosity and give insight into the author’s developing style, but they don’t capture the spark, wit, or charm that make Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin so memorable. Fans of the author may enjoy a peek into his early work, but don’t expect the same energy that made his later novels classics.
January 26, 2026
Early fiction by Rex Stout, generally written over 100 years ago. A lot of romance, dated by time and approach to class. If you are a fan of Red Stout but have read every Nero Wolfe story, and especially if you are a completionist, then you might enjoy this collection.
November 28, 2025
Some early enjoyable Stout. Here we find mostly little romances, some with twists along with an early story that clearly inspired the plot of the first Nero Wolfe mystery, Fer de Lance. I had fun.
July 1, 2024
This short story collection was rough. These were done way before his famous Nero Wolfe novels. They range from 1912-18 and even though it's released by Mysterious Press, there is only one mystery. The rest are badly written romances that have such obvious endings, they are a slog to get through. The lone mystery is the title story and if you read the first Wolfe novel then you have basically read this tale. There is one more tale that isn't bad, called Ask the Egyptians, it's slightly supernatural, about a man who is terrible at golf but somehow, through the death of his dog, he becomes great for a time. Though that's it, the rest is a slog.
Can't recommend, the title tale is not a bad read for fans of Nero Wolfe, sort of seeing where the beginnings of the first novel came from. Though after that it's slim pickings.
Can't recommend, the title tale is not a bad read for fans of Nero Wolfe, sort of seeing where the beginnings of the first novel came from. Though after that it's slim pickings.
December 3, 2017
Besides being properly written these first stories of Rex Stout's engage with plot and character. The history of the modern reader and Stout revolves mainly around Nero Wolfe. Certainly, I learned to read mystery stories from Stout. When one learns from him and the other old masters ( Carr & Christie & their compatriots here and abroad) one learns to unravel today's knuckle whiteners with ease. So it is with reverence we approach the early work of Stout, knowing his unusual story: he wrote for some years, publishing in a variety of magazines, then took himself away for over a decade to secure himself an income which enabled him to write seriously without regard to selling. His later success is prefigured in these eleven stories. Valuable for their insight into the early Twentieth century as well as to the giant of modern mystery stories we have been given humor, romance, a few surprise endings and one full-blown mystery story.
Highly Recommended.
Highly Recommended.
September 15, 2023
Very enjoyable stories. I fell right into step with reading, even though I hadn't read any Rex Stout for a long time. It makes me want to get out some of my old Nero Wolfe novels and re-read them. I particularly liked "Old fools and young" which closed the book. 'The last drive" was enjoyable too, even though I'm not a golfer.
November 27, 2025
Nice Collection
Red Stout's early short stories, collected here, are very readable. Well written, nice charactization, fun 'plots' as there are more romances than murders. Very enoyable .
Red Stout's early short stories, collected here, are very readable. Well written, nice charactization, fun 'plots' as there are more romances than murders. Very enoyable .
June 1, 2023
I enjoyed the many short stories by Rex Stout, especially his romances that always had a nice twist.
June 29, 2023
These stories were so different from his Nero Wolfe series. It was quite interesting to see his early variety of magazine stories.
June 4, 2015
The Last Drive by Rex Stout
3 out 5 stars
Stories from the early 20th century written with charm and elegance
Retired Colonel Carson Phillips and his friend and lawyer Fraser Mawson are enjoying a mildly competitive four-ball at the Corona Country Club in southern California. Their opponents are brothers Harry and Fred Adam, nephews of the colonel.
The Colonel, who has been experiencing some problems with his driver, is using his brassie instead, but the problems remain. When they reach the fifth tee, Colonel Phillips decides that he will go back to his driver and promptly smacks the ball two hundred and twenty yards down the centre of the fairway. As they approach the green of the fifth hole, the Colonel experiences some discomfort which quickly escalates, and within a few minutes he has expired.
Standing in the crowd of distressed onlookers is Canby Rankin, a friend of Colonel Phillips and a wealthy southerner who has an interest in crime. When the President of the club asks Canby to investigate the strange death, he determines that he will uncover the reason for the sudden and tragic demise of Colonel Phillips.
And so begins the first of eleven short stories written by Rex Todhunter Stout, whose seventy-two Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin murder mystery stories were published between 1934 and 1975. The stories comprising ‘The Last Drive’ were written in the early years of the twentieth century and have a certain charm and elegance to them which is all too often lacking in today’s literature. Golf enthusiasts will smile at the references to ‘brassie’ and ‘niblick’ in the opening story. Other stories in the book include ‘The Pickled Picnic’ and ‘Ask the Egyptians’, the latter being another golf-related story.
Despite the allure of Stout’s writing, I did find myself thinking that I was a little bit ‘new-fashioned’, in that I was rather yearning after a little bit of blood and guts and a complicated plot. For those who like a gentle romp through earlier writings, this book would be a good fit.
Sméagol
Best Selling Crime Thrillers were given an advanced copy of this book to review
3 out 5 stars
Stories from the early 20th century written with charm and elegance
Retired Colonel Carson Phillips and his friend and lawyer Fraser Mawson are enjoying a mildly competitive four-ball at the Corona Country Club in southern California. Their opponents are brothers Harry and Fred Adam, nephews of the colonel.
The Colonel, who has been experiencing some problems with his driver, is using his brassie instead, but the problems remain. When they reach the fifth tee, Colonel Phillips decides that he will go back to his driver and promptly smacks the ball two hundred and twenty yards down the centre of the fairway. As they approach the green of the fifth hole, the Colonel experiences some discomfort which quickly escalates, and within a few minutes he has expired.
Standing in the crowd of distressed onlookers is Canby Rankin, a friend of Colonel Phillips and a wealthy southerner who has an interest in crime. When the President of the club asks Canby to investigate the strange death, he determines that he will uncover the reason for the sudden and tragic demise of Colonel Phillips.
And so begins the first of eleven short stories written by Rex Todhunter Stout, whose seventy-two Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin murder mystery stories were published between 1934 and 1975. The stories comprising ‘The Last Drive’ were written in the early years of the twentieth century and have a certain charm and elegance to them which is all too often lacking in today’s literature. Golf enthusiasts will smile at the references to ‘brassie’ and ‘niblick’ in the opening story. Other stories in the book include ‘The Pickled Picnic’ and ‘Ask the Egyptians’, the latter being another golf-related story.
Despite the allure of Stout’s writing, I did find myself thinking that I was a little bit ‘new-fashioned’, in that I was rather yearning after a little bit of blood and guts and a complicated plot. For those who like a gentle romp through earlier writings, this book would be a good fit.
Sméagol
Best Selling Crime Thrillers were given an advanced copy of this book to review
June 21, 2015
Thanks to Netgalley and Mysterious Press.com/Open Road Media for providing me a copy of this book to complete this review.
This is an interesting collection of early Rex Stout stories that is more for the Rex Stout completist than for someone looking for crime fiction stories similar to the later books he wrote about Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. As someone who has read and very much enjoyed nine of the Rex Stout books, I was somewhat disappointed by this collection. The stories are interesting but most of the stories are more romance stories than crime fiction with the main exception being the enjoyable The Last Drive (1916) novella which does take up about the first quarter of the book. This book, supposedly the basis for the first Nero Wolfe book, Fer-de-Lance (1934), is about Carson Phillips a retired colonel, who hits his best and last drive of the day in what had already been a bad golf day. Candby Rankin is the amateur detective who investigates the Colonel’s death to see if he died of natural causes or perhaps through poisoning. A good mystery and an enjoyable early Rex Stout book. The last story, Old Fools and Young, is slightly longer than the first, and one that was promoted on the cover of the April 1918 issue of Young’s Magazine, a general fiction magazine that apparently was written more for women at that time. This last long story is just that, a romance story, that likely appealed to the woman of that time.
Overall, this is an interesting collection of stories for a big Rex Stout fan but not for someone looking for some good crime fiction.
This is an interesting collection of early Rex Stout stories that is more for the Rex Stout completist than for someone looking for crime fiction stories similar to the later books he wrote about Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. As someone who has read and very much enjoyed nine of the Rex Stout books, I was somewhat disappointed by this collection. The stories are interesting but most of the stories are more romance stories than crime fiction with the main exception being the enjoyable The Last Drive (1916) novella which does take up about the first quarter of the book. This book, supposedly the basis for the first Nero Wolfe book, Fer-de-Lance (1934), is about Carson Phillips a retired colonel, who hits his best and last drive of the day in what had already been a bad golf day. Candby Rankin is the amateur detective who investigates the Colonel’s death to see if he died of natural causes or perhaps through poisoning. A good mystery and an enjoyable early Rex Stout book. The last story, Old Fools and Young, is slightly longer than the first, and one that was promoted on the cover of the April 1918 issue of Young’s Magazine, a general fiction magazine that apparently was written more for women at that time. This last long story is just that, a romance story, that likely appealed to the woman of that time.
Overall, this is an interesting collection of stories for a big Rex Stout fan but not for someone looking for some good crime fiction.
October 26, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
When Colonel Phillips begins his final game of golf, his greatest problem in life is that he has begun to slice the ball. Playing with his lawyer and nephews, Phillips fights his way back into the game and is on the verge of victory when he keels over. He clutches his chest, mumbles a few words, and is dead in minutes. The doctor has no doubt: The colonel was poisoned. Finding the culprit falls to the president of the golf club, amateur detective Canby Rankin, who will do whatever it takes to find the killer on the links.
Written nearly a century ago, “The Last Drive” is now available for the first time in book form. Clever, charming, and absolutely baffling, it is the tale that inspired the first Nero Wolfe novel, Fer-de-Lance, and along with the other stories in this volume represents the early efforts of a modern genius.
Nero Wolfe was always a favourite character of mine for many years - brash, funny, clever - all the things I want from my crime characters to go along with Stout's fantastic plots.
This collection of eleven short stories seems to come up a bit short. While they are good enough in their own right, they don't seem to manage to reach the heights that I was expecting. They are not badly written, the characters are pretty good...but after reading 30+ novels of Nero Wolfe, there was something missing.
I believe fans of Stout's - or simply fans of crime fiction from this period - will enjoy these tales. A collector of short stories from that time will love it.
Paul
ARH
When Colonel Phillips begins his final game of golf, his greatest problem in life is that he has begun to slice the ball. Playing with his lawyer and nephews, Phillips fights his way back into the game and is on the verge of victory when he keels over. He clutches his chest, mumbles a few words, and is dead in minutes. The doctor has no doubt: The colonel was poisoned. Finding the culprit falls to the president of the golf club, amateur detective Canby Rankin, who will do whatever it takes to find the killer on the links.
Written nearly a century ago, “The Last Drive” is now available for the first time in book form. Clever, charming, and absolutely baffling, it is the tale that inspired the first Nero Wolfe novel, Fer-de-Lance, and along with the other stories in this volume represents the early efforts of a modern genius.
Nero Wolfe was always a favourite character of mine for many years - brash, funny, clever - all the things I want from my crime characters to go along with Stout's fantastic plots.
This collection of eleven short stories seems to come up a bit short. While they are good enough in their own right, they don't seem to manage to reach the heights that I was expecting. They are not badly written, the characters are pretty good...but after reading 30+ novels of Nero Wolfe, there was something missing.
I believe fans of Stout's - or simply fans of crime fiction from this period - will enjoy these tales. A collector of short stories from that time will love it.
Paul
ARH
June 17, 2019
The Last Drive (1916) is an earlier version and shadow of Fer~de~Lance (1934) so it is not as well developed as the final version and first book about the corpulent and slightly misogynistic (I think he is scared) genius detective Nero Wolfe and his confidential assistant Archie Goodwin. The other stories here (covering a period from maybe 1916 to 1918) may read and feel as what they term as "apprentice work" and some may have even been forgotten by the author himself but these are parts of him and therefore as precious as gold nuggets to a fan plus a chance to see and know a piece of Rex Stout as a writer and as a person. His love stories here are still great in whatever timeline ~ "Old Fools and Young" is pragmatic, funny with the sting of reality. "The Paisley" is beautiful in its offer of hope and promise. "Billy Du Mont, Reporter" is the magical bloom and wonder of young love with a dose of reality and grit thrown in. "Two Kisses" is true, real and as it should be in its ending. "Second Edition" is a dream and the opportunity to make it happen. "It Happened Last Night" is a brilliant Surprise. Oh, there are others here that will move you or make you think and ponder...
May 1, 2015
This collection of Rex Stout's very early work was interesting to me because it illustrates the development of a writer. It also demonstrates how beneficial a well developed character can be to the success of a story.
I am a rabid fan of Stout's Nero Wolfe novels. The language sparkles; the characters draw me in; and , for this reader, the plot is simply a vehicle to showcase his brilliant detective and cheeky assistant.
The Last Drive is stated in the afterward as the inspiration for Stout's renouned novel FER de LANCE--- the first Nero Wolfe novel. But, no matter how ingenious the murder, the story didn't sparkle like Stout's later work because the characters were merely vehicles to expose the clever murder.
This book will be of interest for the new additions to the Rex Stout canon. It would also be a valuable tool for creative writing teachers to use: comparing The Last Drive with Fer de Lance would be an interesting exercise in the creative growth of a writer.
I am a rabid fan of Stout's Nero Wolfe novels. The language sparkles; the characters draw me in; and , for this reader, the plot is simply a vehicle to showcase his brilliant detective and cheeky assistant.
The Last Drive is stated in the afterward as the inspiration for Stout's renouned novel FER de LANCE--- the first Nero Wolfe novel. But, no matter how ingenious the murder, the story didn't sparkle like Stout's later work because the characters were merely vehicles to expose the clever murder.
This book will be of interest for the new additions to the Rex Stout canon. It would also be a valuable tool for creative writing teachers to use: comparing The Last Drive with Fer de Lance would be an interesting exercise in the creative growth of a writer.
May 3, 2015
Fans of Rex Stout’s classic Nero Wolfe series might be astonished by these early tales – one mystery – that gives the title to this anthology – and 10 other stories, many of them romance tales.
And while this might seem strange and might turn off the die hard mystery buff, these stories are nevertheless lots of fun – engaging, and with Rex Stout’s surprise endings.
You won’t be sorry to dig into this treasure trove of Rex Stout tales written before he began his unforgettable Nero Wolfe mysteries – and let’s face it – everyone needs a little romance – don’t you?
And while this might seem strange and might turn off the die hard mystery buff, these stories are nevertheless lots of fun – engaging, and with Rex Stout’s surprise endings.
You won’t be sorry to dig into this treasure trove of Rex Stout tales written before he began his unforgettable Nero Wolfe mysteries – and let’s face it – everyone needs a little romance – don’t you?
April 4, 2016
Although a couple of the stories were so-so (hence the 3 star rating), I enjoyed the book. A "so-so" Rex Stout book beats many other author's best works. The surprising thing is how many of his early stories deal with love, romance and attraction when his most famous creation, Nero Wolfe, had no use for any of it. The first story in the book certainly influenced his first Nero Wolfe story, Fer-de-lance.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews