Nero Wolfe's Alien Brother: The Case of the Louche Fly

by J. Clayton Rogers

In the near future crime runs its usual course, poodles are bioengineered into secretaries, avatars are as common as murder and some of the dead (the more annoying types) stick around past their expiration date. Mr. M of 35th Street, NYC, has dealt with many intriguing cases in his long investigative career, but his latest hits close to home when one of his employees is dismembered only three houses down from his famous brownstone. Mr. M might be an alien, or resident alien or illegal immigrant from Eastern Europe, but without doubt he is the consummate private detective. Feared and utilized by the rich, a powerful annoyance to the New York City Police Department, he is regarded by all as someone who cannot be ignored and put aside. Alongside his factotum, Goody Railhead, he forges into a morass of death and deception. If he doesn't solve the murder of Al Flagstone, his world will be ripped open to public view—his worst nightmare. And with consequences that might prove disastrous to the Big Apple.

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2026

About the author

J. Clayton Rogers is the author of more than ten novels. He was born and raised in Virginia, where he currently resides. He was First-Place Winner of the Hollins Literary Festival a number of years ago. Among the judges were Thomas (Little Big Man) Berger and R.M.W. Dillard, poet and husband of the writer Annie Dillard.

Reviews

[Tanya Marquez]

Love the cover

Not my favorite book by one of my favorite authors. It reminded a bit of The Pickwick Papers by Dickens. Also not a favorite due to its rambling verbiage. I stuck with this Fly book in hopes it might surprise me and turn into the gem The Mandarin Crew did. It began a bit confusing as well and had some outlandish SiFi , but what a great payoff! Of course I'm partial to all the Ari books, 56th Man and on. Love them. Love Ari and Sphinx, plus all the returning characters. I'm off to read the new Zombie book. I hate zombies! But it's written by J. Clayton Rogers so I must read it ❤