Booby Trap

Nero Wolfe, #10A

by Rex Stout

"Booby Trap," one of the first Nero Wolfe novella-length stories, was first published in The American Magazine. It is the second of the two stories that feature Archie, Wolfe's live-in employee in all others stories, as Major Goodwin for the US Army Intelligence. In this, a grenade is used to create a lethal booby trap for an army colonel.
"Booby Trap" is vintage Wolfe. It has everything his fans expect of their beloved character: beer, orchids, colorful exchanges with Archie, love (a woman in the brownstone), Wolfe leaving the house, Wolfe riding in a car, and Wolfe attempting to sit in an unsatisfactory chair.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Detective

99 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

Rex 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.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles van Buren

TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Not the best Nero Wolfe but good

January 14, 2019

Format: Kindle Edition

This review is of the Book Revivals Press edition of BOOBY TRAP, a Rex Stout Nero Wolfe novella. This edition is not currently available from Amazon but I purchased it from Amazon in August, 2017.

I never previously wondered what Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin did in the war. This novella answers, in part, that question which I never thought to ask. Having some familiarity with the United States Army, I'm guessing that Rex Stout either didn't know or didn't care that this novella is not realistic. However it is still a Nero Wolfe story. The worst Nero Wolfe that I ever read was still good and this is far from the worst. This one is a little light on character development but the story flows.

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. The second of two novellas in a collection published under the name of the first, "Not Quite Dead Enough." Again featuring Archie Goodwin, Nero Wolfe's inimitable assistant, as a Major in the Army attached to it's intelligence division. The better of the two, but both nicely pass muster. It's WW2, and an anonymous letter has arrived for Colonel Ryder, Goodwin's superior, with the following accusation: "[The practice, of the Army being entrusted with secrets of various industrial processes] is being criminally abused. Some of the secrets .. are being betrayed to those who intend to engage in post-war competition of the industries involved." But no names mentioned! Archie is well positioned to help, what with Nero Wolfe acting as a consultant on Army security. There aren't many suspects - just Sergeant Dorothy Bruce who soon catches Archie's roving eye, John Bell Shattuck, a senior elected official in Washington, General Fife of Army Command, Lieutenant Kenneth Lawson, Colonel Tinkham, and Ryder. Wolfe sets up a complicated trap for the offender using the most recent grenade developed by the Army. Will it go off? A dangerous read! (Se2023/Mar2024)

[Margie Dorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treat to discover that there are some Nero Wolfe novellas that I have not yet read. I had been looking for some summer escapist reading, and lo and behold, this was perfect. Though set in the past, the Nero Wolfe mysteries are timeless. There are not too many mystery writers who can match Rex Stout.

[Whistler's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The war comes much too close for Nero Wolfe.

Rex Stout was a deeply patriotic man and when the U.S. entered World War II, he put his writing on hold and devoted the majority of his time to unpaid public service.

Nero Wolfe is as patriotic as the next guy, but even his best friend (if he had one) couldn't call him flexible and adjusting to war time conditions and privations is really getting on his nerves. Bad enough that Army Intelligence requires the services of his sidekick Archie Godwin. Even worse that he and cook Fritz are expected to deal with food rationing. But when the Army adds WOMEN officers, it's the straw that broke the camel's back.

And Archie, not content with spending his time on the war effort, impishly insists on bringing home the latest military equipment. Some men would be thrilled to see the new super grenade, but Wolfe wants no part of it. If anything explodes in HIS house, it will be his temper.

Like many mysteries set during WWII, this one involves domestic espionage and corruption. President Roosevelt's "Dollar-a-Year" executives were mostly fine men who genuinely wanted to help the Allies win the war. But there were some who saw the war as a way to line their own pockets. And what could be more tempting than the possibility of stealing military secrets and selling them to the highest bidder? When a respected military officer dies suspiciously, Wolfe and Archie must find the villain and plug the leak.

This is the second Nero Wolfe novella that I've read and I hope the publisher will keep them coming. It seems to me that they capture the flavor of the series without unnecessary fluff and filler. To be brutally honest, I don't need to know any more about orchids. Stout's novellas stick to the mystery and that suits me just fine.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again

[Katie Hilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's World War II, and Archie is an Army major. When a colonel he knows is blown to bits by a pink hand grenade, Archie and Nero Wolfe investigate the homicide.

[Ricky Mikeabono · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with Not Quite Dead Enough as a Nero Wolf novella double feature, and there's a longer review there. This one was a little more classic Wolf and less introduction to the new WWII situation, but I liked how a grenade and military personnel were at the heart of the story. Wolf pulls off a nice little trick to find the murderer, and I liked the particularly cold and heartless ending ("I'd rather this didn't drag out for me so I'm just going to tell you what to do and you'll do it" - NW, paraphrased).

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stout's connection of this story with the previous "Not Quite Dead Enough" is amusing, as his Archie's continuing manipulation of Wolfe. It's always fun to see Wolfe get flummoxed by others and you get that in spades here.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nero Wolfe stories are always good - it's just a question of how good. This one shows the cold, calculating side of Nero. I can't say more or I would be giving away the end.

[Sheryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. Neat and tidy. Wolfe and Archie during the war.

[Paul Close · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story was very clever. The second was strange, and a little dark.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good.

[Stephen C Meisel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nero goes to war

Interesting war time story with an unexpected end for sure. Short but all the usual wise cracks and Cramer aggregation are here.

[Randall Scalise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Earlier books were better.

[Patricia A. Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rex Stout and really enjoyed this book

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a great read

Love Rex Stout and this story didn't disappoint. It was interesting reading a story set in www2 and Archie in the army.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Grade = 85% - B

First Published 1944 - 93 pages.

Major Archie Goodwin is in the Army and living in his old accomodations in Nero Wolfe's house (per instructions of the Military).

This one deals with a boob trap (obviously), a hand grenade, and Sgt. Dorothy Bruce.

I see at the top of this review that the words Kindle Edition appear. This is not the case, but in choosing the title of the book, that was the only option available. I have never read a Kindle, nor do I ever forsee myself doing so.....

[Tim Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a lot of fun. It's set during WWII, and Archie is a Major in Army Intelligence. Wolfe is working for G3, too, with Archie as his Army liaison. This puts him in the odd position of having to leave home and go out for meetings where most of the chairs aren't acceptable to him, except in General's offices. All in all, it turns things on their head from normal routine, and makes you appreciate some of the more normal touches. It's a pretty good read, if you like these.

[Bonnie Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read ALL of Rex Stouts books about Archie and Nero. This is not one of the best. It is almost like someone else wrote it who didn't know Nero that well. But if you are a diehard fan of this series as I am you will read it anyway.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Nero Wolfe is always great. This was a different type of plot, although technically a murder. Set during WWII, the usual cast of characters deal with an army problem.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archie a Major in G2 and Wolfe a consultant. An interesting and enjoyable novella

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not an expert on Nero Wolf having read only one other of the novels. But, this was quite enjoyable but required some knowledge of the characters. Set in WWII with Archie as a Major working with military intelligence.