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Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Mysteries #12
Murder, Stage Left
It’s curtains for a famous Broadway director, and private investigator Nero Wolfe is on the case—but his assistant, Archie Goodwin, is a suspect.
When a renowned theater director senses something amiss during his latest production, he calls in Nero Wolfe. Though the corpulent genius wouldn’t normally accept a job this vague, a mutual friend dangles the prospect of a very rare orchid in exchange for his services, and Wolfe can’t resist.
With a mind to suss out useful backstage gossip, Wolfe turns to his faithful assistant, Archie Goodwin, to impersonate a journalist in order to speak to the cast. Though Goodwin’s conversations prove unfruitful, on his last day at the theater, the director is murdered in his soundproof booth, poisoned by an unseen culprit during an evening performance. In short order, an actor whose health is failing attempts suicide with the same poison.
Now Goodwin is a prime suspect in the director’s demise, effectively sidelining him for the rest of the case, and freelance gumshoe Saul Panzer must step in to help wrangle the various members of the play—from the ingénue and the diva to the handsome movie star and the surly stage manager—so New York’s smartest, and most reclusive, private detective can determine who is responsible for these dramatic deaths and clear Goodwin’s name once and for all.
Continuing his beloved series—which also includes Archie Meets Nero Wolfe, Murder in the Ball Park, and Archie in the Crosshairs—Nero Award–winning author Robert Goldsborough “brings Nero Wolfe, late of Rex Stout, gloriously back to life” (Chicago).
Murder, Stage Left is the 59th book in the Nero Wolfe Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
When a renowned theater director senses something amiss during his latest production, he calls in Nero Wolfe. Though the corpulent genius wouldn’t normally accept a job this vague, a mutual friend dangles the prospect of a very rare orchid in exchange for his services, and Wolfe can’t resist.
With a mind to suss out useful backstage gossip, Wolfe turns to his faithful assistant, Archie Goodwin, to impersonate a journalist in order to speak to the cast. Though Goodwin’s conversations prove unfruitful, on his last day at the theater, the director is murdered in his soundproof booth, poisoned by an unseen culprit during an evening performance. In short order, an actor whose health is failing attempts suicide with the same poison.
Now Goodwin is a prime suspect in the director’s demise, effectively sidelining him for the rest of the case, and freelance gumshoe Saul Panzer must step in to help wrangle the various members of the play—from the ingénue and the diva to the handsome movie star and the surly stage manager—so New York’s smartest, and most reclusive, private detective can determine who is responsible for these dramatic deaths and clear Goodwin’s name once and for all.
Continuing his beloved series—which also includes Archie Meets Nero Wolfe, Murder in the Ball Park, and Archie in the Crosshairs—Nero Award–winning author Robert Goldsborough “brings Nero Wolfe, late of Rex Stout, gloriously back to life” (Chicago).
Murder, Stage Left is the 59th book in the Nero Wolfe Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2017
395 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Robert Goldsborough
44 books252 followersRobert 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
January 15, 2022
Rex Stout's "Nero Wolfe" books - set in the middle years of the 20th century - are among my favorite light mysteries.
Wolfe is an eccentric, obese private detective who lives in a brownstone in New York City; almost never leaves his house; spends four hours a day tending his orchids; has a Swiss chef who prepares delicious gourmet meals; loves beer; and employs Archie Goodwin as his assistant, legman, and gadfly.
After Stout's death Robert Goldsborough continued the series. In this 12th book from Goldsborough, Nero Wolfe looks into a murder on Broadway. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
As the story opens Nero Wolfe has just collected a large fee from a satisfied client, and is planning to take a break from detective work. Wolfe is convinced to abandon his 'vacation' by millionaire orchid collector Lewis Hewitt. Hewitt offers Wolfe a rare Madagascan orchid.....
.....to meet with his friend, Broadway impresario Roy Breckenridge, who's worried about his new play.
Wolfe agrees to the meeting, during which Breckinridge laments about friction among the actors and stage manager in his new production, Death at Cresthaven. Breckenridge wants Wolfe to sniff out problems that might derail the play. To accomplish this Wolfe sends his assistant Archie Goodwin - posing as a Canadian journalist - to interview the people involved.
At the theatre, Archie interviews the actors and stage manager, one by one. These are:
Ashley Williston - an aging, but still beautiful, leading lady who desperately wants to win a Tony award. Ashley has a reputation for pursuing younger men.
Brad Lester - a handsome Hollywood star who's been imported from Tinseltown to glamorize the play. Brad's name is above Ashley's on the marquee, which the actress resents.
Steve Peters - a good-looking young actor who's just Ashley's type.
Melissa Cartwright - a pretty young ingénue who catches Peters' eye.
Max Ennis - an octogenarian actor with a stellar reputation on Broadway.
Teresa Reed - an irascible actress who's known to speak her mind.
and Hollis Sperry - the stage manager, who admits to scolding the actors as needed.
While he's at the theatre, Archie takes the opportunity to watch both the matinee and evening performances of Death at Cresthaven. During the latter show a murder occurs, and Archie hustles away before the police arrive. Soon afterwards a suicide attempt adds to the drama.
Wolfe is hired to investigate the murder, and gets each person of interest to come to his brownstone to be questioned. Archie makes himself scarce during the interviews, since all the actors think he's a Canadian journalist. Moreover, each actor expresses the suspicion that the 'journalist' committed the murder. (This is pretty entertaining. 😊)
Recurring characters in the story include:
Lon Cohen - a REAL journalist with the New York Gazette, who exchanges information for scoops;
Saul Panzer - a private operative who often does freelance work for Wolfe;
and Inspector Cramer - a cigar-chomping police detective who has a 'frenemy' relationship with Wolfe.
As always in this series, Archie and Wolfe have scrumptious meals, such as brioches and ham; omelets with apricot marmalade; veal cutlet casserole; shad with herbs; and so on. Wolfe also has his usual friendly skirmishes with chef Fritz Brenner about which spices to use, etc.
In the end, Wolfe uses his genius to solve the crime, and gathers all the suspects to expose he murderer....whom Inspector Cramer arrests. These books have always been comfortably formulaic, and Goldsborough diligently follows the program.
Wolfe and Archie are among my favorite fictional characters, and I enjoyed visiting with them. That said, I felt like their 'voices' were a bit off and the plot was less than riveting. Still, the book is a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours.
You can follow my reviews at: https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
March 19, 2017
3.4 stars
Nero Wolfe is called in to investigate a Broadway production when the director/producer thinks there's something wrong with the atmosphere. He's not sure what but something seems off to him. While this seems mundane for Wolfe, the price tag is an exotic and unique orchid. There's no way Wolfe is going to pass on that.
Archie goes undercover posing as a writer of a fictitious Canadian drama magazine which gives him an opportunity to interview the cast. All seems to be going well until the producer dies from poisoning during a performance. Then a cast member ends up in intensive care from poisoning. Did he kill the producer and then try to kill himself? Naw, that would be too easy.
I have always had a special place in my heart for the Rex Stout novels. I remember the joy of discovering one I hadn't read before in a second hand book store in the 1980's. This was, of course, before the Internet. Yes, Virginia, there was a time before the Internet. You never get that same thrill now but you can find the books easily. Trade-offs.
I normally don't like books written by subsequent authors but this really captures the flavor of the originals and makes for a nice trip down memory lane.
Thanks Net Galley for the book in exchange for a fair review.
Nero Wolfe is called in to investigate a Broadway production when the director/producer thinks there's something wrong with the atmosphere. He's not sure what but something seems off to him. While this seems mundane for Wolfe, the price tag is an exotic and unique orchid. There's no way Wolfe is going to pass on that.
Archie goes undercover posing as a writer of a fictitious Canadian drama magazine which gives him an opportunity to interview the cast. All seems to be going well until the producer dies from poisoning during a performance. Then a cast member ends up in intensive care from poisoning. Did he kill the producer and then try to kill himself? Naw, that would be too easy.
I have always had a special place in my heart for the Rex Stout novels. I remember the joy of discovering one I hadn't read before in a second hand book store in the 1980's. This was, of course, before the Internet. Yes, Virginia, there was a time before the Internet. You never get that same thrill now but you can find the books easily. Trade-offs.
I normally don't like books written by subsequent authors but this really captures the flavor of the originals and makes for a nice trip down memory lane.
Thanks Net Galley for the book in exchange for a fair review.
December 30, 2016
What fun! And to think that until I had my Gestalt "Aha" moment, I was totally clueless. Let me explain: When I had the opportunity to request an advance copy of this book at NetGalley in exchange for a review, the description intrigued me; and somewhere in the vast reaches of my aging brain, the name "Nero Wolfe" rang a bell - but so faintly that I ignored it.
That was until I started to read it and looked up the book at Amazon to check page length and other necessities for my review. And then it smacked me in the teeth: Nero Wolfe is a private investigator made famous by none other than the late, great author Rex Stout. This book, in fact, is the 59th in the series - and the latest of a dozen or so written by this author, who was approved by Stout's estate to carry on the series. Aha indeed!
I'm pretty sure, though, that I never read any of Stout's books. I was a bit wary of starting this late in the game, but the description of this one says they can be read in any order, and I found that to be true of this one (although I do think I'd have enjoyed it more had I read a few of its predecessors). That also means I must judge this book totally on its own because I'm unable to compare it with others in the series. That said, I enjoyed it well enough that it certainly won't be my last.
There's no doubt Wolfe is the leader of the pack, but here, at least, he relies heavily on his assistant, Archie Goodwin (a far less pretentious and contentious individual, I might add). Wolfe rarely leaves his home, tended to by a staff that includes a nervously attentive personal chef who totes ice-cold beers to his master at the ring of a bell and himself tending to his vast collection of more than 10,000 prized orchids. In between, he solves complex cases no one else can (in a style a bit reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes or the Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child-created agent Aloysious Xingu L. Pendergast). Physically, he seems to be imposing; if I recall correctly, Wolfe is described as weighing a quarter of a ton and 5 feet 11 inches tall, so it's no wonder he doesn't get around much.
The language he uses is what I'd call downright pompous and stuffy - I read words I havent seen in ages, like "Miasma," "perspicacity" and "foibles." The time setting isn't clear, but since Wolfe, an avid reader, picked up copies of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and Vance Packard's Status Seekers, I'm guessing it's somewhere in the early to mid-1960s.
Okay, down to the nitty gritty: This time, Wolfe is hired to investigate a "feeling" of the director of a new Broadway play, "Death at Cresthaven," that something terrible is about to happen. A bit skeptical but willing to take on the case in exchange for three extremely rare orchids for his collection, Wolfe sends Archie to the theater to pose as a theater critic from Toronto who wants to see the play and interview cast members to be better able to write a glowing review that will bring Canadians to Manhattan. In the process, of course, he hopes to glean insight as to what might be going on behind the scenes.
Truth is, Archie's efforts aren't all that successful; and then - on Archie's last day at the theater - the unthinkable happens: The director is found dead in the not-so-secret soundproof booth he uses to watch rehearsals and performances - all the while slurping down his ever-present cola drinks. To complicate matters, not long after that one of the actors is found unconscious; apparently, he attempted suicide using the same poison that killed the director.
Although it is widely believed that the aging actor killed himself in remorse for murdering the director, cast members tend to favor that writer from Toronto who has disappeared - none other than Wolfe's assistant, Archie. Of course Wolfe and readers know it can't be him - but if not him or the old actor, who? Therein lies the challenge.
Whether Wolfe manages to rise to the occasion, and how, I can't say without giving away too much. I will say, though, that if it's lots of shoot-'em-up, nip-and-tuck, do-or-die action you're looking for, you won't find it here (remember, Wolfe doesn't get out much). Everything hinges on interviews, character assessments, interactions with cops who aren't fans of Wolfe's techniques but admire his capability to solve crimes and such. Quite honestly, that's more than enough to hold my attention and keep me turning pages on my Kindle!
That was until I started to read it and looked up the book at Amazon to check page length and other necessities for my review. And then it smacked me in the teeth: Nero Wolfe is a private investigator made famous by none other than the late, great author Rex Stout. This book, in fact, is the 59th in the series - and the latest of a dozen or so written by this author, who was approved by Stout's estate to carry on the series. Aha indeed!
I'm pretty sure, though, that I never read any of Stout's books. I was a bit wary of starting this late in the game, but the description of this one says they can be read in any order, and I found that to be true of this one (although I do think I'd have enjoyed it more had I read a few of its predecessors). That also means I must judge this book totally on its own because I'm unable to compare it with others in the series. That said, I enjoyed it well enough that it certainly won't be my last.
There's no doubt Wolfe is the leader of the pack, but here, at least, he relies heavily on his assistant, Archie Goodwin (a far less pretentious and contentious individual, I might add). Wolfe rarely leaves his home, tended to by a staff that includes a nervously attentive personal chef who totes ice-cold beers to his master at the ring of a bell and himself tending to his vast collection of more than 10,000 prized orchids. In between, he solves complex cases no one else can (in a style a bit reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes or the Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child-created agent Aloysious Xingu L. Pendergast). Physically, he seems to be imposing; if I recall correctly, Wolfe is described as weighing a quarter of a ton and 5 feet 11 inches tall, so it's no wonder he doesn't get around much.
The language he uses is what I'd call downright pompous and stuffy - I read words I havent seen in ages, like "Miasma," "perspicacity" and "foibles." The time setting isn't clear, but since Wolfe, an avid reader, picked up copies of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and Vance Packard's Status Seekers, I'm guessing it's somewhere in the early to mid-1960s.
Okay, down to the nitty gritty: This time, Wolfe is hired to investigate a "feeling" of the director of a new Broadway play, "Death at Cresthaven," that something terrible is about to happen. A bit skeptical but willing to take on the case in exchange for three extremely rare orchids for his collection, Wolfe sends Archie to the theater to pose as a theater critic from Toronto who wants to see the play and interview cast members to be better able to write a glowing review that will bring Canadians to Manhattan. In the process, of course, he hopes to glean insight as to what might be going on behind the scenes.
Truth is, Archie's efforts aren't all that successful; and then - on Archie's last day at the theater - the unthinkable happens: The director is found dead in the not-so-secret soundproof booth he uses to watch rehearsals and performances - all the while slurping down his ever-present cola drinks. To complicate matters, not long after that one of the actors is found unconscious; apparently, he attempted suicide using the same poison that killed the director.
Although it is widely believed that the aging actor killed himself in remorse for murdering the director, cast members tend to favor that writer from Toronto who has disappeared - none other than Wolfe's assistant, Archie. Of course Wolfe and readers know it can't be him - but if not him or the old actor, who? Therein lies the challenge.
Whether Wolfe manages to rise to the occasion, and how, I can't say without giving away too much. I will say, though, that if it's lots of shoot-'em-up, nip-and-tuck, do-or-die action you're looking for, you won't find it here (remember, Wolfe doesn't get out much). Everything hinges on interviews, character assessments, interactions with cops who aren't fans of Wolfe's techniques but admire his capability to solve crimes and such. Quite honestly, that's more than enough to hold my attention and keep me turning pages on my Kindle!
January 26, 2017
I was saddened when Rex Stout passed away. I had read all of his books and related books about him and the genre. I even had a collection of all of his Nero Wolfe books and watched the various screen adaptations. I thought there would never be another book about Nero and Archie. Then I found Robert Goldsborough. With trepidation I began his first book, then his second and realized I could now look forward to more stories about my favorite detectives. Murder, Stage Left is another in Robert's fine line of books. The plot, while not terribly thrilling, moves along in the way I am used to Nero detecting. There was plenty of action from Archie and all of my favorite characters made an appearance, including the orchids. Often, when reading mysteries, I guess the criminal about halfway through. This time I was totally surprised. Once I read the logic behind the case, I could see where I had failed to pick up a tiny clue. Robert's books are well written, often using one or two words per book that I actually have to look up in the dictionary (in this case cavil). After reading this episode in the investigatory process of Nero and Archie, I plan to return to Robert's previous books and read through them again to be ready for his next adventure. A joy to read, and an event to be anticipated.
December 12, 2023
2.5/5
Goldsborough has always been fairly lax with detail and the characters, even more so since he restarted the series. In this book, he doesn't even seem to be trying and this just felt like a lazy effort to throw a book out.
Wolfe is barely even in the first 60% of the book and then Goldsborough just has him going through the motions until the very disappointing and rushed wrap-up before an unnecessarily long epilogue.
Goldsborough has always been fairly lax with detail and the characters, even more so since he restarted the series. In this book, he doesn't even seem to be trying and this just felt like a lazy effort to throw a book out.
Wolfe is barely even in the first 60% of the book and then Goldsborough just has him going through the motions until the very disappointing and rushed wrap-up before an unnecessarily long epilogue.
June 28, 2022
Another good read by Robert Goldsborough. I didn’t guess who did it.
March 16, 2017
Archie's voice, not quite there
I have read all of the original series as well as all of the Goldsborough series and own copies of each. I've enjoyed the previous faux Nero Wolfe adventures, but this one misses the mark. It lacks the spark, the authenticity of the voices, a good plot, and technical details that Rex stout would never have done. Archie's interviews with the cast of suspects fell flat, lacked Archie's usual imagination, and frankly did not produce much of interest. Worst, since this was about a group of actors, the premise was unrealistic. There are back up cast members (understudies) who take over and assistant directors and a tradition of the show must go on. Neither Archie nor Nero interview crew members to see if anyone saw anyone enter the area where the murder took place. No questions were asked about access to the coke that contained the poison. No investigation of who had purchased arsenic occurred. All of the regulars, Fritz, Saul, Cramer, etc. were 100% stereotypes. The strangest thing was Goldsborough's lengthy description of the play and its characters that was being performed. This segment served no purpose in the story. Rex Stout would NEVER do that. I love these characters and I hope the next one will be better and done with more effort.
I have read all of the original series as well as all of the Goldsborough series and own copies of each. I've enjoyed the previous faux Nero Wolfe adventures, but this one misses the mark. It lacks the spark, the authenticity of the voices, a good plot, and technical details that Rex stout would never have done. Archie's interviews with the cast of suspects fell flat, lacked Archie's usual imagination, and frankly did not produce much of interest. Worst, since this was about a group of actors, the premise was unrealistic. There are back up cast members (understudies) who take over and assistant directors and a tradition of the show must go on. Neither Archie nor Nero interview crew members to see if anyone saw anyone enter the area where the murder took place. No questions were asked about access to the coke that contained the poison. No investigation of who had purchased arsenic occurred. All of the regulars, Fritz, Saul, Cramer, etc. were 100% stereotypes. The strangest thing was Goldsborough's lengthy description of the play and its characters that was being performed. This segment served no purpose in the story. Rex Stout would NEVER do that. I love these characters and I hope the next one will be better and done with more effort.
May 22, 2018
This one wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either. It was interesting to have a plotline centered on a Broadway show. Very nice having Lewis Hewitt return in a meaty role, as financier of the play in question. (I wonder if Goldsborough recalled Hewitt's secret wish to be an actor, as shown in the novella "Black Orchids". ) The pacing was good, the mystery fairly interesting, and the way Wolfe picked up on the murderer was excellent.
However....
I can't help it. Little things jar me. Such as the curious emphasis on an enmity between Archie and Purley Stebbins, an enmity that doesn't really exist in the Stout canon. No, they are not and never will be best buddies, but they respect and tolerate each other. Archie considers Stebbins a decent cop within his limitations. Stebbins disapproves of private investigators as a matter of principle, but he has this sneaking feeling that Archie would have made a good cop if he'd been caught in time. Sometimes they are antagonists, but there's no out-and-out dislike as implied in this book.
Then there's Saul. I love Saul. The only reason he doesn't have Archie's job is because he doesn't want it. He's a fantastic investigator, and his respect for Wolfe borders on reverence. That's why I was nearly jolted out of my socks when, during the series of interrogations of the cast at Wolfe's office, with Saul standing in as assistant, Saul casually horns in on the questioning! No, and no, and no! When Wolfe conducts interviews, Wolfe asks the questions. Period. If Archie happens to have information Wolfe doesn't, and therefore knows a question to ask, he will, like a student in a classroom, ask permission first. I'm wondering if Goldsborough remembered that somewhere along the line, because I noticed in the final interviews, Saul kept his mouth shut.
The final off note concerned the motivation for the killing. It concerned certain behavior on the part of the victim. At no point during the story was this behavior ever alluded to or hinted at. People kept saying he was a great guy, no reason to want to kill him...well, he wasn't totally likeable...but NO ONE spoke up to say why. And someone should have. That sort of thing would not have stayed hidden. People would know. Rumors would have been flying up and down Broadway. The moment he died, scandal sheets would have been speculating that that might have been the reason for his murder. Plus, Lewis Hewitt would have known. He knew the man for twenty years, after all. He would have known, and he would not have simply shrugged it off.
I've got the next book, THE BATTERED BADGE, on request at the library. I hope he does justice to Inspector Cramer.
However....
I can't help it. Little things jar me. Such as the curious emphasis on an enmity between Archie and Purley Stebbins, an enmity that doesn't really exist in the Stout canon. No, they are not and never will be best buddies, but they respect and tolerate each other. Archie considers Stebbins a decent cop within his limitations. Stebbins disapproves of private investigators as a matter of principle, but he has this sneaking feeling that Archie would have made a good cop if he'd been caught in time. Sometimes they are antagonists, but there's no out-and-out dislike as implied in this book.
Then there's Saul. I love Saul. The only reason he doesn't have Archie's job is because he doesn't want it. He's a fantastic investigator, and his respect for Wolfe borders on reverence. That's why I was nearly jolted out of my socks when, during the series of interrogations of the cast at Wolfe's office, with Saul standing in as assistant, Saul casually horns in on the questioning! No, and no, and no! When Wolfe conducts interviews, Wolfe asks the questions. Period. If Archie happens to have information Wolfe doesn't, and therefore knows a question to ask, he will, like a student in a classroom, ask permission first. I'm wondering if Goldsborough remembered that somewhere along the line, because I noticed in the final interviews, Saul kept his mouth shut.
The final off note concerned the motivation for the killing. It concerned certain behavior on the part of the victim. At no point during the story was this behavior ever alluded to or hinted at. People kept saying he was a great guy, no reason to want to kill him...well, he wasn't totally likeable...but NO ONE spoke up to say why. And someone should have. That sort of thing would not have stayed hidden. People would know. Rumors would have been flying up and down Broadway. The moment he died, scandal sheets would have been speculating that that might have been the reason for his murder. Plus, Lewis Hewitt would have known. He knew the man for twenty years, after all. He would have known, and he would not have simply shrugged it off.
I've got the next book, THE BATTERED BADGE, on request at the library. I hope he does justice to Inspector Cramer.
February 20, 2017
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media. Thank you.
Robert Goldsborough has continued the Nero Wolfe series begun by Rex Stout with mixed success from my perspective. This was an okay read, but it certainly wasn't as well done as some of the Goldsborough offerings. This one just didn't have enough substance to it, not enough mystery to require a full novel.
The producer and director of a play currently running on Broadway in New York comes to the old brownstone to say he has a feeling something isn't quite right within the cast and crew of his show. This producer comes up with the plan of having Archie come to the theatre to secretly interview the cast and some of the crew using the guise of a reporter from a magazine in Toronto, Canada. Archie goes, he interviews, gets nothing of any note and reports back to Wolfe after finding a dead body. When a suicide takes place each actor and the stage manager are invited to visit Wolfe to be interviewed. So, essentially all this book does is have the same people being interviewed twice. Wolfe does one of his 'lips moving in and out' tricks, everybody is summoned to the brownstone again.....culprit revealed.
Frankly, the story just seemed to go a long way around to end up not doing much. It definitely needed some punching up with some kind of action - of the action kind - in order to make it interesting. I've read all of the Goldsborough books in this continuation of an original series and liked some more than others. This one was okay, but I could have missed it and not felt deprived.
Robert Goldsborough has continued the Nero Wolfe series begun by Rex Stout with mixed success from my perspective. This was an okay read, but it certainly wasn't as well done as some of the Goldsborough offerings. This one just didn't have enough substance to it, not enough mystery to require a full novel.
The producer and director of a play currently running on Broadway in New York comes to the old brownstone to say he has a feeling something isn't quite right within the cast and crew of his show. This producer comes up with the plan of having Archie come to the theatre to secretly interview the cast and some of the crew using the guise of a reporter from a magazine in Toronto, Canada. Archie goes, he interviews, gets nothing of any note and reports back to Wolfe after finding a dead body. When a suicide takes place each actor and the stage manager are invited to visit Wolfe to be interviewed. So, essentially all this book does is have the same people being interviewed twice. Wolfe does one of his 'lips moving in and out' tricks, everybody is summoned to the brownstone again.....culprit revealed.
Frankly, the story just seemed to go a long way around to end up not doing much. It definitely needed some punching up with some kind of action - of the action kind - in order to make it interesting. I've read all of the Goldsborough books in this continuation of an original series and liked some more than others. This one was okay, but I could have missed it and not felt deprived.
October 20, 2016
I have been a fan of Nero Wolfe books for over fifty years. I have all of those by Rex Stout many times. I have read some the books by Robert Goldsborough and I like his rendition of the characters. He has caught their essence and is expanding their development.
Nero is coveting a rare orchid and sends Archie undercover in order to earn a plant. At the end of Archie's first day, there is a murdered man. Now Nero must contend with Inspector Cramer and the news media as the composite drawing of the mystery man is Archie. Of course, Nero calls in Saul to take Archie's place. Will Wolfe solved the case to earn that orchid. I like the ending. I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Open Roads Integrated through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Nero is coveting a rare orchid and sends Archie undercover in order to earn a plant. At the end of Archie's first day, there is a murdered man. Now Nero must contend with Inspector Cramer and the news media as the composite drawing of the mystery man is Archie. Of course, Nero calls in Saul to take Archie's place. Will Wolfe solved the case to earn that orchid. I like the ending. I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Open Roads Integrated through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 8, 2021
I love the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books. And, I try to like the Goldsborough continuation of the series. But I find the “little” changes he has made in characterizations and the way too frequent mention of ties, and constant explanations of, things from the Stout books just irritate and annoy me each time I pick up one of the new books. I just wish he’d get on with the story already!
I think I’m done. I will just re-read the originals when I need a dose of Wolfe.
I think I’m done. I will just re-read the originals when I need a dose of Wolfe.
July 12, 2017
#59 in the Nero Wolfe series (#12 by author Goldsborough after 47 entries by series creator Rex Stout). As usual, the corpulent genius solves the murder without leaving his office and explains his reasoning with the aid of an impressive vocabulary. The atmosphere is the thing here, with familiar characters and settings: Wolfe's menus with meals prepared by his chef, Fritz Brenner; his orchids, tended by Theodore Horstmann; investigator Saul Panzer, newspaperman Lon Cohen, police inspector Cramer; and, majordomo, dogsbody, and narrator Archie Goodwin. An impressive continuation of Rex Stout's voice and a fun read.
Nero Wolfe series - A fellow orchid connoisseur, Lewis Hewitt, tells the sedentary sleuth that a friend of his, Roy Breckenridge, needs Wolfe's help. Lewis's offer of some rare flowers is enough to get Wolfe to meet Breckenridge, who's both producing and directing the hit show Death at Cresthaven, a murder mystery. The impresario is uneasy about something regarding the production that he can only articulate as a vague "tension." Breckenridge and Wolfe hit on the idea of sending his able leg man, Archie Goodwin, undercover. Posing as a Canadian theatrical journalist, Archie interviews the cast and crew for a purported article. He manages to get some information but not enough to prevent a fatal poisoning.
Nero Wolfe series - A fellow orchid connoisseur, Lewis Hewitt, tells the sedentary sleuth that a friend of his, Roy Breckenridge, needs Wolfe's help. Lewis's offer of some rare flowers is enough to get Wolfe to meet Breckenridge, who's both producing and directing the hit show Death at Cresthaven, a murder mystery. The impresario is uneasy about something regarding the production that he can only articulate as a vague "tension." Breckenridge and Wolfe hit on the idea of sending his able leg man, Archie Goodwin, undercover. Posing as a Canadian theatrical journalist, Archie interviews the cast and crew for a purported article. He manages to get some information but not enough to prevent a fatal poisoning.
November 19, 2019
I always enjoy a visit with Nero Wolfe and Archie. I am glad that Robert Goldsborough fired up the series again after Rex Stout's death and find he does a respectable job of bringing this world to life. I read the original series by Stout with my mother when I was a teenager and even though I now can see some cracks in Wolfe's reputation as a 'genius', it is still fun to play along and see what he and Archie are up to. This will always be one of my favorite detective stories and Goldsborough does a more than respectable job of breathing life into the characters.
September 28, 2023
This is the twelfth book in the new Nero Wolfe series by Goldsborough.
The story revolves around a producers concerns about the disharmony among the members of his Broadway play and his foreboding of a tragedy in the future.
The story revolves around a producers concerns about the disharmony among the members of his Broadway play and his foreboding of a tragedy in the future.
June 28, 2017
When Nero Wolfe is asked to see a New York theater director at the behest of a fellow orchid lover, Lewis Hewitt, Wolfe's first response is No. But then through Archie, his right-hand man, he is told to tell Wolfe these two words: Grammangis spectabilis. With those two words, Wolfe has a new case on his hands, and Archie has a new assignment.
To wit: Roy Breckenridge, the theater director in question, feels his life is being threatened, and all because of contention among his cast. He asks Wolfe to investigate and find out which one of the cast members is causing the strife among them all; and to this end, it is decided that Archie will pose as a Canadian magazine writer who is interested in the play and its cast, for his publication. But unfortunately for everyone involved, his charade does not go according to plan. While posing undercover, someone murders Breckenridge while Archie is at the theater, not only ending his assignment, but effectively removing him from the case. Therefore, Wolfe has only one option left: Saul Panzer, whom he is sure can get to the crux of the matter and, by bringing the principals before Wolfe to interrogate, discover who the guilty party is.
With the cooperation of Mr. Hewitt, and a little help from newsman Lon Cohen, Wolfe sets to work not only to discover Mr. Breckenridge's murderer, but to do so in order to obtain what his heart desires: rare Madagascar orchids that are now in Mr. Hewitt's possession but Wolfe wishes to be his. What follows is another masterful mystery involving the brilliant mind of Nero Wolfe, and the sharp wit of Archie Goodwin.
I cannot put into words how much I enjoy these mysteries, first started by the late Rex Stout and carried on beautifully by Robert Goldsborough; whose own voice speaks to us just the same. He has given us another thought-provoking mystery - this time involving the New York theater and the personal egos of its members - and done so in such a lively way that it is indeed easy to get involved in the story quickly and stay there through the end. In fact, one becomes so involved that in trying to decipher Mr. Wolfe's nuances you are never quite able to do so; and when he solves the crime (as we know he will) you are as surprised as anyone else.
This, my friends, is what a true mystery is about, and how it indeed should always be. Nero Wolfe is one of a kind, a man with a brilliant mind who knows it to be true; who is haughty and unconcerned about the wants of others, but who values Archie and his staff, even if he does not show it. He appreciates beauty and true friendship, all the while keeping himself aloof and unemotional He is able to solve whatever crime is put before him effortlessly, and it is a pleasure to watch him do so. This is a sparkling mystery full of intrigue and secrets, and I eagerly await the next in the series. Highly recommended.
To wit: Roy Breckenridge, the theater director in question, feels his life is being threatened, and all because of contention among his cast. He asks Wolfe to investigate and find out which one of the cast members is causing the strife among them all; and to this end, it is decided that Archie will pose as a Canadian magazine writer who is interested in the play and its cast, for his publication. But unfortunately for everyone involved, his charade does not go according to plan. While posing undercover, someone murders Breckenridge while Archie is at the theater, not only ending his assignment, but effectively removing him from the case. Therefore, Wolfe has only one option left: Saul Panzer, whom he is sure can get to the crux of the matter and, by bringing the principals before Wolfe to interrogate, discover who the guilty party is.
With the cooperation of Mr. Hewitt, and a little help from newsman Lon Cohen, Wolfe sets to work not only to discover Mr. Breckenridge's murderer, but to do so in order to obtain what his heart desires: rare Madagascar orchids that are now in Mr. Hewitt's possession but Wolfe wishes to be his. What follows is another masterful mystery involving the brilliant mind of Nero Wolfe, and the sharp wit of Archie Goodwin.
I cannot put into words how much I enjoy these mysteries, first started by the late Rex Stout and carried on beautifully by Robert Goldsborough; whose own voice speaks to us just the same. He has given us another thought-provoking mystery - this time involving the New York theater and the personal egos of its members - and done so in such a lively way that it is indeed easy to get involved in the story quickly and stay there through the end. In fact, one becomes so involved that in trying to decipher Mr. Wolfe's nuances you are never quite able to do so; and when he solves the crime (as we know he will) you are as surprised as anyone else.
This, my friends, is what a true mystery is about, and how it indeed should always be. Nero Wolfe is one of a kind, a man with a brilliant mind who knows it to be true; who is haughty and unconcerned about the wants of others, but who values Archie and his staff, even if he does not show it. He appreciates beauty and true friendship, all the while keeping himself aloof and unemotional He is able to solve whatever crime is put before him effortlessly, and it is a pleasure to watch him do so. This is a sparkling mystery full of intrigue and secrets, and I eagerly await the next in the series. Highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2016
MURDER,STAGE LEFT BY ROBERT GOLDSBOROUGH is the latest in the Nero Wolfe series. I have been a huge fan of Mr. Wolfe's & Archie for many many years. After Rex Stout died I thought this was the end of it, but to my great pleasure, Mr Goldsborough revived the series. I very seldom like it when authors take over a series but this is the exception. Mr Goldsborough has captured the very essence of all the characters from Wolfe to Sgt Stebbins, he has continued the characters superbly .
In MURDER,STAGE LEFT, Mr.Wolfe is tasked to help of friend of a friend find out what trouble is brewing in a broadway production. But before Archie can get a handle on the issue, murder occurs. Mr. Wolfe is faced with multiple suspects with multiple stories,but who's the murderer?
True to form Mr.Goldsborough has come thru again and given the reader & fan of Nero Wolfe another good mystery to help solve.
I recieved this book free from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
In MURDER,STAGE LEFT, Mr.Wolfe is tasked to help of friend of a friend find out what trouble is brewing in a broadway production. But before Archie can get a handle on the issue, murder occurs. Mr. Wolfe is faced with multiple suspects with multiple stories,but who's the murderer?
True to form Mr.Goldsborough has come thru again and given the reader & fan of Nero Wolfe another good mystery to help solve.
I recieved this book free from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
February 9, 2018
Disappointing
I’m sorry to say that I had to force myself to finish this story. And for someone who consumed everything Rex Stout ever wrote some years before Mr. Goldsborough was asked to take up the mantle, that’s saying something! In other words, that’s why I was disappointed. It’s possible that my expectations are unfairly high... and it has been a very long time since I last read any of Goldsborough’s work; much longer since last enjoying the genius whose creations inspire these “recreations.” And I understand (now) the reason for at least some of the repetitive dialogue. But I can’t help thinking it could have been less ... insipid. Less predictable. Yes, of course I know that Wolfe must have his routines, but can’t they be described with even a bit of originality? Couldn’t the repartee between Archie and the rest of the cast have been more natural? Less stilted? Am I wishing everyone could write more like Robert B. Parker? (Probably...)
I’m sorry to say that I had to force myself to finish this story. And for someone who consumed everything Rex Stout ever wrote some years before Mr. Goldsborough was asked to take up the mantle, that’s saying something! In other words, that’s why I was disappointed. It’s possible that my expectations are unfairly high... and it has been a very long time since I last read any of Goldsborough’s work; much longer since last enjoying the genius whose creations inspire these “recreations.” And I understand (now) the reason for at least some of the repetitive dialogue. But I can’t help thinking it could have been less ... insipid. Less predictable. Yes, of course I know that Wolfe must have his routines, but can’t they be described with even a bit of originality? Couldn’t the repartee between Archie and the rest of the cast have been more natural? Less stilted? Am I wishing everyone could write more like Robert B. Parker? (Probably...)
February 20, 2019
Broadway producer/director Roy Breckenridge senses something is wrong backstage in his newest hit play, and hires Nero Wolfe to find out why. Wolfe sends his assistant Archie Goodwin, disguised as a magazine writer, to interview the cast. But when there's a death, everyone points at the stranger among them. Fortunately, Archie's already gone--but when Wolfe wants to interview the cast members officially, he can't have Archie sitting at his usual desk. Instead, Archie eavesdrops from the hall while Saul Panzer takes his place. Not much of a mystery, and Goldsborough's style has developed a strange, stilted tone. Disappointing.
September 4, 2020
I had just enjoyed re-reading one of Mr. Goldsborough's novels when I got this one. But it was strangely flat. The first 90 pages are mostly Archie interviewing people. Then a crime is committed. Wolfe then conducts interviews with the same people followed by the revelation of the guilty one. Wolfe is less overbearing, Archie's language is less colourful, and Saul is much more talkative. While it was worthwhile, it falls short of Mr. Goldsborough's earlier books.
May 11, 2017
I have always been a Nero Wolfe fan and I have always enjoyed Mr. Goldsborough's stories. I was very disappointed in his last book so when this one came out I was a little fearful that it would be bad. However, it is more like the stories I have come to love. I am glad.
June 27, 2023
This is another enjoyable Nero Wolfe murder mystery. Nero Wolfe is the fictional private detective featured in these books along with his longtime assistant, Archie Goodwin. They were created back in 1934 by the original author Rex Stout. After Rex’s passing in the 1970s, the series was resumed by the current author, Robert Goldsborough. In this case, a murder has occurred at a Broadway play. Nero Wolfe is engaged both before the murder to discover the reason for unrest among the cast and crew, and then engaged again to solve the murder once it has occurred. The real enjoyment for me in reading these mysteries is the characters created by Rex Stout and now faithfully carried on by Robert Goldsborough. All the recurring characters in these stories, both the primary and the supporting cast have well developed, unique personalities. As a reader you’ll come to feel that you know these people and you become very comfortable being with them once again. The dialogue is witty, snappy and entertaining. The plots are well laid out and the conclusions always entertaining as Nero Wolfe invites all the suspects to his brownstone home on West 35 Street in New York City for a reveal gathering. The head of NYC’s Homicide Detectives, Inspector Cramer, always attends these sessions to make the final arrest. While that may sound stuffy and too formula driven, the uniqueness and charm (each in their own way) of the characters along with the excellent dialogue keeps you entertained and smiling all the way.
June 29, 2023
Archie goes undercover to try to figure out why a Broadway producer/director is getting bad feelings about his new production. When the producer is murdered, Archie becomes a suspect in the case.
At first, Nero Wolfe is interested in a limited way. He was convinced to take the case at the request of a fellow orchid grower who has recently received a unique orchid which Wolfe covets. He agrees to solve the crime in return for three of the rare orchids.
Archie had interviewed all the potential suspects in his persona as a writer for a Canadian theater journal, but now Nero Wolfe wants to see each suspect in his office. It is a small cast but filled with big Broadway personalities from the star who will do anything to win a Tony, to a Hollywood movie star making his Broadway debut, to an old pro character actor on his last legs, to a couple of young actors playing the romantic leads.
This was an entertaining audiobook filled with interesting characters. I enjoyed the historical setting. I also enjoyed the plot and the relationship between Nero Wolfe and his right-hand man Archie Goodwin.
At first, Nero Wolfe is interested in a limited way. He was convinced to take the case at the request of a fellow orchid grower who has recently received a unique orchid which Wolfe covets. He agrees to solve the crime in return for three of the rare orchids.
Archie had interviewed all the potential suspects in his persona as a writer for a Canadian theater journal, but now Nero Wolfe wants to see each suspect in his office. It is a small cast but filled with big Broadway personalities from the star who will do anything to win a Tony, to a Hollywood movie star making his Broadway debut, to an old pro character actor on his last legs, to a couple of young actors playing the romantic leads.
This was an entertaining audiobook filled with interesting characters. I enjoyed the historical setting. I also enjoyed the plot and the relationship between Nero Wolfe and his right-hand man Archie Goodwin.
February 9, 2024
It starts out with a nice change, Archie investigating the scene before any crime or whatnot, but that takes up almost half of the book. So much of these later Goldsboroughs are just people talking and talking and talking and almost never talking to Wolfe. The second half also drags on as Archie brings the same people we've talked to in the first half back to talk to Wolfe separately over a series of days, and no one seems to care that a murder has happened and life has been disrupted for the others. The ending just happens and we don't really care much. Definitely one of the more disappointing Goldsboroughs, even though the fan is tempted to ignore negative responses for the sheer joy of spending more time with the gang. Lewis Hewitt gets to be in this one much more than ever before, which would seem to be a positive, but he ends up being just a commentator on the events, not a participator, and the reader is left with that general impression: we have watched people sitting and talking for a whole book. No, we don't need car chases and daring bank heists in a good Wolfe mystery - but some detection and movement would be nice.
March 28, 2020
Murder, Stage Left is Robert Goldsborough’s twelfth entry in Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series. Judging by Wolfe’s current reading (Vance Packard’s The Status Seekers and Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring), this one is set around 1963. (Goldsborough jumped forward into the computer age for a few books, but has since returned to a more Wolfean era—the books can be read in any order.)
In Murder, Stage Left, the mystery revolves around a Broadway production, and finds Archie posing as a writer for a non-existent Canadian theater magazine to interview the members of the cast. This backfires when the director is murdered and Archie’s now-vanished alter ego becomes a suspect. Since the cast knows Archie as “Alan MacGregor,” Saul Panzer steps in to help with the investigation while Archie watches from the wings.
The mystery follows the format of all the Wolfe tales, and the dialog occasionally reminded me of Damon Runyon, but as always I enjoyed the novel and Goldsborough’s continuation of Rex Stout’s series.
In Murder, Stage Left, the mystery revolves around a Broadway production, and finds Archie posing as a writer for a non-existent Canadian theater magazine to interview the members of the cast. This backfires when the director is murdered and Archie’s now-vanished alter ego becomes a suspect. Since the cast knows Archie as “Alan MacGregor,” Saul Panzer steps in to help with the investigation while Archie watches from the wings.
The mystery follows the format of all the Wolfe tales, and the dialog occasionally reminded me of Damon Runyon, but as always I enjoyed the novel and Goldsborough’s continuation of Rex Stout’s series.
March 26, 2022
The author, Robert Goldsborough, intended this novel, Murder, Stage Left, as a revival of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series of mystery novels. I won’t go into the plot itself. I can express my reaction to the novel as, it’s like a Rex Stout novel, but something was missing that I needed to better hold my attention. I feel that the main character and narrator, Archie Goodwin, was given a rather bland role, playing hide and seek for much of the novel. The banter between characters was too jocular and chummy, much more than Rex Stout would have presented. Nero Wolfe’s interrogations we’re rather softballs, as were those Archie performed in the first part of the novel. I have never skipped whole paragraphs and pages in a Rex Stout novel, but I was easily able to do so when reading Murder, Stage Left, and not miss out on any important action in the story.
Murder, Stage Left isn’t what I have come to expect from a Rex Stout mystery novel.
Murder, Stage Left isn’t what I have come to expect from a Rex Stout mystery novel.
October 23, 2022
Another triumph for Goldsborough. He has kept Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, and the entire cast of the beloved Rex Stout stories. In this one, Goldsborough has taken a page from Stout's Gambit, in which the solution to the murder is discovered more by psychological than by physical evidence.
It's not a spoiler to say that there are two sets of interviews of the various dramatis personae, which makes things even more interesting. Archie, disguising himself as a reporter, interviews the members of the cast of a Broadway play, at the behest of the director. When the director is murdered, Wolfe must interview each person himself. Pay attention to the details of both sets of interviews, and you might deduce who the killer is. I was about half right... which I can't explain without spoilers, so you'll just have to trust me on that score.
It's not a spoiler to say that there are two sets of interviews of the various dramatis personae, which makes things even more interesting. Archie, disguising himself as a reporter, interviews the members of the cast of a Broadway play, at the behest of the director. When the director is murdered, Wolfe must interview each person himself. Pay attention to the details of both sets of interviews, and you might deduce who the killer is. I was about half right... which I can't explain without spoilers, so you'll just have to trust me on that score.
July 12, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
Although several of the books from the series are on my to-read shelf, I’ve never read a Nero Wolfe book before. Yes, I know that this is a continuation of the series by a different author, so to some purists, this book may not count, but I liked it enough to want to go back and read the original series, so that has to count for something.
The murder victim in this story seemed to be respected and well-liked, and there weren’t many obvious suspects at first. This is show business, though, so things aren’t always as they seem, and as the story continued, more suspects began to emerge. There were several twists and turns that kept me guessing, but my mind kept returning to one character as the killer, and for a change, I was right. Although I hadn’t figured out the motive, it made sense given who the culprit was.
I plan to go back and start with Rex Stout’s original Nero Wolfe books, and I hope they’re as entertaining as this one.
Although several of the books from the series are on my to-read shelf, I’ve never read a Nero Wolfe book before. Yes, I know that this is a continuation of the series by a different author, so to some purists, this book may not count, but I liked it enough to want to go back and read the original series, so that has to count for something.
The murder victim in this story seemed to be respected and well-liked, and there weren’t many obvious suspects at first. This is show business, though, so things aren’t always as they seem, and as the story continued, more suspects began to emerge. There were several twists and turns that kept me guessing, but my mind kept returning to one character as the killer, and for a change, I was right. Although I hadn’t figured out the motive, it made sense given who the culprit was.
I plan to go back and start with Rex Stout’s original Nero Wolfe books, and I hope they’re as entertaining as this one.
August 7, 2019
I've read all of the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books and have enjoyed Robert Goldsborough's continuation of these wonderful characters. My only negative on this book is that I didn't get an exact sense of when these events were occurring. It's been quite a while since I've read the originals, but I remember that Rex Stout advanced the Wolfe/Goodwin team through the decades so that towards the end, Archie was actually using a computer on his desk. (I could very well by mistaken.) In this book, he's still "typing" Wolfe's letters which I thought was a bit off. I loved the procedural aspect of this book and the organized interviewing of each witness so much that I actually "deduced" from the interviews who the actual killer was. I don't think I've ever figured one of these out. A very good read.
November 9, 2025
Mr. Goldsborough I want to thank you for sensitively addressing the impact of mental health issues on family and loved ones. In Murder, Stage Left, Archie must face another Nero Wolfe relapse alone. This time the sorrow, pain, helplessness, and uncertainty Archie feels about whether he can provide the strength and backbone Nero needs, weigh emotionally on him. Archie must take time to rest, relax and rejuvenate in order to be the caregiver Nero Wolfe needs. Mr. Goldsborough does not shield us from the strain that Archie Goodwin experiences in working with Nero, but neither does he overlook considering the mental well-being needs of caregivers.
Finally, I believe that mystery fans will also appreciate the way in which Mr. Goldsborough encourages us as readers to identify who done it! My GoodReads friends see, if you can figure it out.
Finally, I believe that mystery fans will also appreciate the way in which Mr. Goldsborough encourages us as readers to identify who done it! My GoodReads friends see, if you can figure it out.
July 30, 2017
My wife introduced me to Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series, and I can't thank her enough. I have them all, have read them all, and will do so again.
Rex Stout was a genius. Nero and Archie are my all-time favorite characters, and though I enjoy Mr. Goldsborough's continuation of the series, I miss Rex's characters, especially Archie.
Rex's Archie Goodwin is fun to read; serious when he should be, fun when he should be, and entertaining every moment of Rex's books.
The current Archie is entirely too formal, rarely uses contractions, and has lost much of his sparkle that made me love Rex's Archie so well.
Of course, I'll continue reading Mr. Goldsborough's Nero Wolfe series, but I'd like to see Wolfe and Archie return to their past selves, character-wise.
Rex Stout was a genius. Nero and Archie are my all-time favorite characters, and though I enjoy Mr. Goldsborough's continuation of the series, I miss Rex's characters, especially Archie.
Rex's Archie Goodwin is fun to read; serious when he should be, fun when he should be, and entertaining every moment of Rex's books.
The current Archie is entirely too formal, rarely uses contractions, and has lost much of his sparkle that made me love Rex's Archie so well.
Of course, I'll continue reading Mr. Goldsborough's Nero Wolfe series, but I'd like to see Wolfe and Archie return to their past selves, character-wise.
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