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Nearly Nero: The Adventures of Claudius Lyon, the Man Who Would Be Wolfe
Based on the Nero Wolfe series—one of the longest running, critically acclaimed, and bestselling series in the crime fiction world—a collection of Nero Wolfe–inspired crime stories from one of the most prominent crime writers of his era.
From 1934 until his death in 1976, Rex Stout entertained the world with the exploits of Nero Wolfe—the eccentric, orchid-breeding detective genius—as related by Archie Goodwin, his irreverent legman. Nearly Nero is an affectionate, tongue-in-cheek homage to Stout’s greatest creation.
Claudius Lyon is a fanatic admirer of Wolfe. He has retrofitted himself and his townhouse after Wolfe’s and has hired a man named Arnie Woodbine to serve as his Archie Goodwin. However, Lyon’s naiveté and Woodbine’s larcenous nature constantly put them in jeopardy—more than Wolfe and Goodwin ever faced.
Somehow the imitator manages to find a solution from every problem. But can he and his assistant keep up this pretense for long?
From 1934 until his death in 1976, Rex Stout entertained the world with the exploits of Nero Wolfe—the eccentric, orchid-breeding detective genius—as related by Archie Goodwin, his irreverent legman. Nearly Nero is an affectionate, tongue-in-cheek homage to Stout’s greatest creation.
Claudius Lyon is a fanatic admirer of Wolfe. He has retrofitted himself and his townhouse after Wolfe’s and has hired a man named Arnie Woodbine to serve as his Archie Goodwin. However, Lyon’s naiveté and Woodbine’s larcenous nature constantly put them in jeopardy—more than Wolfe and Goodwin ever faced.
Somehow the imitator manages to find a solution from every problem. But can he and his assistant keep up this pretense for long?
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
37 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Loren D. Estleman
314 books279 followersLoren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter.
Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery
Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.
Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 4, 2017
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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I've heard about the stories in this volume for years, but have never tracked one down before -- and then a whole collection of them show up on NetGalley! How could I not request it? I'm so glad this book exists so that those of us who don't get the magazines, etc. that publish short mystery fiction can have them (and even those who do have access to those magazines, etc. can have them in one handy volume).
Anyway, here's the setup: Claudius Lyon is a huge fan of Nero Wolfe -- he reads every one of the reports that Archie Goodwin's literary agent Rex Stout publishes. He's such a fan that he wants to be Wolfe (like the guys dressing up in Batsuits in The Dark Knight Rises) -- he's fat, fairly clever, and wealthy enough not to need to work and still indulge himself. He renovates his townhouse to include a greenhouse, an elevator, and a first floor floorplan that pretty much matches Wolfe's. He hires a private chef -- a kosher chef of dubious quality (not that Lyon needs to eat kosher, it's just what Gus can cook), changes his name to something that approximates his hero's and hires a "man of action," Arnie Woodbine. Arnie's an ex-con, small-time crook who doesn't mind (too much) putting up with his looney boss for a steady paycheck and meals.
The number of ways that Lyon isn't Wolfe is pretty large and I won't spoil your fun in discovering them. Now, Lyon's unlicensed as a PI, so he can't take on paying clients -- but he occasionally gets people who will take him up on his free services. He's decent at solving puzzles and low-priority mysteries (not that he doesn't find his way into something bigger on occasion). Once he gets a client (non-paying, Arnie'd have me stress), he goes through whatever steps he needs to figure it out (including his own version of Wolfe's lip movement and sending Arnie on fact-finding missions), and goes to some lengths to assemble some sort of audience for his reveal. I can't help smiling as I think about it, really.
The whole thing is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Nero Wolfe/Rex Stout -- recognizing the brilliance of the Stout's work (how can you not?), while poking fun at it. Lyon's really a goofy character and Woodbine is great at pointing that out -- while begrudgingly admitting that he gets things right every now and then. There's a lot of fun to be had in the story telling -- the mysteries aren't all that much to get excited about, it's in watching Lyon stumble through his cases that the entertainment is found. Well, that and Woodbine's commentary.
Not unlike many of the Wolfe stories (particularly the short stories).
I wouldn't recommend reading more than two of these stories in a sitting, I think they work best as solo shots. It's a difficult call, because I typically wanted to go on for one more. Also, I'm not sure how enjoyable these'd be for non-Wolfe readers -- but then again, I think a lot of the humor would hold up and it might entice a reader to learn more about Lyon's idol. And anything that gets people to read Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novels is a good thing.
But for readers of Stout's Wolfe novels? This is a must read. He's not trying and failing to recapture Stout's magic (see Goldsborough post-The Bloodied Ivy), he's intentionally missing and yet somehow getting a little of it. I really enjoyed this book and can easily see me re-reading it a handful of times.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Adams Media via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
---
I've heard about the stories in this volume for years, but have never tracked one down before -- and then a whole collection of them show up on NetGalley! How could I not request it? I'm so glad this book exists so that those of us who don't get the magazines, etc. that publish short mystery fiction can have them (and even those who do have access to those magazines, etc. can have them in one handy volume).
Anyway, here's the setup: Claudius Lyon is a huge fan of Nero Wolfe -- he reads every one of the reports that Archie Goodwin's literary agent Rex Stout publishes. He's such a fan that he wants to be Wolfe (like the guys dressing up in Batsuits in The Dark Knight Rises) -- he's fat, fairly clever, and wealthy enough not to need to work and still indulge himself. He renovates his townhouse to include a greenhouse, an elevator, and a first floor floorplan that pretty much matches Wolfe's. He hires a private chef -- a kosher chef of dubious quality (not that Lyon needs to eat kosher, it's just what Gus can cook), changes his name to something that approximates his hero's and hires a "man of action," Arnie Woodbine. Arnie's an ex-con, small-time crook who doesn't mind (too much) putting up with his looney boss for a steady paycheck and meals.
The number of ways that Lyon isn't Wolfe is pretty large and I won't spoil your fun in discovering them. Now, Lyon's unlicensed as a PI, so he can't take on paying clients -- but he occasionally gets people who will take him up on his free services. He's decent at solving puzzles and low-priority mysteries (not that he doesn't find his way into something bigger on occasion). Once he gets a client (non-paying, Arnie'd have me stress), he goes through whatever steps he needs to figure it out (including his own version of Wolfe's lip movement and sending Arnie on fact-finding missions), and goes to some lengths to assemble some sort of audience for his reveal. I can't help smiling as I think about it, really.
The whole thing is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Nero Wolfe/Rex Stout -- recognizing the brilliance of the Stout's work (how can you not?), while poking fun at it. Lyon's really a goofy character and Woodbine is great at pointing that out -- while begrudgingly admitting that he gets things right every now and then. There's a lot of fun to be had in the story telling -- the mysteries aren't all that much to get excited about, it's in watching Lyon stumble through his cases that the entertainment is found. Well, that and Woodbine's commentary.
Not unlike many of the Wolfe stories (particularly the short stories).
I wouldn't recommend reading more than two of these stories in a sitting, I think they work best as solo shots. It's a difficult call, because I typically wanted to go on for one more. Also, I'm not sure how enjoyable these'd be for non-Wolfe readers -- but then again, I think a lot of the humor would hold up and it might entice a reader to learn more about Lyon's idol. And anything that gets people to read Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novels is a good thing.
But for readers of Stout's Wolfe novels? This is a must read. He's not trying and failing to recapture Stout's magic (see Goldsborough post-The Bloodied Ivy), he's intentionally missing and yet somehow getting a little of it. I really enjoyed this book and can easily see me re-reading it a handful of times.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Adams Media via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
June 2, 2023
Fascinated by Nero Wolfe, a rich man legally changes his name to Claudius Lyon and tries to recreate Wolfe's brownstone in Brooklyn. Too bad he hired a color-blind upholsterer; the famous red chair came out as orange. As his helper, he hires an ex-con who is still a conman, Arnie Woodvine, a name that kind of sounds like Archie Goodwin if you say it fast. Of course, Lyon can't get a private investigator's license, as New York has strict laws on the subject, so he can't charge money for his help. Doing so would bring down the wrath of the head of the local bunco squad. But Lyon doesn't need money, after all, just the excitement of having a case to solve. And solve them he does, sometimes with Woodvine's help, sometimes against his advice. A humorous treatment of a mystery icon.
May 7, 2017
Though I have never read any of the Nero Wolfe stories written by Rex Stout, I have heard about the character that solved crimes without ever leaving his home. NEARLY NERO is a collection of novellas created by Loren D. Estleman, and these imaginatively amusing stories honor the original Nero Wolfe novels. Puns can be found all throughout the book, from titles to details concerning the Brooklyn home and even the characters themselves. Nine of the ten novellas were previously printed in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine while one is new, and in each one, Claudius Lyon along with Arnie Woodbine try to discover the answer to a challenging puzzle. No killings or violent crimes have been carried out, just someone wanting a solution to troubles that have cropped up in their lives. What the perceptive pair deduce left me grinning quite a few times, because what they conclude often has something humorous connected to it.
When Arnie Woodbine answered an ad for a job, the former felon ended up working for Claudius Lyon, an extremely odd individual who has a great love for Nero Wolfe, a man well-known for resolving what actually happened by having somebody else do all the research. Claudius has redone much of his life to match similar aspects in Nero’s, and he now needs someone to help with solving any problems brought to him by having that person do all the physical investigating. So Arnie is now employed and does tasks asked of him in order for Claudius to explain whatever dilemma he has been given. Since neither of them are licensed detectives, no fees are charged, but this fact does not stop the police captain from repeatedly trying to prove they are committing a crime.
After Claudius and Arnie meet and start working together, the two deal with a predicament plaguing someone in every story. A wide variety of people come asking for help, and their problems also greatly vary. But the portly amateur detective and his cunning assistant sort through clues, then make deductions based on fact. While there is not a lot of depth to the novellas because of their length, the information about each case let me make my own guesses as to what was really going on. Arnie is the one who describes what is taking place, and his inner thoughts were often a highlight of a scene. How the final assumptions were reached are frequently shrewd, and I thought the reasoning to be rather comical at times while other logic showed real aptitude. Loren D. Estleman has made me want to check out the original Nero Wolfe stories, as I would like to know about the team who inspired such a fun duo. NEARLY NERO is an entertaining and witty parody.
I voluntarily reviewed the book from the publisher, and all comments are my honest opinion
When Arnie Woodbine answered an ad for a job, the former felon ended up working for Claudius Lyon, an extremely odd individual who has a great love for Nero Wolfe, a man well-known for resolving what actually happened by having somebody else do all the research. Claudius has redone much of his life to match similar aspects in Nero’s, and he now needs someone to help with solving any problems brought to him by having that person do all the physical investigating. So Arnie is now employed and does tasks asked of him in order for Claudius to explain whatever dilemma he has been given. Since neither of them are licensed detectives, no fees are charged, but this fact does not stop the police captain from repeatedly trying to prove they are committing a crime.
After Claudius and Arnie meet and start working together, the two deal with a predicament plaguing someone in every story. A wide variety of people come asking for help, and their problems also greatly vary. But the portly amateur detective and his cunning assistant sort through clues, then make deductions based on fact. While there is not a lot of depth to the novellas because of their length, the information about each case let me make my own guesses as to what was really going on. Arnie is the one who describes what is taking place, and his inner thoughts were often a highlight of a scene. How the final assumptions were reached are frequently shrewd, and I thought the reasoning to be rather comical at times while other logic showed real aptitude. Loren D. Estleman has made me want to check out the original Nero Wolfe stories, as I would like to know about the team who inspired such a fun duo. NEARLY NERO is an entertaining and witty parody.
I voluntarily reviewed the book from the publisher, and all comments are my honest opinion
December 1, 2021
Decades ago I was a college freshman living in a dorm, doing a lot of reading. English, philosophy, theology, humanities, with PhySci for kicks. It added up. There were, of course, distractions. One of my major ones was reading outside of coursework. After a few months, when my fellow dorm residents heard raucous laughter coming from my room, where I alone lay, reading, they would often turn to one another and say, "Downing's reading about that fat guy again." And they would be correct.
From his last adventure in 1976 back to my discovering him among my father's books, I had been reading Nero Wolfe's 'adventures'. Soon after making his acquaintance, I began laughing aloud when reading the books. Few authors have caused me to do so.
Come 1992, when a re-issue of some of Rex Stout's work was being planned. Mr. Estleman was asked if he'd write an introduction to a Wolfe mystery. He said "Yes" and chose the first one. Time goes along, as it does, and being a writer, Estleman started writing homages to Wolfe in the form of Lyon stories. In 2017 these were gathered into a book, which is being discussed, eventually, here.
Laugh out loud. Yep. Besides a few clever mysteries included in these stories, there are loads of humorous skits, insults, repartee and jokes. Enough to make me recall my collegiate days, as noted.
Recommeded.
From his last adventure in 1976 back to my discovering him among my father's books, I had been reading Nero Wolfe's 'adventures'. Soon after making his acquaintance, I began laughing aloud when reading the books. Few authors have caused me to do so.
Come 1992, when a re-issue of some of Rex Stout's work was being planned. Mr. Estleman was asked if he'd write an introduction to a Wolfe mystery. He said "Yes" and chose the first one. Time goes along, as it does, and being a writer, Estleman started writing homages to Wolfe in the form of Lyon stories. In 2017 these were gathered into a book, which is being discussed, eventually, here.
Laugh out loud. Yep. Besides a few clever mysteries included in these stories, there are loads of humorous skits, insults, repartee and jokes. Enough to make me recall my collegiate days, as noted.
Recommeded.
April 15, 2019
I picked up this book mostly on the strength of liking Loren D. Estleman as an author. I like Nero Wolfe okay but satirical or comedic takes on characters I enjoy usually leave me cold (such as the satires on Sherlock Holmes).
This is a series of short stories featuring an eccentric billionaire who styles himself after Nero Wolfe, but curiously set in the same world as Nero Wolfe (including a lawsuit at one point from Wolfe's lawyer). Lyon has meticulously set up his own version of the master thinker, including hiring his own version of Archie -- a con man.
Each short story shows that Lyon is actually quite brilliant but the cases are far less fraught with danger or significance, and as short stories move to the punch sometimes so fast it feels as if you missed a few pages somewhere.
Overall its pretty clever, and Estleman's mastery of the language and turn of a phrase is evident, but the stories while fun didn't really grab me the way his straight writing does.
This is a series of short stories featuring an eccentric billionaire who styles himself after Nero Wolfe, but curiously set in the same world as Nero Wolfe (including a lawsuit at one point from Wolfe's lawyer). Lyon has meticulously set up his own version of the master thinker, including hiring his own version of Archie -- a con man.
Each short story shows that Lyon is actually quite brilliant but the cases are far less fraught with danger or significance, and as short stories move to the punch sometimes so fast it feels as if you missed a few pages somewhere.
Overall its pretty clever, and Estleman's mastery of the language and turn of a phrase is evident, but the stories while fun didn't really grab me the way his straight writing does.
June 30, 2017
Being a huge fan of both Loren Estleman's Amos Walker series and Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series, I was more than a little intrigued by the idea of a story - or series of short stories, to be more accurate - about a Nero Wolfe wanna be living in Brooklyn.
This book is a gem, but if you're not a Nero Wolfe fan, you may not enjoy it as much. There's so many references, inside nods and winks to the original series characters and plot lines, that it may be a bit confusing to the uninitiated. Having said that, it's a tribute to Mr. Estleman's considerable talents that he not only takes on the series, but gives it a fresh and snarky turn by poking fun at the alter ego versions of Nero and Archie and the rest of the gang. At several places, I laughed out loud.
The only minor issue I ran into occurred when the characters of Nero Wolfe & Archie were mentioned as real-life contemporaries of the wanna be Wolfe and Archie, Claudius and Arnie respectively. It didn't seem to make sense, given the different eras and other frames of reference, but it was easy to dismiss and move on. I thoroughly enjoyed this new spin on the beloved series and hope that Mr. Estleman writes many more.
This book is a gem, but if you're not a Nero Wolfe fan, you may not enjoy it as much. There's so many references, inside nods and winks to the original series characters and plot lines, that it may be a bit confusing to the uninitiated. Having said that, it's a tribute to Mr. Estleman's considerable talents that he not only takes on the series, but gives it a fresh and snarky turn by poking fun at the alter ego versions of Nero and Archie and the rest of the gang. At several places, I laughed out loud.
The only minor issue I ran into occurred when the characters of Nero Wolfe & Archie were mentioned as real-life contemporaries of the wanna be Wolfe and Archie, Claudius and Arnie respectively. It didn't seem to make sense, given the different eras and other frames of reference, but it was easy to dismiss and move on. I thoroughly enjoyed this new spin on the beloved series and hope that Mr. Estleman writes many more.
June 4, 2018
Mr. Estleman has done a very good satire that pokes gentle fun at Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, without provoking anger in this lifelong fan. He hits some very solid notes, one of which is placing his characters firmly within Stout's fictional world without bringing them directly in contact with Archie or Wolfe. In truth, the stories are set about thirty years ahead of anything Stout wrote, but Mr. Estleman makes it clear that, true to Stout, Wolfe and Archie remain ageless and active in their 35th Street brownstone while Lyon and Arnie pursue their parallel lives.
My only real quibble is that the characters don't show the affection for each other that Stout's do, subtle though it seems at times. Arnie truly seems to put up with Lyon strictly for the paycheck and the opportunity to skim a little extra from his employer when possible. Still, it makes a good diversion; not too deep, and written with love for the originals.
My only real quibble is that the characters don't show the affection for each other that Stout's do, subtle though it seems at times. Arnie truly seems to put up with Lyon strictly for the paycheck and the opportunity to skim a little extra from his employer when possible. Still, it makes a good diversion; not too deep, and written with love for the originals.
August 1, 2017
I won this book on Goodreads Giveaways. I really enjoyed it, there were several good chuckles as well as good mysteries to solve. This book is a tribute to Nero Wolfe (Rex Stout's creation). Claudine Lyon and Arnie Woodbine are characters that are very similar to Wolfe and Goodwin. In fact, Lyon is a faithful fan of Nero Wolfe and wants to be just like him. Arnie Woodbine is close to Archie Goodwin, but not the same as far as trying to fleece Lyon out of money. It is a light, cute read. I did not realize that this was a book of short stories, not one novel. I really want to read all the Nero Wolfe books now.
February 9, 2019
Picked this up yesterday at my local library and dove right in. I have always been a Nero Wolfe fan and Nearly Nero cracked me up. Wolfe wannabe Claudius Lyon has retrofitted his townhouse to be a match for Wolfe's, but where Wolfe raises orchids on the roof, Claudius raises tomatoes. He and his sidekick Arnie Woodbine (if you say it fast enough it sounds like Archie Goodwin) solves crimes for no pay. They do not have a private investigators license and the Brooklyn police are always trying to snag them on that technicality. Very clever book with lots of Wolfeisms thrown in with Claudius' interpretation on them.
June 12, 2017
Well, well, well. Goodreads has dumped custom quit before the end category to want to read. Points off along w further demerits for having to go to the web site to link to FB. In all, about as lame as murder mysteries w no murders. Loren D. States this in his preface. A preface? Jeez Louise. Another rule broken right there. So anyway I wasvrakly looking forward to this book bc I'm a Nero Wolfe fan. If it weren't for that I wouldn't have made half way through the first story before putting it down, down, down. I gave it an extra star bc it's well written if, in my mind, ill conceived.
June 27, 2017
These short stories are truly funny. Only the author could pull off making these crooked characters both funny and almost endearing. Of course, these stories wouldn't exist without the universe Rex Stout created for his detective Nero Wolfe. If you have never read any of the Nero Wolfe novels, the stories might not make much sense to you. I would suggest reading one of the books 1st, and then you'll see what I mean about the humor in the stories.
October 30, 2017
Excellent. Extremely well done. I've recently become a big fan of Nero Wolfe. Mr. Estleman outdid himself with this "alternate universe" Nero Wolfe. The writing seemed to be identical to Rex Stout himself. Mr. Estleman also captured the surprising and funny way Mr. Stout ended his books. Laugh out loud funny. Example, ending of Wolfe Whistle. Well done, Mr. Estleman, well done.
February 19, 2018
I'm willing to go along with the concept. An amateur detective tries to pattern his life in imitation of Nero Wolfe. But it's supposed to be funny, and the humor mostly fails. Instead of mysteries, we get wordplay. The first story is about investigating a prizewinner named Noah Ward. The second story's punchline is from the same basket. So, sorry. Not enough here to keep me reading.
January 3, 2019
I love mysteries and had read several of Loren Estleman's other mysteries (including his many Sherlock Holmes works). I generally enjoyed those, but found I enjoyed these stories much more. I love Nero Wolfe and Claudius Lyon is an excellent, more believable, satire version of him. A fun, casual read I would definitely recommend for fans of Wolfe or even just the casual mystery reader.
July 16, 2019
I would have probably enjoyed this book more if I had read any of Rex Stout's Wolfe series. The television episodes were entertaining and my recollection of them allowed me to visualize the attempt to reproduce the setting. His character, Claudius Lyon, is a fun exaggeration of Nero Wolfe. Stout fans should enjoy this.
November 1, 2020
Really funny. A set of short stories about a guy rich enough to try to emulate Nero Wolfe but not *quite* there. He doesn't have a PI license so he can't get paid for his work. He takes on tiny cases. He has a cook who specializes in kosher, grows tomatoes instead of orchids and his assistant is a con man. e even has a cop nemesis. Parker even comes after him for imitation.
August 25, 2024
What bloody gibberish did I just attempt to read ? Each story starts,off mid sentence...and is just hideous pompous ,boredom .
Zero humor or cleverness or wit
Ps never read Wolfes books bit if three the same pimpous,mind numbing bleh...sure glad I never bothered .
Ps side note whomever printed these books the paper stock has a horrible Stink!
Zero humor or cleverness or wit
Ps never read Wolfes books bit if three the same pimpous,mind numbing bleh...sure glad I never bothered .
Ps side note whomever printed these books the paper stock has a horrible Stink!
February 9, 2025
A collection of short stories sort of an homage to Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe while poking a little fun. These stories were published over a number of years and that's my problem. Taken together they all feel alike so become boring. I have never read Stout and that may have made a difference but I doubt it. I really like Estleman's work in general but this collection was unsatisfying.
June 20, 2017
Very entertaining book. The short stories are just right, not too long, nor too short. The mysteries are a tad too simple, but at the short length of each story they can't be too complicated. I do recommend this book and it has plenty of humor that is common in all Loren D. Estleman books.
May 13, 2024
usually i give a book 25 pages or so to capture my interest. m made to page 18 on this and realized i just didn't like these characters. i think it's a spoof, but it wasn't quite funny, so, i gave up.
June 22, 2017
A bit labored at times, but enjoyable.
July 13, 2017
Did not grab me - whole idea was too silly. Did not finish.
August 7, 2017
A very fun read and a clever parody of the Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe characters.
April 8, 2018
A nice collection of fun stories for Nero Wolfe fans.
November 2, 2019
Short story pastiches of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books.Many depend on word-play, and some are too cute.
October 3, 2021
This is a collection of Nero Wolfe pastiche short stories. If you know, and enjoy the original source material, you will enjoy this collection.
May 12, 2022
Nice idea - some of it worked well - most of it did not in my opinion.
May 9, 2017
Loren Estleman does a very clever satire of Nero Wolfe in this book. Claudius Lyon has no license to practice as a Detective. So, he never takes money and his cases are very different than Wolfe's. He has copied Wolfe as much as his life will allow. His sidekick is not Archie Goodwin but Arnie Woodbine. If you mumble, it sounds kind of alike-or does it?
The Chair in his Office is not the famous yellow of the Wolfe Books but orange. His sidekick takes every advantage of him, rounding off checks to the next hundred and his Cook serves pigeon and charges the Boss for chicken. Still they all rub along...Saints and Sinners.
If you are familiar with the Nero Wolfe stories this book has some laugh out loud moments. The comparisons are adroit and very colorful but not always to Claudius Lyon's advantage may I add. He has the girth of Wolfe but very little else. His problems are much smaller but they get solved in a timely way. The comparison of Lyon's townhouse to anything Wolfe is very aptly described as working out of a Motel Six.
So if you are a fan of Nero Wolfe you will like Nearly Nero very much. And even if you haven't read the Wolfe Books there are plenty of comparisons to satisfy your curiosity and keep you reading. Each story is different and I enjoyed the characters very much.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC
The Chair in his Office is not the famous yellow of the Wolfe Books but orange. His sidekick takes every advantage of him, rounding off checks to the next hundred and his Cook serves pigeon and charges the Boss for chicken. Still they all rub along...Saints and Sinners.
If you are familiar with the Nero Wolfe stories this book has some laugh out loud moments. The comparisons are adroit and very colorful but not always to Claudius Lyon's advantage may I add. He has the girth of Wolfe but very little else. His problems are much smaller but they get solved in a timely way. The comparison of Lyon's townhouse to anything Wolfe is very aptly described as working out of a Motel Six.
So if you are a fan of Nero Wolfe you will like Nearly Nero very much. And even if you haven't read the Wolfe Books there are plenty of comparisons to satisfy your curiosity and keep you reading. Each story is different and I enjoyed the characters very much.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC
May 7, 2017
I was excited to read this book and to be given and advanced reading copy, but halfway though my excitement petered out. I can't quite put my finger on why I was disappointed with this book. I didn't like the two main characters. Of course, they can't even compare with the two they are supposed to be trying to copy. I guess I thought it was an insult to Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. I know the author didn't intend it to be that way. I can tell he admires Rex Stout. After reading this, I am ready to go back to the originals. Even though I didn't care for the book, I would recommend it to someone who would be interested.
April 11, 2021
Most of the books I've read from Loren Estleman have been serious, if not literary, takes on the mystery genre, so it was interesting to read a lighter take. His character Claudius Lyon is a self-conscious Nero Wolfe imitator (in fact it's a background element of the stories that Wolfe is threatening to sue him for identity theft), although no murders are prevalent here - the most serious event is a missing person or monetary loss - and most cases are solved by an innocuous revelation which often involves a horrid pun. I'd certainly recommend these to a Wolfe fan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews