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Nero Wolfe #41
Es klingelte an der Tür: Ein Fall für Nero Wolfe
Rex Stout war einer der erfolgreichsten amerikanischen Kriminalautoren des 20. Jahrhunderts. Seine literarische Schöpfung, der Privatdetektiv Nero Wolfe, zählt bis heute zu den berühmtesten Figuren des Genres. Zusammen mit seinem Assistenten Archie Goodwin hat der Ermittler mit einer Passion für Orchideenzucht und Gourmetküche weltweit Millionen Leser in den Bann gezogen. Die Neuübersetzung der Krimireihe bietet nun dem deutschen Leser erstmals die Möglichkeit, die Kriminalromane in ihrer vollständigen literarischen Qualität zu entdecken.
Die reiche Exzentrikerin Rachel Bruner hat die Nase voll vom amerikanischen Geheimdienst. Sie kauft zehntausend Exemplare eines Enthüllungsbuchs und verschickt es landesweit. Klar, dass das Ärger gibt: Das FBI lässt sie auf Schritt und Tritt überwachen. In ihrer Not wendet sich die vornehme Dame an Nero Wolfe, den berühmtesten Privatermittler von New York. Doch wie soll der ihr helfen? Sein Gegenspieler ist immerhin kein Geringerer als J. Edgar Hoover. Ein Scheck über 100 000 Dollar überzeugt ihn, es zumindest zu versuchen. Da kommt ihm ein Mordfall an einem Journalisten sehr gelegen ...
Die reiche Exzentrikerin Rachel Bruner hat die Nase voll vom amerikanischen Geheimdienst. Sie kauft zehntausend Exemplare eines Enthüllungsbuchs und verschickt es landesweit. Klar, dass das Ärger gibt: Das FBI lässt sie auf Schritt und Tritt überwachen. In ihrer Not wendet sich die vornehme Dame an Nero Wolfe, den berühmtesten Privatermittler von New York. Doch wie soll der ihr helfen? Sein Gegenspieler ist immerhin kein Geringerer als J. Edgar Hoover. Ein Scheck über 100 000 Dollar überzeugt ihn, es zumindest zu versuchen. Da kommt ihm ein Mordfall an einem Journalisten sehr gelegen ...
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 1965
450 people are currently reading
1617 people want to read
About the author
Rex Stout
838 books1,034 followersRex Todhunter Stout (1886–1975) was an American crime writer, best known as the creator of the larger-than-life fictional detective Nero Wolfe, described by reviewer Will Cuppy as "that Falstaff of detectives." Wolfe's assistant Archie Goodwin recorded the cases of the detective genius from 1934 (Fer-de-Lance) to 1975 (A Family Affair).
The Nero Wolfe corpus was nominated Best Mystery Series of the Century at Bouchercon 2000, the world's largest mystery convention, and Rex Stout was nominated Best Mystery Writer of the Century.
The Nero Wolfe corpus was nominated Best Mystery Series of the Century at Bouchercon 2000, the world's largest mystery convention, and Rex Stout was nominated Best Mystery Writer of the Century.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
March 10, 2019
"The Doorbell Rang" by Rex Stout is a Nero Wolfe mystery novel.
The book is considered a controversial book in some circles in that it painted the FBI. in a very unflattering light. Rex Stout was never one to shy away from controversy and was familiar with the recent book by investigative journalist Fred J. Cook, "THE FBI NOBODY KNOWS". Cook's book published in 1964 was highly critical of J. Edgar Hoover and how he used the FBI for political purposes. Stout also had a low opinion of Hoover.
From the Wikipedia entry on this novel: "Nero Wolfe is hired to force the FBI to stop wiretapping, tailing and otherwise harassing a woman who gave away 10,000 copies of a book that is critical of the Bureau and its director, J. Edgar Hoover."
"The Doorbell Rang" generated controversy when it was published, due largely to its unflattering portrayal of the FBI, its director and agents. It was published at a time when the public's attitude toward the FBI was turning critical, not long after Robert F. Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover clashed and the Bureau was coming under fire for its investigations of Martin Luther King.
The book is considered a controversial book in some circles in that it painted the FBI. in a very unflattering light. Rex Stout was never one to shy away from controversy and was familiar with the recent book by investigative journalist Fred J. Cook, "THE FBI NOBODY KNOWS". Cook's book published in 1964 was highly critical of J. Edgar Hoover and how he used the FBI for political purposes. Stout also had a low opinion of Hoover.
From the Wikipedia entry on this novel: "Nero Wolfe is hired to force the FBI to stop wiretapping, tailing and otherwise harassing a woman who gave away 10,000 copies of a book that is critical of the Bureau and its director, J. Edgar Hoover."
"The Doorbell Rang" generated controversy when it was published, due largely to its unflattering portrayal of the FBI, its director and agents. It was published at a time when the public's attitude toward the FBI was turning critical, not long after Robert F. Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover clashed and the Bureau was coming under fire for its investigations of Martin Luther King.
March 18, 2019
“I’m not surprised at Wolfe. With his ego, there’s no one and nothing he wouldn’t take on if you paid him. But, I’m surprised at you. You know damn well the FBI can’t be bucked. Not even by the White House. And you’re hopping around pecking at people’s scabs. You’re asking for it and you’ll get it. You’re off your hinges.”
I put both Rex Stout and Erle Stanley Gardner in the “golden age” of detective fiction. I have recently decided to revisit both. I chose The Doorbell Rang because it relates to some interesting issues in the USA during this part of the 21st Century.
Nero Wolfe is a wonderful creation. Stout has poured so many eccentricities into him that he would be a mere caricature if it were not for Stout’s skill at plotting and the unusual cases that Wolfe and Goodwin tackle. Wolfe always has his beer, before dinner and during any late night work sessions. The beer and his orchids occupy a significant part of his daily routine. Wolfe rarely ventures from his Manhattan brownstone, and only then with great reluctance that often is truculence. He does not trust any woman to be reliable and he disdains work unless he needs the money or the problem intrigues him.
Archie Goodwin is not his partner. He is his assistant and sometimes cat’s paw, and he lives, rent-free in Wolfe’s house and dines at no charge on gourmet food cooked by Wolfe’s chef, Fritz. Wolfe doesn’t tell Goodwin everything, but we see everything from Goodwin’s perspective. Goodwin has been with Wolfe so long that he knows all his idiosyncrasies and can play on them to move things along. Every so often, Goodwin will threaten to quit over some disagreement but that eventually is resolved and things continue on as they must.
There are a host of regular characters that cover the NYC newspapers, police, taxis, and additional manpower for investigations. To those who are regular readers of these stories, they add a level of comfort and predictability. Yet, almost without a single exception, no one is every ahead of Wolfe in resolving the case at hand.
I am going to quote from Jim’s review to give you the essence of the plot: “A wealthy socialite widow, Mrs. Rachel Bruner, hires Wolfe because she is being harassed by the FBI. She read a book, "The FBI Nobody Knows", and was so moved that she decided to purchase 10,000 copies and send them to prominent and influential people ... senators, congressmen, business leaders, etc. Now she is being harassed by the FBI and wants Wolfe's help putting and end to it. A $100,000 retainer helps persuade Wolfe to help her and take on the FBI. Soon Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, and Fritz Brenner find themselves living under siege. Is the brownstone bugged? Are the phones tapped? Archie is being tailed whenever he leaves the house.”
There is a murder. (There always is a murder.) Wolfe prevails in a very “satisfactory” (as Wolfe is wont to say when he is pleased) way.
Though this is #41 in Stout’s series; it is sharp and entertaining and can be read on its own. It is one of my favorites. 4+
PS: I want to add that Stout has opinions on everything but particularly food and books. In almost every Nero Wolfe you will be treated to both a series of gourmet meals and to one or more books that Wolfe is currently reading – a bonus of delights.
I put both Rex Stout and Erle Stanley Gardner in the “golden age” of detective fiction. I have recently decided to revisit both. I chose The Doorbell Rang because it relates to some interesting issues in the USA during this part of the 21st Century.
Nero Wolfe is a wonderful creation. Stout has poured so many eccentricities into him that he would be a mere caricature if it were not for Stout’s skill at plotting and the unusual cases that Wolfe and Goodwin tackle. Wolfe always has his beer, before dinner and during any late night work sessions. The beer and his orchids occupy a significant part of his daily routine. Wolfe rarely ventures from his Manhattan brownstone, and only then with great reluctance that often is truculence. He does not trust any woman to be reliable and he disdains work unless he needs the money or the problem intrigues him.
Archie Goodwin is not his partner. He is his assistant and sometimes cat’s paw, and he lives, rent-free in Wolfe’s house and dines at no charge on gourmet food cooked by Wolfe’s chef, Fritz. Wolfe doesn’t tell Goodwin everything, but we see everything from Goodwin’s perspective. Goodwin has been with Wolfe so long that he knows all his idiosyncrasies and can play on them to move things along. Every so often, Goodwin will threaten to quit over some disagreement but that eventually is resolved and things continue on as they must.
There are a host of regular characters that cover the NYC newspapers, police, taxis, and additional manpower for investigations. To those who are regular readers of these stories, they add a level of comfort and predictability. Yet, almost without a single exception, no one is every ahead of Wolfe in resolving the case at hand.
I am going to quote from Jim’s review to give you the essence of the plot: “A wealthy socialite widow, Mrs. Rachel Bruner, hires Wolfe because she is being harassed by the FBI. She read a book, "The FBI Nobody Knows", and was so moved that she decided to purchase 10,000 copies and send them to prominent and influential people ... senators, congressmen, business leaders, etc. Now she is being harassed by the FBI and wants Wolfe's help putting and end to it. A $100,000 retainer helps persuade Wolfe to help her and take on the FBI. Soon Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, and Fritz Brenner find themselves living under siege. Is the brownstone bugged? Are the phones tapped? Archie is being tailed whenever he leaves the house.”
There is a murder. (There always is a murder.) Wolfe prevails in a very “satisfactory” (as Wolfe is wont to say when he is pleased) way.
Though this is #41 in Stout’s series; it is sharp and entertaining and can be read on its own. It is one of my favorites. 4+
PS: I want to add that Stout has opinions on everything but particularly food and books. In almost every Nero Wolfe you will be treated to both a series of gourmet meals and to one or more books that Wolfe is currently reading – a bonus of delights.
February 4, 2022
When I am reading a military history book, I always have a second, lighter book to read before I retire for the night. I picked the right one with this late entry in the Nero Wolfe series.
I have read almost all of the 40+ Wolfe books over the years and consider this one of the top three in the series. The author, Rex Stout, is not known for his strong stories but rather for his character interactions. But the plot of this book is clever, rather complicated, and down right entertaining.
Wolfe takes on the FBI after a wealthy client approaches him complaining that she is being harassed by that agency. Wolfe refuses until she offers him the biggest retainer he has ever gotten. Money talks and Wolfe, who doesn't like the FBI any more than his client does, takes on what looks like an impossible and frankly, dangerous job. And what follows is delightful.
If you have not read any of the Wolfe series, I would recommend that you start with this one. You will get hooked just as I am.
I have read almost all of the 40+ Wolfe books over the years and consider this one of the top three in the series. The author, Rex Stout, is not known for his strong stories but rather for his character interactions. But the plot of this book is clever, rather complicated, and down right entertaining.
Wolfe takes on the FBI after a wealthy client approaches him complaining that she is being harassed by that agency. Wolfe refuses until she offers him the biggest retainer he has ever gotten. Money talks and Wolfe, who doesn't like the FBI any more than his client does, takes on what looks like an impossible and frankly, dangerous job. And what follows is delightful.
If you have not read any of the Wolfe series, I would recommend that you start with this one. You will get hooked just as I am.
March 17, 2022
I wasn't familiar with Rex Stout before this book. It is quite a fun detective novel set and written in the 1960's. The plot was rather complex and I have to admit I had a hard time following it at times. I also have to admit I didn't understand much of the lingo and expressions used in the book, but it was fun being absorbed to them.
April 9, 2017
Ein Krimi der alten Schule... wenig Blut, dafür viel Detektivarbeit.
Die Story war nicht schlecht, dass Ende bzw. die Auflösung des Falls sogar richtig gut.
Der Schreibstil hat mir allerdings doch etwas zu schaffen gemacht - es wurde zwar mit Fortschreiten der Story leichter, aber so wirklich warm bin ich weder mit der Erzählweise noch mit den Charakteren oder der Story selbst geworden.
Die Story war nicht schlecht, dass Ende bzw. die Auflösung des Falls sogar richtig gut.
Der Schreibstil hat mir allerdings doch etwas zu schaffen gemacht - es wurde zwar mit Fortschreiten der Story leichter, aber so wirklich warm bin ich weder mit der Erzählweise noch mit den Charakteren oder der Story selbst geworden.
June 1, 2020
Non avrei commentato questo giallo di Rex Stout (ad ogni modo di ottimo ritmo e assai avvincente, sebbene non sia una delle storie di Nero Wolfe più famose) ove non mi fossi imbattuto in uno scivolone in cui ebbe ad incorrere la traduttrice, probabilmente a torto convinta che i gialli, anche se di Rex Stout, siano letteratura di scarso peso, da tradurre alla buona. Succede che a un certo punto della vicenda capiti per le mani ad Archie Goodwin una filastrocca manoscritta che gli dice qualcosa, ma non riesce a capire che cosa. I versi, nel testo italiano che ho sott’occhio in questo momento, suonano così:
Passione a baci, amante mio impudente,
a piene mani vuoi tu a me strappare,
ma non temo il tuo amore d’accettare
perch’io sarò a render te demente.
Poiché colei che distilla questi fiori lirici è una segretaria, l’indole sgangherata della quartina è affatto azzeccata; può darsi anzi che altrettanto grulli e goffi sonassero i versi composti da Stout per la bisogna, e la traduttrice si fosse ingegnata di renderne l’effetto nella nostra lingua con quest’accozzo decisamente trash di cascami dannunziani da pezzo degli anni Venti cantato da Gabré o Anna Fougez: ineffabile per esempio lo zeugma dei primi due versi, e tipico del verseggiatore della domenica il claudicare del quarto endecasillabo con lo iato in cesura.
Poco dopo però Archie scopre perché la strofa gli sonasse familiare: si tratta dei vv.17-20 dell’Ode on a Grecian Urn di Keats. Il guaio è che la poesia di Keats dice così, rivolgendosi ai personaggi che sono istoriati attorno al vaso antico:
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!
Mentre cioè la poesiola inventata da Stout era una parodia di Keats, quella con cui la traduttrice italiana la rimpiazza non c’entra nulla col testo del poeta inglese. D’altronde, se ella avesse contraffatto una strofa, che so?, del Foscolo, ci sarebbe poi stato da chiedersi come potessero personaggi di Nuova York avere familiarità con un poeta italiano. E quindi si preferì l’incorrere nel rischio minore, quello d’incappare in qualche raro lettore che sapesse l’inglese e avesse qualche familiarità con la poesia di Keats: pericolo decisamente remoto nel 1965, quando il romanzo uscì nel nostro paese, ma parecchio accresciuto ai nostri giorni, quand’ormai la conoscenza di Keats nel testo originale tra i lettori italiani è assai aumentata. Ciò peraltro non può attribuirsi a colpa di chi faceva la traduzione d’un giallo americano più di mezzo secolo fa: i traduttori fanno, bene o male, i traduttori, non gl’indovini. Lo so, col giallo in questione il mio sproloquio non ha veruna attinenza, e così quelli che si fossero attesi da me una recensione rimarranno a bocca asciutta; chiedo loro venia, ma trovo più divertente dilungarmi a volte su queste che l’Artusi chiamerebbe “bricciche da nulla”, che non dedicarmi a un commento comme il faut, anche perché adoro le minuzie prive di qualsiasi utilità, e d’altro canto il brocardo de minimis non curat praetor nel campo delle minuzie letterarie non ha valore alcuno: anzi, qui vale l’esatto opposto.
Passione a baci, amante mio impudente,
a piene mani vuoi tu a me strappare,
ma non temo il tuo amore d’accettare
perch’io sarò a render te demente.
Poiché colei che distilla questi fiori lirici è una segretaria, l’indole sgangherata della quartina è affatto azzeccata; può darsi anzi che altrettanto grulli e goffi sonassero i versi composti da Stout per la bisogna, e la traduttrice si fosse ingegnata di renderne l’effetto nella nostra lingua con quest’accozzo decisamente trash di cascami dannunziani da pezzo degli anni Venti cantato da Gabré o Anna Fougez: ineffabile per esempio lo zeugma dei primi due versi, e tipico del verseggiatore della domenica il claudicare del quarto endecasillabo con lo iato in cesura.
Poco dopo però Archie scopre perché la strofa gli sonasse familiare: si tratta dei vv.17-20 dell’Ode on a Grecian Urn di Keats. Il guaio è che la poesia di Keats dice così, rivolgendosi ai personaggi che sono istoriati attorno al vaso antico:
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!
Mentre cioè la poesiola inventata da Stout era una parodia di Keats, quella con cui la traduttrice italiana la rimpiazza non c’entra nulla col testo del poeta inglese. D’altronde, se ella avesse contraffatto una strofa, che so?, del Foscolo, ci sarebbe poi stato da chiedersi come potessero personaggi di Nuova York avere familiarità con un poeta italiano. E quindi si preferì l’incorrere nel rischio minore, quello d’incappare in qualche raro lettore che sapesse l’inglese e avesse qualche familiarità con la poesia di Keats: pericolo decisamente remoto nel 1965, quando il romanzo uscì nel nostro paese, ma parecchio accresciuto ai nostri giorni, quand’ormai la conoscenza di Keats nel testo originale tra i lettori italiani è assai aumentata. Ciò peraltro non può attribuirsi a colpa di chi faceva la traduzione d’un giallo americano più di mezzo secolo fa: i traduttori fanno, bene o male, i traduttori, non gl’indovini. Lo so, col giallo in questione il mio sproloquio non ha veruna attinenza, e così quelli che si fossero attesi da me una recensione rimarranno a bocca asciutta; chiedo loro venia, ma trovo più divertente dilungarmi a volte su queste che l’Artusi chiamerebbe “bricciche da nulla”, che non dedicarmi a un commento comme il faut, anche perché adoro le minuzie prive di qualsiasi utilità, e d’altro canto il brocardo de minimis non curat praetor nel campo delle minuzie letterarie non ha valore alcuno: anzi, qui vale l’esatto opposto.
January 30, 2012
Rex Stout was born in Noblesville, IN and grew up in Kansas. Though never active himself, he was raised by Quaker parents. He was a brilliant child - he read by the time he was four and won a state spelling Bee when he was 13. He must have been somewhat influenced by his families' Quaker activism: He served on the original board of the American Civil Liberties Union and helped start the magazine The New Masses. At the time of the Depression, he was an enthusiastic supporter of the New Deal. During World War II, he worked with the advocacy group, Friends of Democracy. The group was the forerunner of today’s watchdog organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center that track hate groups. When the paranoid anti-Communist era of the late 1940s and 1950s began, Stout ignored a subpoena from the House Un-American Activities Committee at the height of the McCarthy era witch-hunts. Though active in causes on the left, Stout was rabidly anti-communist and the irony of his subpoena is that he probably would have supported McCarthy's goal of finding "Commies" in the US Government, if it had actually been about that.
I bring this up because this book, more than any other that I've read by him, is Stout airing his grievances by using Wolfe and Archie. In other books he showed Archie as pretty darn anti-communist, he had Wolfe say some very unflattering things about Germans and he let his hawkish stance on the War in Vietnam show. But this was the first time that he used the entire premise of a book to go after a political enemy, in this case, The FBI and J. Edgar Hoover.
Stout was closely watched by Hoover's FBI. Hoover considered him an enemy of the bureau and either a Communist or a tool of Communist-dominated groups. Which just pissed off Stout to no end. As Stout said himself, he was a socialist who rabidly hated Communism.
In THE DOORBELL RANG, Nero Wolfe is hired to force the FBI to stop wiretapping, tailing and otherwise harassing a woman who gave away 10,000 copies of a book that is critical of the Bureau and its director, J. Edgar Hoover. The publication of this book generated controversy. It was published not long after Robert F. Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover clashed and the Bureau was coming under fire for its investigations of Dr. King.
Researching his book Dangerous Dossiers: Exposing the Secret War Against America's Greatest Authors (1988), journalist Herbert Mitgang discovered that Stout had been under FBI surveillance since the beginning of his writing career, but after THE DOORBELL RANG, got the full spotlight of the FBI. About a third of Stout's FBI file is devoted to this book. In its 1976 report, the Church Committee found that THE DOORBELL RANG is ths reason that Rex Stout's name was one of 332 placed on the FBI's "not to contact list," which it cited as evidence of the FBI's political abuse of intelligence information.
It's not a great mystery but it is passionately written, and is now part of the history of that era.
I bring this up because this book, more than any other that I've read by him, is Stout airing his grievances by using Wolfe and Archie. In other books he showed Archie as pretty darn anti-communist, he had Wolfe say some very unflattering things about Germans and he let his hawkish stance on the War in Vietnam show. But this was the first time that he used the entire premise of a book to go after a political enemy, in this case, The FBI and J. Edgar Hoover.
Stout was closely watched by Hoover's FBI. Hoover considered him an enemy of the bureau and either a Communist or a tool of Communist-dominated groups. Which just pissed off Stout to no end. As Stout said himself, he was a socialist who rabidly hated Communism.
In THE DOORBELL RANG, Nero Wolfe is hired to force the FBI to stop wiretapping, tailing and otherwise harassing a woman who gave away 10,000 copies of a book that is critical of the Bureau and its director, J. Edgar Hoover. The publication of this book generated controversy. It was published not long after Robert F. Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover clashed and the Bureau was coming under fire for its investigations of Dr. King.
Researching his book Dangerous Dossiers: Exposing the Secret War Against America's Greatest Authors (1988), journalist Herbert Mitgang discovered that Stout had been under FBI surveillance since the beginning of his writing career, but after THE DOORBELL RANG, got the full spotlight of the FBI. About a third of Stout's FBI file is devoted to this book. In its 1976 report, the Church Committee found that THE DOORBELL RANG is ths reason that Rex Stout's name was one of 332 placed on the FBI's "not to contact list," which it cited as evidence of the FBI's political abuse of intelligence information.
It's not a great mystery but it is passionately written, and is now part of the history of that era.
December 30, 2018
This is the 41st, and one of the later books, in the Nero Wolfe series. This particular story takes place in 1965 and is more contemporary (to me) than other stories. I am used to stories that take place in the 1940's during a time period when I have no memory. Here we have a story about the FBI when J. Edgar Hoover was in charge and struck fear into everyone. Even the White House.
A wealthy socialite widow, Mrs. Rachel Bruner, hires Wolfe because she is being harassed by the FBI. She read a book, "The FBI Nobody Knows", and was so moved that she decided to purchase 10,000 copies and send them to prominent and influential people ... senators, congressmen, business leaders, etc. Now she is being harassed by the FBI and wants Wolfe's help putting and end to it. A $100,000 retainer helps persuade Wolfe to help her and take on the FBI. Soon Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, and Fritz Brenner find themselves living under siege. Is the brownstone bugged? Are the phones tapped? Archie is being tailed whenever he leaves the house.
Of course this being a Nero Wolfe story there is a murder. The victim was a reporter working on his own story about the FBI when he was murdered. The story he was working on is missing. Who did it? There is some indication that it may have been the FBI. Bugging your home, putting a tap on your phone, and tailing you everywhere is one thing. Would the FBI murder a United States citizen?
I don't think it is a spoiler to say that even the FBI doesn't stand a chance when confronted with Nero Wolfe. There is a quite a bit of humor in this story as Wolfe and Archie take on the Hoover's FBI and puts them in their place. I couldn't help but smile when I read the ending just trying to picture it. Nero Wolfe stories are always a fun and enjoyable read.
A wealthy socialite widow, Mrs. Rachel Bruner, hires Wolfe because she is being harassed by the FBI. She read a book, "The FBI Nobody Knows", and was so moved that she decided to purchase 10,000 copies and send them to prominent and influential people ... senators, congressmen, business leaders, etc. Now she is being harassed by the FBI and wants Wolfe's help putting and end to it. A $100,000 retainer helps persuade Wolfe to help her and take on the FBI. Soon Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, and Fritz Brenner find themselves living under siege. Is the brownstone bugged? Are the phones tapped? Archie is being tailed whenever he leaves the house.
Of course this being a Nero Wolfe story there is a murder. The victim was a reporter working on his own story about the FBI when he was murdered. The story he was working on is missing. Who did it? There is some indication that it may have been the FBI. Bugging your home, putting a tap on your phone, and tailing you everywhere is one thing. Would the FBI murder a United States citizen?
I don't think it is a spoiler to say that even the FBI doesn't stand a chance when confronted with Nero Wolfe. There is a quite a bit of humor in this story as Wolfe and Archie take on the Hoover's FBI and puts them in their place. I couldn't help but smile when I read the ending just trying to picture it. Nero Wolfe stories are always a fun and enjoyable read.
April 1, 2019
A swift, crisp, clean read - entertainment with minimal effort. Deftly written.
The book is told in the first person by Archie Goodwin, who is the right-hand man of the main character, Nero Wolfe, a brilliant, rather rotund, eccentric gourmand who raises orchids, certainly one of the most memorable private investigators in crime fiction, ranking with other notables such as Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.
In this one, Mr. Wolfe tackles J. Edgar Hoover's FBI, as well as solve a related murder, two sub-plots tied together.
The book convinced me that I must read the first of the Nero Wolfe private eye novels, and some others of that series as well, a series that spans 5 decades, and a must for crime fiction aficionados.
There is a series available on YouTube and I'll certainly be watching those!
The book is told in the first person by Archie Goodwin, who is the right-hand man of the main character, Nero Wolfe, a brilliant, rather rotund, eccentric gourmand who raises orchids, certainly one of the most memorable private investigators in crime fiction, ranking with other notables such as Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.
In this one, Mr. Wolfe tackles J. Edgar Hoover's FBI, as well as solve a related murder, two sub-plots tied together.
The book convinced me that I must read the first of the Nero Wolfe private eye novels, and some others of that series as well, a series that spans 5 decades, and a must for crime fiction aficionados.
There is a series available on YouTube and I'll certainly be watching those!
November 4, 2019
I have read Nero Wolf's books several times. This book is the 41th book in the series. It is the Second favorite book of all times. The other is Helen MacInnes' REST AND BE THANKFUL.
A woman sent 10,000 books about the FBI to many leaders as governors and police offacials. The FBI is now harassing her, family, friends and empolyees. She wants Wolf to stop the harassment. She offers him $100,000 retainer and all expenses plus he can name his own fee in any amount he wishes. How Wolf goes about it is intriguing. His Wolf sucessful? What are Archie feelings? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND series.
A woman sent 10,000 books about the FBI to many leaders as governors and police offacials. The FBI is now harassing her, family, friends and empolyees. She wants Wolf to stop the harassment. She offers him $100,000 retainer and all expenses plus he can name his own fee in any amount he wishes. How Wolf goes about it is intriguing. His Wolf sucessful? What are Archie feelings? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND series.
July 26, 2022
It felt too long since I'd read one of this series. What makes this series different is the first person narrative by Archie Goodwin, Nero Wolfe's assistant. His "reports" are full of wise cracks and slang and his attitude is just plain fun. He refers to Wolfe's girth as being "one seventh of a ton". Other typical quips are "I gave him a sawbuck" and "I'd marry her if she didn't have so much money".
This particular episode, first published in 1965, strikes directly at J. Edgar Hoover and the illegal over reach of the FBI. Rachel Bruner, a wealthy widow, her employees and associates are being openly tailed and their phones tapped. None of them is under investigation for anything. She wants Nero Wolfe to get them to stop. As he believes there is no way to force the FBI to stop doing anything, he declines. Until, that is, she puts a check for $100,000 on his desk and says it is just a retainer, his to keep whether or not he succeeds. And so, for the reader, the fun begins.
Is this one of the better installments of the series? Maybe not, but I did enjoy it thoroughly and I'm inclined to give it 4-stars. I admit it might not be worth that 4-star, but I can't resist (any more than Wolfe could resist that retainer!).
This particular episode, first published in 1965, strikes directly at J. Edgar Hoover and the illegal over reach of the FBI. Rachel Bruner, a wealthy widow, her employees and associates are being openly tailed and their phones tapped. None of them is under investigation for anything. She wants Nero Wolfe to get them to stop. As he believes there is no way to force the FBI to stop doing anything, he declines. Until, that is, she puts a check for $100,000 on his desk and says it is just a retainer, his to keep whether or not he succeeds. And so, for the reader, the fun begins.
Is this one of the better installments of the series? Maybe not, but I did enjoy it thoroughly and I'm inclined to give it 4-stars. I admit it might not be worth that 4-star, but I can't resist (any more than Wolfe could resist that retainer!).
July 12, 2018
This is likely the best-known of all of Rex Stout's books. There is just something appealing about a citizen going up against an established institution.
While I have nothing against the F.B.I, and feel that the country would quite possibly go to hell in a handbasket without them, they, like any other institution, need their checks and balances. Old J. Edgar was given far too much power and way too little checks. While the incident that sets off the plot was fictional, I have little doubt that if an actual wealthy person had performed the quixotic gesture of purchasing ten thousand copies of that book and distributing them throughout the country, he or she would have been victimized by a campaign of harassment. And for what? It's not as though ten thousand guns were pointed at ten thousand heads with the demand: "You. Will. Read. This." Most people would probably shrug, stick it on a shelf, and forget about it. And even if ten thousand people did get up in arms about it, what exactly could they do? As they kept pointing out throughout the book, this was J. Edgar Hoover!
So Wolfe, tempted with the biggest retainer of his career, and the promise of being able to keep it even if he failed, tackles a job that daunts even Archie. They start out trying to get a wedge in that they can push. Archie shows a rather interesting side, presumably the product of years of sitting at Wolfe's table. He has never claimed to be a gourmet, but he has inevitably learned to appreciate good food. Coming home after a dismal day where he got absolutely nothing accomplished, he is tired and grouchy. Both Fritz and Wolfe try to feed him, but Archie wants to savor his bad mood. Offered some freshly purchased caviar, Archie, who loves the stuff, does not want to "insult" it by eating it when he's feeling so lousy. This is a far cry from the Archie of earlier books, who once commented that his main interest in the food was the fact that it was bound for his belly.
Cramer, having learned of Wolfe's case by some mysterious process, offers them the wedge they need: a murder case wherein it appears that members of the F.B.I. itself are the guilty parties. As the investigation continues, it becomes more complicated and surprisingly close to their client. Wolfe actually leaves the murder largely up to Archie; he's concentrating on putting together a sting operation on the F.B.I. Archie, in fact, solves the murder by himself, then puts the matter on hold until their main purpose is accomplished.
The sting itself is sheer delight, carefully crafted, and it all smoothly unrolls just as Wolfe plans it.
Small wonder that this book has been made into a movie several times; the A&E version with Hutton and Chaykin was marvelous. I swear at the end of the movie when they were going over the itemized account list, I could hear Wolfe muttering about "toys for Hewitt's cat". How would he justify that one? If he thought that Rachel (Mrs. Lloyd) Bruner wouldn't look carefully over the list before paying, he should think again. Not that she wouldn't pay it, but I wouldn't put it past her to be ornery enough to demand to meet the cat.
One thing I noticed in this most recent reading: it is so incredibly fast! You leap straight into the story and it never seems to slow down, not even when Archie was picking around for possible wedges. Rather like a roller coaster with no uphills; you just start at the top and shoot down, down, down to the end. Wheeeeeee!
While I have nothing against the F.B.I, and feel that the country would quite possibly go to hell in a handbasket without them, they, like any other institution, need their checks and balances. Old J. Edgar was given far too much power and way too little checks. While the incident that sets off the plot was fictional, I have little doubt that if an actual wealthy person had performed the quixotic gesture of purchasing ten thousand copies of that book and distributing them throughout the country, he or she would have been victimized by a campaign of harassment. And for what? It's not as though ten thousand guns were pointed at ten thousand heads with the demand: "You. Will. Read. This." Most people would probably shrug, stick it on a shelf, and forget about it. And even if ten thousand people did get up in arms about it, what exactly could they do? As they kept pointing out throughout the book, this was J. Edgar Hoover!
So Wolfe, tempted with the biggest retainer of his career, and the promise of being able to keep it even if he failed, tackles a job that daunts even Archie. They start out trying to get a wedge in that they can push. Archie shows a rather interesting side, presumably the product of years of sitting at Wolfe's table. He has never claimed to be a gourmet, but he has inevitably learned to appreciate good food. Coming home after a dismal day where he got absolutely nothing accomplished, he is tired and grouchy. Both Fritz and Wolfe try to feed him, but Archie wants to savor his bad mood. Offered some freshly purchased caviar, Archie, who loves the stuff, does not want to "insult" it by eating it when he's feeling so lousy. This is a far cry from the Archie of earlier books, who once commented that his main interest in the food was the fact that it was bound for his belly.
Cramer, having learned of Wolfe's case by some mysterious process, offers them the wedge they need: a murder case wherein it appears that members of the F.B.I. itself are the guilty parties. As the investigation continues, it becomes more complicated and surprisingly close to their client. Wolfe actually leaves the murder largely up to Archie; he's concentrating on putting together a sting operation on the F.B.I. Archie, in fact, solves the murder by himself, then puts the matter on hold until their main purpose is accomplished.
The sting itself is sheer delight, carefully crafted, and it all smoothly unrolls just as Wolfe plans it.
Small wonder that this book has been made into a movie several times; the A&E version with Hutton and Chaykin was marvelous. I swear at the end of the movie when they were going over the itemized account list, I could hear Wolfe muttering about "toys for Hewitt's cat". How would he justify that one? If he thought that Rachel (Mrs. Lloyd) Bruner wouldn't look carefully over the list before paying, he should think again. Not that she wouldn't pay it, but I wouldn't put it past her to be ornery enough to demand to meet the cat.
One thing I noticed in this most recent reading: it is so incredibly fast! You leap straight into the story and it never seems to slow down, not even when Archie was picking around for possible wedges. Rather like a roller coaster with no uphills; you just start at the top and shoot down, down, down to the end. Wheeeeeee!
February 21, 2024
It’s hard to pick a favorite Nero Wolfe book, but this is in my top three. Nero Wolfe versus the FBI. Needless to say, Wolfe wins, with an assist from his erstwhile nemesis Lt. Cramer of the NYPD.
April 14, 2020
After a second read through I still love this book. Reading them in order Stout is clearly at the top of his game with the last book and this one. The mystery is subtle and complicated, the murderer a surprise unless you catch the clues just right. And the glimpse into a tumultuous time in American history is fascinating.
**********Original review follows******************
OK, can I just admit something? This is just between you and me right? I really really really like old time detective stories. I have hundreds of old time radio programs of this type and I've started to collect classics in book form as I find them. One of my favorites are the Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout. Someday I hope to have a full collection. I'm up to about 20 or so in my library.
This is, by far (so far), the best one I have read.
If you are not familiar with the premise it is that Nero Wolfe a gourmand and genius and agoraphobic orchid lover lives in a house in New York city and rarely if ever leaves it. Since detective stories require a lot of legwork and going places and talking to people, Wolfe has hired an assistant Archie Goodwin. Goodwin is clever and handsome and knows full well that Wolfe is smarter than anyone else he knows.
In this book Wolfe is approached by a widow who thinks that the FBI is harassing her. Neither Wolfe or Goodwin want to take the case at first until circumstances change, including learning of a murder of someone related to the widow, and they end up taking the case after all. And a good thing they did, because this is a thrill ride of enticing verbal repartee and clever maneuvering of the individuals involved by Wolfe and even an exciting breaking and entering scene, two of them really.
The final line of the book is "The doorbell rang." and by the time that line is delivered you are completely in awe of Wolfes final solution to the mysteries presented and want to just bask in the emotional joy of his answers while a would-be visitor is left on the porch ringing the bell.
I won't describe any more for fear of spoilers. However, I strongly recommend this book. If you have ever been curious about the genre or the time period this would be an excellent place to start. Also, it's really fun to look up the meals they eat (you have to look them up unless you speak French).
**********Original review follows******************
OK, can I just admit something? This is just between you and me right? I really really really like old time detective stories. I have hundreds of old time radio programs of this type and I've started to collect classics in book form as I find them. One of my favorites are the Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout. Someday I hope to have a full collection. I'm up to about 20 or so in my library.
This is, by far (so far), the best one I have read.
If you are not familiar with the premise it is that Nero Wolfe a gourmand and genius and agoraphobic orchid lover lives in a house in New York city and rarely if ever leaves it. Since detective stories require a lot of legwork and going places and talking to people, Wolfe has hired an assistant Archie Goodwin. Goodwin is clever and handsome and knows full well that Wolfe is smarter than anyone else he knows.
In this book Wolfe is approached by a widow who thinks that the FBI is harassing her. Neither Wolfe or Goodwin want to take the case at first until circumstances change, including learning of a murder of someone related to the widow, and they end up taking the case after all. And a good thing they did, because this is a thrill ride of enticing verbal repartee and clever maneuvering of the individuals involved by Wolfe and even an exciting breaking and entering scene, two of them really.
The final line of the book is "The doorbell rang." and by the time that line is delivered you are completely in awe of Wolfes final solution to the mysteries presented and want to just bask in the emotional joy of his answers while a would-be visitor is left on the porch ringing the bell.
I won't describe any more for fear of spoilers. However, I strongly recommend this book. If you have ever been curious about the genre or the time period this would be an excellent place to start. Also, it's really fun to look up the meals they eat (you have to look them up unless you speak French).
April 30, 2023
Atrocious, doesn't even deserve to be reviewed. But this is my grandfather's favorite book from his favorite author, so I wanted to try it--I will try one of Stout's earlier books some other time.
Stout commits every sin you can commit in prose, which seems to me less like ignorance than it is laziness, coasting on fame after decades of unchecked success. He wants so hard for this to read like a movie, where the actors and scenery and taboo subject material can compensate for thin (read "zero") characterization, unfocused dialogue, random levels of detail, bad framing, and an uninventive plot. But prose doesn't work that way, and in taking the shortcuts he takes, Wolfe's product is confusing, irritating, too short, and, worst of all, dull.
Stout commits every sin you can commit in prose, which seems to me less like ignorance than it is laziness, coasting on fame after decades of unchecked success. He wants so hard for this to read like a movie, where the actors and scenery and taboo subject material can compensate for thin (read "zero") characterization, unfocused dialogue, random levels of detail, bad framing, and an uninventive plot. But prose doesn't work that way, and in taking the shortcuts he takes, Wolfe's product is confusing, irritating, too short, and, worst of all, dull.
October 21, 2018
A pair of detectives--one cantankerous genius and one amiable nose-to-the-grindstone type--investigate the possible involvement of J. Edgar Hoover's FBI in a murder, because who doesn't love stirring up a wasps' nest for a hundred grand?
Nero Wolfe books are always smooth, competent, and fun: feet up and relax murder mysteries. The mystery is never all that mysterious (called this one ahead of time), yet you never feel disappointed when you get it before the big reveal. Someday, Imma read all of them.
Recommend for mystery readers. If you're new to Nero Wolfe, my best guess at this point is Fer-de-Lance, Buried Caesar, The League of Frightened Men, then this one.
Nero Wolfe books are always smooth, competent, and fun: feet up and relax murder mysteries. The mystery is never all that mysterious (called this one ahead of time), yet you never feel disappointed when you get it before the big reveal. Someday, Imma read all of them.
Recommend for mystery readers. If you're new to Nero Wolfe, my best guess at this point is Fer-de-Lance, Buried Caesar, The League of Frightened Men, then this one.
January 9, 2017
It might be #41 in the series but it was just as good as any of the others. Nero and Archie take on the FBI.
This was my 26th audio book, narrated by the amazing Michael Pritchard. I am so grateful that he chose to narrate these great stories.
This was my 26th audio book, narrated by the amazing Michael Pritchard. I am so grateful that he chose to narrate these great stories.
May 20, 2023
As I read The Doorbell Rang, I realized how much I've missed the Nero Wolfe universe. Archie Goodwin, that lovely brownstone (the layout of which is imprinted on my memory), Fritz and even Wolfe himself. All of which flourish under the pen of Rex Stout.
In this outing, Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin and all of their associates are asked to take on perhaps the most secretive and distrusted agency in America - even back in 1965, when this book was written - the Federal Bureau of Investigation (having chosen to read this in light of recent news revelations of deception and chicanery was pure coincidence). A very wealthy woman wants to hire Wolfe to halt what she describes as the stalking and harassment of herself and her associates by the FBI. She had recently distributed copies of a book - The FBI Nobody Knows, which I've learned is not fiction; it was written by Fred J. Cook in 1964 and probably inspired this novel - to thousands of influential people and says she is being retaliated against for that action. Her request is a tall order for Wolfe, who as a private citizen and investigator can hardly stand a chance against an organization that makes and breaks the rules at whim.
What follows is an extremely clever plot, wherein Wolfe and company attempt to discover and assemble the necessary pieces to play a blinder and mollify three distinct parties. The reader becomes privy to Wolfe's plan as it unfolds, enduring a good deal of suspense as there is no room for error but many variables left to chance. The ending is quite satisfactory (if also somewhat unsettling on a broader scope).
An excellent tale.
In this outing, Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin and all of their associates are asked to take on perhaps the most secretive and distrusted agency in America - even back in 1965, when this book was written - the Federal Bureau of Investigation (having chosen to read this in light of recent news revelations of deception and chicanery was pure coincidence). A very wealthy woman wants to hire Wolfe to halt what she describes as the stalking and harassment of herself and her associates by the FBI. She had recently distributed copies of a book - The FBI Nobody Knows, which I've learned is not fiction; it was written by Fred J. Cook in 1964 and probably inspired this novel - to thousands of influential people and says she is being retaliated against for that action. Her request is a tall order for Wolfe, who as a private citizen and investigator can hardly stand a chance against an organization that makes and breaks the rules at whim.
What follows is an extremely clever plot, wherein Wolfe and company attempt to discover and assemble the necessary pieces to play a blinder and mollify three distinct parties. The reader becomes privy to Wolfe's plan as it unfolds, enduring a good deal of suspense as there is no room for error but many variables left to chance. The ending is quite satisfactory (if also somewhat unsettling on a broader scope).
An excellent tale.
February 5, 2020
2020 reread/relisten: Last time I listened to this audiobook, it was my first experience of the Nero Wolfe series in audio. As you can see from my review below, I had some problems with Michael Pritchard's narration. Now that I have listened to many of the books in this series, I am comfortable with Pritchard as Archie Goodwin so I am restoring this to its full 5*
---------------------------
4.5 * for this audiobook edition. Michael Pritchard did a decent job narrating but his voice just didn't match what I had imagined Archie's voice to be.
This Nero Wolfe mystery is one of Stout's best. It's so satisfying when he outsmarts the FBI and I particularly love the very end.
(BTW, this cover is not the one my library Overdrive audiobook had but it it is the same ISBN)
---------------------------
4.5 * for this audiobook edition. Michael Pritchard did a decent job narrating but his voice just didn't match what I had imagined Archie's voice to be.
This Nero Wolfe mystery is one of Stout's best. It's so satisfying when he outsmarts the FBI and I particularly love the very end.
(BTW, this cover is not the one my library Overdrive audiobook had but it it is the same ISBN)
January 11, 2021
I can’t believe I’ve never read any Rex Stout before today. This book reminded me of the hard boiled detective novels but with more character and more of a tongue in cheek attitude. It was great fun and the mystery was completely satisfying.
February 22, 2015
Lovely.
August 1, 2025
Wealthy widow Rachel Bruner is so shocked by what she reads in a controversial new book, The FBI Nobody Knows, that she buys ten thousand copies and sends them to every influential person she can think of – Congressmen, Governors, top executives, journalists, et al. J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI doesn’t take this well and puts her and everyone associated with her under surveillance. Too late it occurs to her that there may be secrets in her family that would be better left hidden, so she asks Nero Wolfe to find a way to get the FBI off her back. A preposterous idea, as Wolfe has no hesitation in telling her. But with a cheque for $100,000 dangling in front of his eyes and the promise of more to come if he succeeds, he’s tempted. What swings it, though, is the idea that if he refuses it might look like he’s scared of the FBI – an organisation of which he shares Mrs. Bruner’s opinion…
Life imitates art. J. Edgar Hoover was still in charge of the FBI in 1965 when this book was published, and didn’t take any more kindly to Stout’s criticisms in this book than the fictional FBI did to the book in the story, The FBI Nobody Knows – a real book, highly critical of the FBI’s methods, written by veteran journalist Fred J. Cook and published just the year before this one, in 1964. Stout found himself on an FBI watchlist – freedom of speech has limits and it seems criticising Hoover crosses a line. Stout must have expected this – it’s clear his poking of the FBI bear was quite intentional. Perhaps it was less the portrayal of the G-men as licensed crooks that stung – it may have been that they are shown as not very good at what they do, and Hoover himself is made a subject of mockery.
However, this is a masterclass in how to wield a political axe while not letting it stand in the way of telling a great story. Nero Wolfe and his assistant, Archie Goodwin, must find a way to get some power over the FBI that they can use to effectively blackmail them into dropping their surveillance of the client, and now of themselves too, since Mrs. Bruner’s visit has already put them in the FBI’s cross-hairs. Archie starts by contacting their old friend, journalist Lon Cohen, to ask him if the FBI are known to be involved in any investigations currently. Lon gives them a few leads and Archie sets off to do the legwork while Wolfe sits in his oversized red leather armchair and thinks. But then Archie is secretly approached by their long-standing frenemy, Inspector Cramer, who has a murder case he is sure the FBI is involved in, but he’s been warned off. This gives Wolfe and Archie the opening they need and soon Wolfe has a plan…
As in all long-running series, the Nero Wolfe books can be variable, although only really within the range of good to great. This is one of the great ones. The story is interesting, it has twists and thrills, and a proper murder mystery alongside the FBI story. It also has the added pleasure of having roles for the whole gang: Lon Cohen, the three operatives Wolfe uses when required – Saul Panzer, Orrie Cather and Fred Durkin – Inspector Cramer, Archie’s ‘friend’ Lily Rowan, and of course Fritz Brenner, Wolfe’s personal gourmet chef. Archie is the narrator as always, and he provides the humour that keeps the book light. At first he’s against the job – he doesn’t think it’s possible to beat the FBI. But although he wouldn’t say as much outright, his loyalty to Wolfe is absolute, as is his confidence in Wolfe’s brilliance, so once Wolfe accepts the challenge, Archie is in, one hundred percent. His admiration for his boss doesn’t stop him being funny at his expense, though, mocking his rigid habits and adherence to a strict timetable, not to mention his almost total physical laziness and associated girth. Archie also mocks Wolfe’s and Fritz’s obsession with cooking although he happily consumes the results. Venison cutlets in a juniper marinade? Mmm!
As Wolfe would say, satisfactory! It’s been too long since I last spent time with Wolfe and Archie in their old New York brownstone, and I intend to ensure it won’t be so long before I visit them again. If you haven’t read any of these before, there is no need to read them in order – every book stands on its own. And this would be a great one to start with. Just don’t let the FBI know you’re reading it...
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Life imitates art. J. Edgar Hoover was still in charge of the FBI in 1965 when this book was published, and didn’t take any more kindly to Stout’s criticisms in this book than the fictional FBI did to the book in the story, The FBI Nobody Knows – a real book, highly critical of the FBI’s methods, written by veteran journalist Fred J. Cook and published just the year before this one, in 1964. Stout found himself on an FBI watchlist – freedom of speech has limits and it seems criticising Hoover crosses a line. Stout must have expected this – it’s clear his poking of the FBI bear was quite intentional. Perhaps it was less the portrayal of the G-men as licensed crooks that stung – it may have been that they are shown as not very good at what they do, and Hoover himself is made a subject of mockery.
However, this is a masterclass in how to wield a political axe while not letting it stand in the way of telling a great story. Nero Wolfe and his assistant, Archie Goodwin, must find a way to get some power over the FBI that they can use to effectively blackmail them into dropping their surveillance of the client, and now of themselves too, since Mrs. Bruner’s visit has already put them in the FBI’s cross-hairs. Archie starts by contacting their old friend, journalist Lon Cohen, to ask him if the FBI are known to be involved in any investigations currently. Lon gives them a few leads and Archie sets off to do the legwork while Wolfe sits in his oversized red leather armchair and thinks. But then Archie is secretly approached by their long-standing frenemy, Inspector Cramer, who has a murder case he is sure the FBI is involved in, but he’s been warned off. This gives Wolfe and Archie the opening they need and soon Wolfe has a plan…
As in all long-running series, the Nero Wolfe books can be variable, although only really within the range of good to great. This is one of the great ones. The story is interesting, it has twists and thrills, and a proper murder mystery alongside the FBI story. It also has the added pleasure of having roles for the whole gang: Lon Cohen, the three operatives Wolfe uses when required – Saul Panzer, Orrie Cather and Fred Durkin – Inspector Cramer, Archie’s ‘friend’ Lily Rowan, and of course Fritz Brenner, Wolfe’s personal gourmet chef. Archie is the narrator as always, and he provides the humour that keeps the book light. At first he’s against the job – he doesn’t think it’s possible to beat the FBI. But although he wouldn’t say as much outright, his loyalty to Wolfe is absolute, as is his confidence in Wolfe’s brilliance, so once Wolfe accepts the challenge, Archie is in, one hundred percent. His admiration for his boss doesn’t stop him being funny at his expense, though, mocking his rigid habits and adherence to a strict timetable, not to mention his almost total physical laziness and associated girth. Archie also mocks Wolfe’s and Fritz’s obsession with cooking although he happily consumes the results. Venison cutlets in a juniper marinade? Mmm!
As Wolfe would say, satisfactory! It’s been too long since I last spent time with Wolfe and Archie in their old New York brownstone, and I intend to ensure it won’t be so long before I visit them again. If you haven’t read any of these before, there is no need to read them in order – every book stands on its own. And this would be a great one to start with. Just don’t let the FBI know you’re reading it...
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
May 5, 2018
Nero Wolfe tangles with the FBI in 1965’s The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout. Mrs. Rachel Bruner, a wealthy socialite widow, comes to Wolfe to hire him because she is being harassed by the FBI. She read the book The FBI Nobody Knows, about the abuses of J. Edgsr Hoover, and being scandalized, she decided to spread the word about the problem by purchasing 10,000 copies of the book to send to all the important and influential people she could think of. Now she is being harassed, with people tailing her, her family, and anyone connected with her, such as her secretary. She offers Wolfe a $50,000 retainer to stop them, but he turns her down because what she is asking is an impossible task. But Wolfe’s greed wins out when she changes the check to $100,000, leaving Wolfe and Archie under seige.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
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August 24, 2025Read directly as a result of seeing Ann Leckie comment that more people needed to know The Tainted Cup detectives are based on Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, not Sherlock and Watson. My past self had stashed a secondhand Rex Stout omnibus behind some unread Ngaio Marshes, presumably against this very eventuality.
May 11, 2019
Wolfe and Goodwin v. The FBI and its head.
Wolfe did a lot of work for the government, and knew that j. Edgar Hoover was the biggest threat to democracy at the time. He couldn't attack him directly, so this is it. Excellent use of story-telling.
Wolfe did a lot of work for the government, and knew that j. Edgar Hoover was the biggest threat to democracy at the time. He couldn't attack him directly, so this is it. Excellent use of story-telling.
February 3, 2021
At the suggestion of my friend, Patty, this is my first Nero Wolfe book. I enjoyed all the characters as well as stepping back about 50 years. Nero Wolfe is quite the eccentric but Archie Goodwin is the star of the stories. Will definitely be picking up a few more of these in the future.
September 28, 2023
A bit of an unusual entry in the series while still being tons of fun.
February 17, 2024
Very enjoyable Nero Wolfe mystery in which he and Archie Goodwin take on the FBI... and live to tell the tale!
May 18, 2022
Probabilmente lo avevo già letto perché ne ho trovato un'altra edizione nella mia libreria. Ma, dato che non me lo ricordavo, l'ho letto con piacere. Wolfe e Goodwin al massimo della forma.
La scena finale fa meritare la 5^ stella al libro.
La scena finale fa meritare la 5^ stella al libro.
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