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Nero Wolfe novellas by Rex Stout
Bitter End: The First Nero Wolfe Novella
- After author background information, the introduction to this book presents the history of publication and a discussion of Nero Wolfe novellas in general and concludes with a summary of the story. This eBook includes also the illustrations of the magazine publication. "Bitter End" is the first of almost 40 novellas featuring Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, mostly published in "The America Magazine." The story, which is dark and complex, explores the family, business and personal relationships of the owners and employees of a specialty food manufacturer. Wolfe has a personal encounter with one of their products that has been poisoned and feels compelled to investigate.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1997
193 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
Rex Stout
835 books1,031 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 45 reviews
December 16, 2019
Five stars for the novella. Three stars for this edition.
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: July 14, 2018
Language: English
ASIN: B07FLCYC8S
69 pages
"Bitter End" is a very good Nero Wolfe novella in a poor edition. First of all, this edition claims to be annotated. There were no annotations in the Kindle edition which I downloaded. Then, beginning at location 1044, information previously related is printed again. The information was originally printed beginning at location 1009. This edition is illustrated with small black and white drawings which are reproduced along with their captions. The captions sre not always in full agreement with the text.
There is a pretty good introduction which includes a little of the writing and publishing history of this novella. I do not recommend this edition unless you can get it cheap or free. I paid 99¢. Five stars for the novella. Three stars for this edition.
Review of Kindle edition
Publication date: July 14, 2018
Language: English
ASIN: B07FLCYC8S
69 pages
"Bitter End" is a very good Nero Wolfe novella in a poor edition. First of all, this edition claims to be annotated. There were no annotations in the Kindle edition which I downloaded. Then, beginning at location 1044, information previously related is printed again. The information was originally printed beginning at location 1009. This edition is illustrated with small black and white drawings which are reproduced along with their captions. The captions sre not always in full agreement with the text.
There is a pretty good introduction which includes a little of the writing and publishing history of this novella. I do not recommend this edition unless you can get it cheap or free. I paid 99¢. Five stars for the novella. Three stars for this edition.
August 2, 2014
A Nero Wolfe Mystery: Bitter End is the first Nero Wolfe novella by Rex Stout. I love Nero Wolfe; I even loved the tv series starring William Conrad that ran briefly back in the '80s. I love the orchids, the food, the brownstone on 35th street. I love his right-hand man, Archie Goodwin. The only thing I don't always love so much are the mysteries themselves.
This one is fairly charming: Wolfe's ire is provoked when his favorite pate is discovered to have been tampered with quinine. A lovely maiden seeking help is of no interest until it is discovered she is connected to the maker of the spoiled pate. Murder ensues but that is of little concern to Wolfe next to the mission of discovering who interfered with his dining pleasure!
A perfect little story, although the solution was far too easy. But I am always happy to spend time with Mr. Wolfe and Archie.
A pleasing read, especially for fans of Wolfe.
This one is fairly charming: Wolfe's ire is provoked when his favorite pate is discovered to have been tampered with quinine. A lovely maiden seeking help is of no interest until it is discovered she is connected to the maker of the spoiled pate. Murder ensues but that is of little concern to Wolfe next to the mission of discovering who interfered with his dining pleasure!
A perfect little story, although the solution was far too easy. But I am always happy to spend time with Mr. Wolfe and Archie.
A pleasing read, especially for fans of Wolfe.
January 27, 2021
Review of eBook
When portly Nero Wolfe discovers the tampering of jars of pâté, he sets out to discover who is behind the dastardly deed. Archie Goodwin helps in the investigation; they discover some nefarious dealings in a family business. But will this lead to the discovery of the person who tamped with the food?
First published in “The American Magazine” in November 1940, the telling of this dark tale, the first novella in the series, is as Nero Wolfe fans would surmise with all the expected characters in place and Nero at his curmudgeonly best. Astute readers may identify the miscreants before the reveal, but fans of the series are sure to enjoy the adventure.
A short story, “Out of Line,” follows. In it, an unhappy woman makes a birthday decision that leads to an unexpected revelation and a twisted ending.
Recommended.
When portly Nero Wolfe discovers the tampering of jars of pâté, he sets out to discover who is behind the dastardly deed. Archie Goodwin helps in the investigation; they discover some nefarious dealings in a family business. But will this lead to the discovery of the person who tamped with the food?
First published in “The American Magazine” in November 1940, the telling of this dark tale, the first novella in the series, is as Nero Wolfe fans would surmise with all the expected characters in place and Nero at his curmudgeonly best. Astute readers may identify the miscreants before the reveal, but fans of the series are sure to enjoy the adventure.
A short story, “Out of Line,” follows. In it, an unhappy woman makes a birthday decision that leads to an unexpected revelation and a twisted ending.
Recommended.
October 2, 2018
A compact mystery with enough bitterness to make even Nero Wolfe shudder. Liked it very much.
November 12, 2015
In my never-ending quest to further my knowledge of Golden Age mystery writers, I downloaded Rex Stout's first Nero Wolfe novella as well as one of his short stories to my Kindle.
Bitter End concerns the family business and personal relationships of a specialty food manufacturer. Nero Wolfe's chef is ill and unable to cook, which-- being new to this series-- I gather is quite the catastrophe. When someone comes to ask Wolfe to investigate food tampering in a family owned and operated factory, the only reason why Wolfe accepts the case is because he's just tasted the paté in one of the sabotaged cans. Of course, Archie Goodwin is the one who does all the real investigating, and as I read I found that I really enjoyed Archie's voice. Bitter End is a fast-paced and rather easy-to-solve mystery.
The short story "Out of the Line" paints an atmospheric portrait of New York City that I found rather poetic. In it, a spoiled rich woman decides to make someone else happy on her birthday, and Stout has a nice little ironic twist at the end.
All in all, Bitter End and "Out of the Line" are exactly what I was looking for: a good, solid introduction to Rex Stout, Nero Wolfe, and Archie Goodwin. I wouldn't be surprised if I read more in the future.
Bitter End concerns the family business and personal relationships of a specialty food manufacturer. Nero Wolfe's chef is ill and unable to cook, which-- being new to this series-- I gather is quite the catastrophe. When someone comes to ask Wolfe to investigate food tampering in a family owned and operated factory, the only reason why Wolfe accepts the case is because he's just tasted the paté in one of the sabotaged cans. Of course, Archie Goodwin is the one who does all the real investigating, and as I read I found that I really enjoyed Archie's voice. Bitter End is a fast-paced and rather easy-to-solve mystery.
The short story "Out of the Line" paints an atmospheric portrait of New York City that I found rather poetic. In it, a spoiled rich woman decides to make someone else happy on her birthday, and Stout has a nice little ironic twist at the end.
All in all, Bitter End and "Out of the Line" are exactly what I was looking for: a good, solid introduction to Rex Stout, Nero Wolfe, and Archie Goodwin. I wouldn't be surprised if I read more in the future.
March 12, 2017
It's a Nero Wolfe I had never read!
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Bitter End (The First Nero Wolfe Novella) (Kindle Edition)
What can one say about a detective who is likely the only known offspring of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler? If you have no idea what I am talking about, you need more Nero Wolfe. More seriously, read Nero Wolfe of West 35th Street by William S. Baring-Gould. I will admit that when a friend in college told me about Rex Stout, Archie Goodwin & Nero Wolfe, the premise sounded ridiculous. However, she was (is) a genius & a brilliant conversationalist, so I read the book she lent me. Somehow Rex Stout makes believable the unbelievable premise of a detective who does not leave his house. At least it's believable while reading. I never looked back, just kept reading book after book. Rex Stout is one of the most entertaining of American mystery authors.
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Bitter End (The First Nero Wolfe Novella) (Kindle Edition)
What can one say about a detective who is likely the only known offspring of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler? If you have no idea what I am talking about, you need more Nero Wolfe. More seriously, read Nero Wolfe of West 35th Street by William S. Baring-Gould. I will admit that when a friend in college told me about Rex Stout, Archie Goodwin & Nero Wolfe, the premise sounded ridiculous. However, she was (is) a genius & a brilliant conversationalist, so I read the book she lent me. Somehow Rex Stout makes believable the unbelievable premise of a detective who does not leave his house. At least it's believable while reading. I never looked back, just kept reading book after book. Rex Stout is one of the most entertaining of American mystery authors.
September 19, 2014
Bitter End was published in 1940 for the November issue of The American Magazine. It was the first Nero Wolfe mystery novella.
Wolfe's cook is in bed with the flu which is a total disaster for the corpulent Nero, estimated to weigh between 310 and 390 pounds. He opens a can of pate, takes a bite and promptly spits it out assured that he has been poisoned. Archie Goodwin, his do-it-all assistant and the story narrator, proceeds to investigate only to find the owner of the company murdered and his relatives suspected.
I really enjoyed this novella even though some of it was a little dated. I will be looking for more Nero Wolfe mysteries in the future.
Wolfe's cook is in bed with the flu which is a total disaster for the corpulent Nero, estimated to weigh between 310 and 390 pounds. He opens a can of pate, takes a bite and promptly spits it out assured that he has been poisoned. Archie Goodwin, his do-it-all assistant and the story narrator, proceeds to investigate only to find the owner of the company murdered and his relatives suspected.
I really enjoyed this novella even though some of it was a little dated. I will be looking for more Nero Wolfe mysteries in the future.
May 21, 2014
Well done. I loved the old Nero Wolfe radio plays with Sidney Greenstreet so thought I would try the books. This was the first, and a novella at that, so I expect there will be further character development as the series goes on, but I definitely enjoyed the style and the way the mystery was laid out. Quite fun.
March 11, 2015
A satisfactory Nero Wolf just the right length for my plane trip. This Kindle version contained also contained a longish short story called "Out of the Line" which was quite different from anything I've ever read by Rex Stout. Maybe it was just packaged together in this kindle as a bonus to promote Book Revivals Press. Does anyone know?
December 1, 2016
This adventure hits Nero Wolfe where it hurts - in his stomach.
I'm a late-comer to this iconic series and I'm not quite as ga-ga about it as die-hard Nero Wolfe fans, but I'll admit Stout was both a fine writer and a good story-teller. Best of all, his books aren't of the modern 600-page-wade-through-the-filler type. He wrote 33 novels featuring private detective Nero Wolfe and his entourage, but he also wrote 40 novellas featuring the same cast of characters. In other words, the man was confident enough to tell his story and then shut up. Purists can turn their noses up at the novellas if they wish. I enjoyed this one and will be buying and reading more.
This one was published in 1940 and starts as pure farce. Brilliant chef Fritz is out of commission and Wolfe is forced to scavenge for his provender. So he's already in a foul mood when he takes a bite of some liver pate (Tingly's Tidbits, to be precise) which has been doctored with quinine. Wolfe is justly outraged, even when he finds out that the insult isn't personal. It seems that Tingley's Tidbits is the target of a campaign of industrial sabotage.
Trying to damage a company's reputation is one thing, but murdering the owner is quite another. After that, it's just a matter of Wolfe and his side-kick Archie shifting through clues and interviewing people in an attempt to figure out who-dun-it. The late, unlamented Mr. Tingley is no loss to society and plenty of people had a grudge against him. There are competitors who want to buy out the faltering family firm and several angry relatives.
It's a dark story and the ending is well done. Stout knew people and the odd things they do when they become obsessed. Life is seldom exactly what it seems on the surface and murder makes us aware of that in a stark and startling way. I hope the publisher will be releasing more of these novella-length stories. They'll have at least one customer. Me.
I'm a late-comer to this iconic series and I'm not quite as ga-ga about it as die-hard Nero Wolfe fans, but I'll admit Stout was both a fine writer and a good story-teller. Best of all, his books aren't of the modern 600-page-wade-through-the-filler type. He wrote 33 novels featuring private detective Nero Wolfe and his entourage, but he also wrote 40 novellas featuring the same cast of characters. In other words, the man was confident enough to tell his story and then shut up. Purists can turn their noses up at the novellas if they wish. I enjoyed this one and will be buying and reading more.
This one was published in 1940 and starts as pure farce. Brilliant chef Fritz is out of commission and Wolfe is forced to scavenge for his provender. So he's already in a foul mood when he takes a bite of some liver pate (Tingly's Tidbits, to be precise) which has been doctored with quinine. Wolfe is justly outraged, even when he finds out that the insult isn't personal. It seems that Tingley's Tidbits is the target of a campaign of industrial sabotage.
Trying to damage a company's reputation is one thing, but murdering the owner is quite another. After that, it's just a matter of Wolfe and his side-kick Archie shifting through clues and interviewing people in an attempt to figure out who-dun-it. The late, unlamented Mr. Tingley is no loss to society and plenty of people had a grudge against him. There are competitors who want to buy out the faltering family firm and several angry relatives.
It's a dark story and the ending is well done. Stout knew people and the odd things they do when they become obsessed. Life is seldom exactly what it seems on the surface and murder makes us aware of that in a stark and startling way. I hope the publisher will be releasing more of these novella-length stories. They'll have at least one customer. Me.
April 14, 2021
Il primo dei romanzi brevi di Stout, che nelle prime pagine mi ha fatto morire dal ridere prima per le difficolta' di Wolfe dovute all'influenza di Fritz, e poi per come considera inaccettabile l'adulterazione alimentare. Meraviglioso.
Il resto e' un bel racconto, un giallo scorrevole e divertente, che rispetta le attese di un affezionato lettore. La lettura in lingua originale sicuramente non mi permette di cogliere tutte le sfumature dello stile di Stout, ma continuo ad apprezzare questa che sta diventando una consuetudine
Il resto e' un bel racconto, un giallo scorrevole e divertente, che rispetta le attese di un affezionato lettore. La lettura in lingua originale sicuramente non mi permette di cogliere tutte le sfumature dello stile di Stout, ma continuo ad apprezzare questa che sta diventando una consuetudine
July 4, 2019
First of all, the version I read of this novella is in paperback, and the volume also includes a short story called Out of the Line.
Bitter End - another great Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin mystery. Shorter than the full novels, but just as well written. All the usual characters, Wolfe, Goodwin, Fritz, Theodore, Cramer, and Purley Stebbins. Humor mixed with the telling of the story.
Bitter End - another great Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin mystery. Shorter than the full novels, but just as well written. All the usual characters, Wolfe, Goodwin, Fritz, Theodore, Cramer, and Purley Stebbins. Humor mixed with the telling of the story.
June 6, 2022
Bitter End
This was an interesting read. Of course, the gourmet food angle was classic Nero Wolfe. And his ability to figure out the whole crime was iconic. The real surprise was the very short story that followed. I've never read a Rex Stout story that didn't include Archie and Wolfe!!
This was an interesting read. Of course, the gourmet food angle was classic Nero Wolfe. And his ability to figure out the whole crime was iconic. The real surprise was the very short story that followed. I've never read a Rex Stout story that didn't include Archie and Wolfe!!
June 6, 2017
Always a pleasure
To read a Nero Wolfe tale. Though short, to those who know Wolfe's world, very satisfying. The story at the end also intriguing and one wishes it was a novel one could dive into
To read a Nero Wolfe tale. Though short, to those who know Wolfe's world, very satisfying. The story at the end also intriguing and one wishes it was a novel one could dive into
June 16, 2018
I remember the old TV series...WAY back in the 1960's! This was a nostalgic read, remembering the characters as they were on TV. But definitely not the standard of writing that I enjoy. It was fun but won't be looking for more books in the series.
November 7, 2018
Elle gives a thorough review here in Goodreads of this novella written in 1940. A fast paced murder mystery where detective Nero Wolfe is far more concerned with finding who wronged him than in discovering who murdered whom.
August 13, 2017
Just can't go wrong with a Rex Stout novella.
August 13, 2017
Nero Wolfe is always good!
Short book--kept us guessing. Read it to the driver, my husband, while on a journey. Wolfe mysteries are interesting from the meals to the murders.
Short book--kept us guessing. Read it to the driver, my husband, while on a journey. Wolfe mysteries are interesting from the meals to the murders.
April 23, 2018
Blah I
Did not think that this was up to the usual standard of the series. Prefer the later works. More humor.
Did not think that this was up to the usual standard of the series. Prefer the later works. More humor.
October 1, 2019
Un romanzo breve con Nero Wolfe e Archie Goodwin che, nonostante la brevità, dimostrano il meglio delle loro capacità. Mancano i deliziosi siparietti nella stanza delle orchidee.
April 20, 2020
Fun quick Nero and Archie story.
November 12, 2020
I enjoy a good mystery and this is just what I was in the mood for as the weather starts to get colder I do enjoy a good Nero Wolfe Mystery and this one did not disappoint.
January 30, 2021
I love Rex Stout, and it was a real pleasure to read the first novella featuring Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe. Archie's narratorial voice is priceless.
June 12, 2020
The heart wasn't there!
Why my title? I just didn't feel the enthusiasm or the excitement in this book. I think Mr. Stout may have not had his heart in this one. I also found Archie too laid back. I missed his clever criticisms and his P.I. popularity. It was a bit ho hum for me. But overall, I never tire of reading and rereading Nero Wolf and Archie, Fritz and Theodore. When Rex Stout died in 1975 at age 88, I felt as if I lost a close friend, almost family. I have been reading his Nero Wolf over and over. When I need light intrigue and humor I start a "new" read. Nero wolf and Archie were introduced to me by my mom when I was thirteen. I didn't like to read she thought Nero and Archie could help. She was so right. Robert Goldsboro has taken to writing Nero Wolf novels, but he has transformed Nero Wolf to a character unlike the original. At too much for my liking. However, trust your own judgement. Read the novel and I would love to your review!
Why my title? I just didn't feel the enthusiasm or the excitement in this book. I think Mr. Stout may have not had his heart in this one. I also found Archie too laid back. I missed his clever criticisms and his P.I. popularity. It was a bit ho hum for me. But overall, I never tire of reading and rereading Nero Wolf and Archie, Fritz and Theodore. When Rex Stout died in 1975 at age 88, I felt as if I lost a close friend, almost family. I have been reading his Nero Wolf over and over. When I need light intrigue and humor I start a "new" read. Nero wolf and Archie were introduced to me by my mom when I was thirteen. I didn't like to read she thought Nero and Archie could help. She was so right. Robert Goldsboro has taken to writing Nero Wolf novels, but he has transformed Nero Wolf to a character unlike the original. At too much for my liking. However, trust your own judgement. Read the novel and I would love to your review!
March 25, 2014
Redditgifts Book Exchange
I love the Nero Wolfe novels, and was happy to receive this novella as a gift in the exchange. The version is terrible, with typos and printing errors throughout, to the extent that in a few places it's hard to tell who is meant to be speaking and in at least one place I suspect a line of dialogue is completely missing.
Something publishers sometimes don't seem to understand is that my love for one series by an author does not necessarily extend to other works by the same author. The "Bonus" short story "Out of the Line" was worthless to me, only ok as a short story, not up to Stout's usual caliber of writing, and a real let-down after reading a good Archie and Wolfe piece. But the novella I selected this for was enjoyable and since I prefer the early Wolfe works it was an especially good read.
I love the Nero Wolfe novels, and was happy to receive this novella as a gift in the exchange. The version is terrible, with typos and printing errors throughout, to the extent that in a few places it's hard to tell who is meant to be speaking and in at least one place I suspect a line of dialogue is completely missing.
Something publishers sometimes don't seem to understand is that my love for one series by an author does not necessarily extend to other works by the same author. The "Bonus" short story "Out of the Line" was worthless to me, only ok as a short story, not up to Stout's usual caliber of writing, and a real let-down after reading a good Archie and Wolfe piece. But the novella I selected this for was enjoyable and since I prefer the early Wolfe works it was an especially good read.
July 30, 2011
Ah, my first Nero Wolfe mystery! My mother has been an avid reader of Rex Stout for years and now I know why. I finished this book in one evening What a fun, fast paced mystery.
I have no idea what the first in the Nero Wolfe series is and it doesn't matter. Stout introduces you to the porty detective and his very capable leg man deftly. You get a sense that he author had great fun writing these characters. He creates Nero Wolfe to be as curmudgeonly as possible and Archie to being as likable as possible.
Overall, a very fun read and I will definitely be picking up more of Stout's mysteries.
I have no idea what the first in the Nero Wolfe series is and it doesn't matter. Stout introduces you to the porty detective and his very capable leg man deftly. You get a sense that he author had great fun writing these characters. He creates Nero Wolfe to be as curmudgeonly as possible and Archie to being as likable as possible.
Overall, a very fun read and I will definitely be picking up more of Stout's mysteries.
January 10, 2016
Pretty good Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin story marred by astoundingly bad proofreading. I suspect this was scanned from an old paperback and never looked at again before being tossed into the formatting software and published. Someone should be embarrassed. Missing punctuation, missing scene and paragraph breaks, and in one gloriously annoying instance, a couple of pages printed twice, in the most confusing place possible (an interrogation).
The accompanying short story, One Off the Line, published in 1914, was interesting. No connection to Nero Wolfe, who debuted in 1934, but a neat little picture of New York City a century ago.
The accompanying short story, One Off the Line, published in 1914, was interesting. No connection to Nero Wolfe, who debuted in 1934, but a neat little picture of New York City a century ago.
June 25, 2014
Stout never disappoints
Nero Wolfe is one of my favorite classic detectives. This novella, and the short story that follows, is interesting and entertaining. Wolfe, with Archie Goodwin's flair for description, solves a crime that stumps the police and proves his genius at understanding human nature.
Nero Wolfe is one of my favorite classic detectives. This novella, and the short story that follows, is interesting and entertaining. Wolfe, with Archie Goodwin's flair for description, solves a crime that stumps the police and proves his genius at understanding human nature.
May 8, 2019
A great start to a great mystery a classic in every way
The clues are there if you're cleaver enough the know which questions to ask... the real clues, as well as the red herrings... Archie, Nero, Cramer and Fritz... they are all here in a wonderful story with a good Nick for describing a scene
The clues are there if you're cleaver enough the know which questions to ask... the real clues, as well as the red herrings... Archie, Nero, Cramer and Fritz... they are all here in a wonderful story with a good Nick for describing a scene
February 10, 2020
Bitter End
Great story and had never read it before or knew of it. Wolfe did a few things he never did in the books that followed. He got out of his chair and walked to the bad guy. He also doesn't have the red leather chair. It was enjoyable and a fun read. I'm glad I got it. You will enJoy it if you like Nero Wolfe.
Great story and had never read it before or knew of it. Wolfe did a few things he never did in the books that followed. He got out of his chair and walked to the bad guy. He also doesn't have the red leather chair. It was enjoyable and a fun read. I'm glad I got it. You will enJoy it if you like Nero Wolfe.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews