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Nero Wolfe novellas by Rex Stout
Рождественская вечеринка
318 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
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105 people want to read
About the author
Rex Stout
833 books1,030 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 5, 2024
Christmas reading in July? Guilty!
This should not be your first Nero Wolfe read. There is too much in this one that “ticks the boxes” for Wolfe fans. And, there are plenty of jokes and expectations that can only be appreciated by those who have followed this detective for a while.
The book starts out with Archie Goodwin (Wolfe’s “cat’s paw”), declining to take Wolfe on a rare excursion from his NYC brownstone to meet with another orchid fancier. Fast on the heels of that major incident, Archie informs his boss that he has obtained a license for himself to be married to one of the chief employees of a former client. Only with some prior experience can the reader really imagine the effect of this on Wolfe.
The actions, reactions and surprises, come fast and furious for a while (like a body tumbling down a spiral staircase). The relationship between Wolfe and Goodwin goes through some interesting and tense developments. Stout has some fun with the storyline and the reveal.
In the end, as Wolfe might put it, “the result was satisfactory.”
PS: Caution: the way people of Asian origin are talked about is no longer acceptable
This should not be your first Nero Wolfe read. There is too much in this one that “ticks the boxes” for Wolfe fans. And, there are plenty of jokes and expectations that can only be appreciated by those who have followed this detective for a while.
The book starts out with Archie Goodwin (Wolfe’s “cat’s paw”), declining to take Wolfe on a rare excursion from his NYC brownstone to meet with another orchid fancier. Fast on the heels of that major incident, Archie informs his boss that he has obtained a license for himself to be married to one of the chief employees of a former client. Only with some prior experience can the reader really imagine the effect of this on Wolfe.
The actions, reactions and surprises, come fast and furious for a while (like a body tumbling down a spiral staircase). The relationship between Wolfe and Goodwin goes through some interesting and tense developments. Stout has some fun with the storyline and the reveal.
In the end, as Wolfe might put it, “the result was satisfactory.”
PS: Caution: the way people of Asian origin are talked about is no longer acceptable
December 1, 2020
È il mio primo incontro con il celebre detective e devo dire che ne sono rimasta affascinata. Mi è piaciuta l'ironia di Archie, il rapporto tra lui e Nero Wolfe e anche la trama gialla, dalla struttura tutto sommato "classica" delitto-indagine-soluzione, sobria e senza sbavature.
Credo di avere iniziato da n°27 della serie... non mi resta che partire dal primo e scoprire questo personaggio.
Credo di avere iniziato da n°27 della serie... non mi resta che partire dal primo e scoprire questo personaggio.
June 25, 2019
COUNTDOWN: Mid-20th Century North American Crime
BOOK/Novella 156 (of 250)
I no longer attend Christmas parties as they are just too dangerous, as exemplified here. Instead, I often celebrate St. Patrick's Day: this year 93 times. It's been a good year, 2018.
HOOK - 3 stars: "I'm sorry sir," I [Archie] tried to sound sorry. "But I told you [Nero] two days ago, Monday, that I had a date for Friday afternoon..." Nero shook his head, "That won't do." This opening argument between Archie and Nero is typical, as they are on a collision course as to arrangements.
PACE - 3: Solid novella building to a nice finish.
PLOT - 4: Archie presents to Nero his (Archie's) marriage certificate to a Margot Dickey and says he [Archie] absolutely must attend the engagement party. Nero's response is classic Stout: "You are deranged," Nero says to his live-in sidekick. Nero's plans are of course far more important, as he is to meet Mr. Thompson, "the best [orchid] hybridizer in England" only in town for a few hours. Nero hires a limo, Archie goes to his party, and Santa Claus as a bartender serves a poisoned drink to a guest. The guest dies and Santa disappears. Then the twist and turns kick in and Nero's solution is a beauty.
CHARACTERS - 4: Nero and Archie are at their best/worst. Archie plans to have his bride live with them in Nero's fabulous brownstone but Nero is "allergic" to women in general. Fritz, their cook, is so upset "he forgot to put lemon juice in the souffle!" Plus there is Santa Claus, the bride-to-be, and a dead character.
ATMOSPHERE - 2: A missed opportunity, as all we get is "New York might get an off-white Christmas".
SUMMARY - 3.2. Santa and a dead body. Yep, I've given up on Christmas parties.
BOOK/Novella 156 (of 250)
I no longer attend Christmas parties as they are just too dangerous, as exemplified here. Instead, I often celebrate St. Patrick's Day: this year 93 times. It's been a good year, 2018.
HOOK - 3 stars: "I'm sorry sir," I [Archie] tried to sound sorry. "But I told you [Nero] two days ago, Monday, that I had a date for Friday afternoon..." Nero shook his head, "That won't do." This opening argument between Archie and Nero is typical, as they are on a collision course as to arrangements.
PACE - 3: Solid novella building to a nice finish.
PLOT - 4: Archie presents to Nero his (Archie's) marriage certificate to a Margot Dickey and says he [Archie] absolutely must attend the engagement party. Nero's response is classic Stout: "You are deranged," Nero says to his live-in sidekick. Nero's plans are of course far more important, as he is to meet Mr. Thompson, "the best [orchid] hybridizer in England" only in town for a few hours. Nero hires a limo, Archie goes to his party, and Santa Claus as a bartender serves a poisoned drink to a guest. The guest dies and Santa disappears. Then the twist and turns kick in and Nero's solution is a beauty.
CHARACTERS - 4: Nero and Archie are at their best/worst. Archie plans to have his bride live with them in Nero's fabulous brownstone but Nero is "allergic" to women in general. Fritz, their cook, is so upset "he forgot to put lemon juice in the souffle!" Plus there is Santa Claus, the bride-to-be, and a dead character.
ATMOSPHERE - 2: A missed opportunity, as all we get is "New York might get an off-white Christmas".
SUMMARY - 3.2. Santa and a dead body. Yep, I've given up on Christmas parties.
January 3, 2024
This novella was first published in 1957. Either the series and it’s characters are an acquired taste that after years of exposure you come to really love them or Rex Stout is wonderful at his books but not really good at short stories or novellas, whatever the reason, this is not for me. I found Nero Wolfe insufferable and dry. Goodwin comes across as unintelligent and simpleminded. It really reminded me of a script ready to be shot of the “Odd Couple”. I will read another one just to give the series a fair chance but what I read did not make an impression on me.
The writing was very odd, Stout spend a lot of time telling us who sat where and where everything was in relation to a character, the thing is that was not at all important or necessary to the development of the plot and resolution of the murder.
The writing was very odd, Stout spend a lot of time telling us who sat where and where everything was in relation to a character, the thing is that was not at all important or necessary to the development of the plot and resolution of the murder.
January 11, 2019
Nero Wolf and Archy Goodwin make the police look like idiots once again in this story where someone is poisoned at a Christmas part and dies almost instantly.
There are lots of good twists and turns. It is a very good story.
Enjoy and Be Blessed
Steven
There are lots of good twists and turns. It is a very good story.
Enjoy and Be Blessed
Steven
June 26, 2016
Wolfe and Archie are talking. Archie springs his engagement on Wolfe and heads to a Christmas Party. At the Christmas Party, the Executive is poisoned! The bartender is dressed as Santa Claus and leaves during the excitement. The police are called and prioritize finding Santa first. Wolfe confesses to Archie that he was the Santa Claus bartender.
He wants to avoid confessing that he was Santa to the police. This is made harder when one of the attendees meets with Archie and Wolfe to let them know that she knows that Wolfe was the Santa as well as that the deceased was going to be with her. She throws suspicion on Archie's "fiancée".
Archie is called to talk with the police and Wolfe plans to catch the actual murderer.
He succeeds and the murderer is turned over to the police.
Who done it?
He wants to avoid confessing that he was Santa to the police. This is made harder when one of the attendees meets with Archie and Wolfe to let them know that she knows that Wolfe was the Santa as well as that the deceased was going to be with her. She throws suspicion on Archie's "fiancée".
Archie is called to talk with the police and Wolfe plans to catch the actual murderer.
He succeeds and the murderer is turned over to the police.
Who done it?
December 14, 2018
A standard Nero Wolfe mystery, though there aren't that many clues for the reader to pick up on. Imagining Wolfe dressing up is definitely worth a chuckle.
January 23, 2021
Когда с вечера сорвали томность.
Какая прелесть эта ваша заливная рыба))) Небольшая повесть от Рекса Стаута очень хороша и перевели ее так, что читать можно, либо я пообтесалась с переводами)))
Что мы имеем? Загадку с Санта-Клаусом, и кто убил Курта Боттвайля. А дальше имеем очаровательнейшую умницу Черри Квон. Вот надо сказать, что то, что она говорила, как раз устаканило в моей голове все то, что произошло, особенно эти пропавшие бумажки, потому что ну кому они сдались? Значит? Значит все то, что говорит Черри Квон очень даже как правдиво)
И вот в зимний вечер, перед праздниками, дегустируя различные виды шампанского, Арчи Гудвин из-за своей любвеобильности оказывается рядом с местом преступления, да что уж рядом он впритык в этом месте, на его руках убитый. А мы ведь знаем, что там, где Арчи, там и наш "добряк-толстяк" Ниро Вульф.
Как всегда, я копаюсь в мелочах. Например, очень радостно, что на этот раз со всеми разбойничьими мордахами, что появляются в доме Ниро, и в том как себя ведут люди все же не вылезают 90-е разбойничьи и это хоть как-то похоже на ретро-детектив именно рождественский, ну то есть хоть с какой-то праздничной нотой) А еще я похоже возненавидела бы все семь ступенек перед крыльцом Ниро и похоже их никто не чистит, потому что Арчи каждый раз проверяет не грохнулись ли люди, в том числе и Ниро с этих самых ступенек, да и для него они не так чтобы прямая дорожка. Ну вот как так можно жить, чтобы любой выход из дома был полон трудностей и опасностей на ступеньках? Еще я всегда думала, что объемы Ниро позволяют его узнать из-за любого угла... Но, оказывается я как-то сильно не права в формах, которые придала главному герою, и теперь придется какие-то килограммы сбрасывать или считать, что Гудвин тот еще здобол по части того, что он все видит, все подмечает и быстро думает.
Повесть хороша, развлечь себя быстрым и не пыльным расследованием в зимнюю ночь - можно)
Какая прелесть эта ваша заливная рыба))) Небольшая повесть от Рекса Стаута очень хороша и перевели ее так, что читать можно, либо я пообтесалась с переводами)))
Что мы имеем? Загадку с Санта-Клаусом, и кто убил Курта Боттвайля. А дальше имеем очаровательнейшую умницу Черри Квон. Вот надо сказать, что то, что она говорила, как раз устаканило в моей голове все то, что произошло, особенно эти пропавшие бумажки, потому что ну кому они сдались? Значит? Значит все то, что говорит Черри Квон очень даже как правдиво)
И вот в зимний вечер, перед праздниками, дегустируя различные виды шампанского, Арчи Гудвин из-за своей любвеобильности оказывается рядом с местом преступления, да что уж рядом он впритык в этом месте, на его руках убитый. А мы ведь знаем, что там, где Арчи, там и наш "добряк-толстяк" Ниро Вульф.
Как всегда, я копаюсь в мелочах. Например, очень радостно, что на этот раз со всеми разбойничьими мордахами, что появляются в доме Ниро, и в том как себя ведут люди все же не вылезают 90-е разбойничьи и это хоть как-то похоже на ретро-детектив именно рождественский, ну то есть хоть с какой-то праздничной нотой) А еще я похоже возненавидела бы все семь ступенек перед крыльцом Ниро и похоже их никто не чистит, потому что Арчи каждый раз проверяет не грохнулись ли люди, в том числе и Ниро с этих самых ступенек, да и для него они не так чтобы прямая дорожка. Ну вот как так можно жить, чтобы любой выход из дома был полон трудностей и опасностей на ступеньках? Еще я всегда думала, что объемы Ниро позволяют его узнать из-за любого угла... Но, оказывается я как-то сильно не права в формах, которые придала главному герою, и теперь придется какие-то килограммы сбрасывать или считать, что Гудвин тот еще здобол по части того, что он все видит, все подмечает и быстро думает.
Повесть хороша, развлечь себя быстрым и не пыльным расследованием в зимнюю ночь - можно)
December 20, 2019
So out-of-character and an amusing setup made this a light, funny and yet thoroughly Nero Wolfe. Of course reading it in December was a plus.
December 27, 2023
First story in "And Four To Go"
August 30, 2016
Murder for Christmas: 26 Tales of Seasonal Malice
And Four to Go
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again
And Four to Go
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews