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Nero Wolfe #17
In the Best Families
The aging millionairess has a question: where is her young playboy husband getting all his money? To help find the answer, Archie infiltrates a party at her palatial estate. But her late-night murder ruins the festive mood . . . and a letter bomb from a powerful crime boss makes Nero Wolfe do the unthinkable—run for his life. Suddenly Archie finds himself on his own, trying to find a killer without the help of his old mentor. For to all appearances, Wolfe has vanished. The career of the world’s most famous detective has ended in cowardice and disgrace . . . or has it?
Introduction by Patricia Sprinkle
“It is always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore.”— The New York Times Book Review
A grand master of the form, Rex Stout is one of America’s greatest mystery writers, and his literary creation Nero Wolfe is one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time. Together, Stout and Wolfe have entertained—and puzzled—millions of mystery fans around the world. Now, with his perambulatory man-about-town, Archie Goodwin, the arrogant, gourmandizing, sedentary sleuth is back in the original seventy-three cases of crime and detection written by the inimitable master himself, Rex Stout.
Introduction by Patricia Sprinkle
“It is always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore.”— The New York Times Book Review
A grand master of the form, Rex Stout is one of America’s greatest mystery writers, and his literary creation Nero Wolfe is one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time. Together, Stout and Wolfe have entertained—and puzzled—millions of mystery fans around the world. Now, with his perambulatory man-about-town, Archie Goodwin, the arrogant, gourmandizing, sedentary sleuth is back in the original seventy-three cases of crime and detection written by the inimitable master himself, Rex Stout.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1950
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1013 people want to read
About the author
Rex Stout
834 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 - 30 of 302 reviews
August 30, 2019
In the Best Families (1950) tells of Nero Wolfe's battle to the death with Arnold Zeck (his Professor Moriarty) in which the great detective goes underground--leaving Archie in the dark and in the lurch--to prepare for their final confrontation.
This is the third and final volume of the so-called Arnold Zeck Trilogy. The other two are And Be a Villain (1948) and The Second Confession (1949) It is a fine end to the series, and a satisfying adventure in itself.
These three books are among Stout's best. If you are interested in Wolfe but have not read any of the books, the Arnold Zeck Trilogy is a fine place to begin.
April 28, 2020
Nero Wolfe is a private detective with a moral sense of earning his pay, dislike for women, an obession with orchirds and food, a devoted assistant Archie Goodwin, and a healthy regard for money. He has been hired to find out where Mrs. Sarah Rackham husband is receiving his money.
Mrs. Rackham has not given her husband any money for months. The next day Mrs. Rackham is murdered and this set's the stage for Nero Wolfe. The facade starts to crack when it is discovered that Mr. Barry Rackham is involved in organize crime. With motive and opportunity the obvious killer is Mr. Rackham, Nero Wolfe has other ideas. With Archie Goodwin at his side and at times taking the lead, Nero Wolfe unravels a case that technically he is not paid to solve. A Good Read.
Quote
What will be merely an inconvenience for one man will finish another one for good.
There are only two ways for people to work together: when everybody trusts everyone or nobody trusts no one.
"We all are. We met to discuss this. You'll come? Wonderful! If you-"
"I didn't say I'll come. All five of you are there?"
"Yes-and Mr. Archer _"
"Be at my office, all of you, at nine o'clock this evening. Including Mr. Archer."
Mrs. Rackham has not given her husband any money for months. The next day Mrs. Rackham is murdered and this set's the stage for Nero Wolfe. The facade starts to crack when it is discovered that Mr. Barry Rackham is involved in organize crime. With motive and opportunity the obvious killer is Mr. Rackham, Nero Wolfe has other ideas. With Archie Goodwin at his side and at times taking the lead, Nero Wolfe unravels a case that technically he is not paid to solve. A Good Read.
Quote
What will be merely an inconvenience for one man will finish another one for good.
There are only two ways for people to work together: when everybody trusts everyone or nobody trusts no one.
"We all are. We met to discuss this. You'll come? Wonderful! If you-"
"I didn't say I'll come. All five of you are there?"
"Yes-and Mr. Archer _"
"Be at my office, all of you, at nine o'clock this evening. Including Mr. Archer."
March 17, 2022
Sherlock Holmes had Professor Moriarty. For Nero Wolfe his nemesis is Arnold Zeck. Twice before they have squared off (see And Be a Villain and The Second Confession). Now they will meet in a final battle. If you are familiar with Nero Wolfe you know he rarely leaves his brownstone on West 35th Street in New York. He spends two hours twice a day with his orchids. His meals are prepared by his personal chef, Fritz Brenner. He likes beer. In this story he leaves all of that and goes underground.
It all begins with a new client, Sarah Rackham. Mrs. Rackham is wealthy. Her husband, Barry Rackham is dependent on her for money. Then she cuts him off. But he has stopped coming to her for it. Where is he getting his money from? That is what Mrs. Rackham wants Wolfe to find out. Wolfe won't touch divorce cases but this is just an investigation into where Barry is getting his money. Besides Wolfe has just paid the IRS his taxes and if he wants to raise orchids, pay Fritz to prepare his meals and bring him beer (not to mention pay Archie to run errands) he will need to replenish the bank account.
After Mrs. Rackham leaves Wolfe gets a phone call that some special sauage is available and he arranges for it be delivered to his home. When it arrives it is special but not in the way he is accustomed to. When opened it turns out to be a tear gas bomb. Followed by a phone call from Zeck warning him off the case.
Zeck's warning doesn't stop Archie from going to Mrs. Rackham's estate. His cover story is that he is investigating the poisoning of a dog belonging to Mrs. Rackham's cousin but that night Mrs. Rackham is murdered. Archie phones Wolfe with the news and the next morning heads home only to find to door to the brownstone standing open, Wolfe gone, and notes left for him, Fritz, and Theodore Horstmann.
No one can believe that Wolfe has really retired and left but months go by. No sign of Wolfe or any contact. It looks like he really has left. Perhaps to a house he owns in Egypt? Theodore is working for Lewis Hewitt, Fritz is working for Marko Vukčić at Rusterman's Restaurant and Archie has rented an office and started his own agency. Could it really be true?
The ending was very good. Never underestimate Nero Wolfe.
It all begins with a new client, Sarah Rackham. Mrs. Rackham is wealthy. Her husband, Barry Rackham is dependent on her for money. Then she cuts him off. But he has stopped coming to her for it. Where is he getting his money from? That is what Mrs. Rackham wants Wolfe to find out. Wolfe won't touch divorce cases but this is just an investigation into where Barry is getting his money. Besides Wolfe has just paid the IRS his taxes and if he wants to raise orchids, pay Fritz to prepare his meals and bring him beer (not to mention pay Archie to run errands) he will need to replenish the bank account.
After Mrs. Rackham leaves Wolfe gets a phone call that some special sauage is available and he arranges for it be delivered to his home. When it arrives it is special but not in the way he is accustomed to. When opened it turns out to be a tear gas bomb. Followed by a phone call from Zeck warning him off the case.
Zeck's warning doesn't stop Archie from going to Mrs. Rackham's estate. His cover story is that he is investigating the poisoning of a dog belonging to Mrs. Rackham's cousin but that night Mrs. Rackham is murdered. Archie phones Wolfe with the news and the next morning heads home only to find to door to the brownstone standing open, Wolfe gone, and notes left for him, Fritz, and Theodore Horstmann.
No one can believe that Wolfe has really retired and left but months go by. No sign of Wolfe or any contact. It looks like he really has left. Perhaps to a house he owns in Egypt? Theodore is working for Lewis Hewitt, Fritz is working for Marko Vukčić at Rusterman's Restaurant and Archie has rented an office and started his own agency. Could it really be true?
The ending was very good. Never underestimate Nero Wolfe.
July 14, 2025
The third in what is known as The Zeck Trilogy, In the Best Families (1950, Nero Wolf #17) by Rex Stout, where the typically unflappable Nero Wolfe again is confronted by the gangster Arnold Zeck, who is seen by most detective fiction readers as Wolfe's Moriarty, Wolfe meeting his match in wits. A guy who attacked his beloved apartment haven in the last book, and who in this one scares Wolfe enough to leave home and hide out as he tries to solve the case. Some talk of "eliminating" Zeck comes to the surface.
So Wolfe is largely out of the scene, as Sherlock Holmes is until the final confrontation with Moriarty, ending at Reichenbach Falls. In this case, Wolfe's assistant, wise-cracking ladies man, Archie Goodwin, keeps the action crackling. He is, as was Watson about Holmes, not informed about Wolfe's whereabouts. And yes, there is a final confrontation worth the price of admission.
But what happens before that? A woman wonders where her husband is getting his money, and calls on Archie, but then is killed. Hmm, then Zeck contacts Archie and actually meets with him, this guy whom the cops even say Wolfe can't handle. Wolfe and Archie do have to lure Zeck to a meeting place and. . . and this woman's death, and the source of her husband's sudden wealth is tied to Zeck, so. . .
I like smart-alecky Archie taking the lead, I like the disruption of Wolfe's being gone and returning 100 pounds lighter! This is the best of maybe 6-7 from Stout that I have read, very entertaining.
The Zeck Trilogy (also known and published as Triple Zeck) (and yes, you can get this in one large volume or as separate volumes) is comprised of And Be a Villain (1948) and The Second Confession (1949) and In the Best Families (1950).
So Wolfe is largely out of the scene, as Sherlock Holmes is until the final confrontation with Moriarty, ending at Reichenbach Falls. In this case, Wolfe's assistant, wise-cracking ladies man, Archie Goodwin, keeps the action crackling. He is, as was Watson about Holmes, not informed about Wolfe's whereabouts. And yes, there is a final confrontation worth the price of admission.
But what happens before that? A woman wonders where her husband is getting his money, and calls on Archie, but then is killed. Hmm, then Zeck contacts Archie and actually meets with him, this guy whom the cops even say Wolfe can't handle. Wolfe and Archie do have to lure Zeck to a meeting place and. . . and this woman's death, and the source of her husband's sudden wealth is tied to Zeck, so. . .
I like smart-alecky Archie taking the lead, I like the disruption of Wolfe's being gone and returning 100 pounds lighter! This is the best of maybe 6-7 from Stout that I have read, very entertaining.
The Zeck Trilogy (also known and published as Triple Zeck) (and yes, you can get this in one large volume or as separate volumes) is comprised of And Be a Villain (1948) and The Second Confession (1949) and In the Best Families (1950).
December 25, 2022
This one both follows the mold of the standard Wolfe mysteries and completely breaks them and manages to be my favorite story of the entire series.
July 2, 2012
In both And Be a Villain and The Second Confession, Nero Wolfe's Moriarty analog, crime boss, Arnold Zeck had sharp but long-distance encounters with Wolfe. These episodes hinted that in some future book Zeck would play a leading role -- and now he does.
It all begins when a lonely, wealthy and self-described "homely" woman comes to Wolfe's office wishing to discover the source of her husbands' new income. She had cut him off, but somehow he was suddenly rolling in it. She suspects her younger and handsome husband is mixed up in crime. Within hours of her visit, Wolfe answers his phone and Zeck warns them to "Lay off this case." Later that night, the client and her pet Doberman are found stabbed to death in the woods near her house. Archie phones Wolfe to report and, after dealing with the local officials, returns to Manhattan. When he arrives at the brownstone, Archie finds the front door ajar, Fritz and Theodore in confusion, and Wolfe gone. A brief note, inarguably from Wolfe, instructs Archie not to look for him.
One of the few Nero Wolfe books to play with the established formula of Wolfe never leaving his Brownstone while Archie acts as his eyes, ears and legs. While Wolfe is gone, Archie even sets up his own detective agency. He later claims to Wolfe that he made more than he did working for him. Wolfe is doubtful. So am I, after all, he was still living at the Brownstone, rent free and sharing the cost of food with Fritz.
A good one. One of the best.
It all begins when a lonely, wealthy and self-described "homely" woman comes to Wolfe's office wishing to discover the source of her husbands' new income. She had cut him off, but somehow he was suddenly rolling in it. She suspects her younger and handsome husband is mixed up in crime. Within hours of her visit, Wolfe answers his phone and Zeck warns them to "Lay off this case." Later that night, the client and her pet Doberman are found stabbed to death in the woods near her house. Archie phones Wolfe to report and, after dealing with the local officials, returns to Manhattan. When he arrives at the brownstone, Archie finds the front door ajar, Fritz and Theodore in confusion, and Wolfe gone. A brief note, inarguably from Wolfe, instructs Archie not to look for him.
One of the few Nero Wolfe books to play with the established formula of Wolfe never leaving his Brownstone while Archie acts as his eyes, ears and legs. While Wolfe is gone, Archie even sets up his own detective agency. He later claims to Wolfe that he made more than he did working for him. Wolfe is doubtful. So am I, after all, he was still living at the Brownstone, rent free and sharing the cost of food with Fritz.
A good one. One of the best.
August 23, 2023
I often go to bed with Nero Wolfe.......well, at least with his books for bedtime reading.
In one of the books in this series, the overweight genius detective, Wolfe, tells his assistant, Archie, that he is only afraid of one man and if he has to confront this man, Arnold Zeck, the mysterious and untouchable leader of a nationwide crime organization he will disappear. Of course, Archie takes that statement with a grain of salt........he should have taken it seriously.
An heiress seeks Wolfe's help to ascertain where her husband is getting his money since he has none of his own. It leads to Zeck's organization and Wolfe gets a call from his nemesis warning him to back off. True to his word, Wolfe disappears, taking everyone by surprise and leaving them on their own. Now what?
This is one of the most interesting and unusual stories in the Wolfe corpus even though I picked up on a couple of hints as to what might be in store It won't be a spoiler to say that all's well that ends well. Loved it!!
In one of the books in this series, the overweight genius detective, Wolfe, tells his assistant, Archie, that he is only afraid of one man and if he has to confront this man, Arnold Zeck, the mysterious and untouchable leader of a nationwide crime organization he will disappear. Of course, Archie takes that statement with a grain of salt........he should have taken it seriously.
An heiress seeks Wolfe's help to ascertain where her husband is getting his money since he has none of his own. It leads to Zeck's organization and Wolfe gets a call from his nemesis warning him to back off. True to his word, Wolfe disappears, taking everyone by surprise and leaving them on their own. Now what?
This is one of the most interesting and unusual stories in the Wolfe corpus even though I picked up on a couple of hints as to what might be in store It won't be a spoiler to say that all's well that ends well. Loved it!!
November 28, 2017
Another wonderful entry in the series featuring great upheaval in the lives of all involved with Nero Wolfe. Great snarky remarks from Archie, and a central role for him. Highly recommended, these books always make me smile.
February 13, 2021
This Wolfe mystery went off the rails, but I won't tell you how.
It was a very interesting story with a lot of unexpected twists all the way to very end.
It was a very interesting story with a lot of unexpected twists all the way to very end.
August 27, 2024
When I started this series, I felt that I should read them in order. And then I came to see that some of the cases Archie referred to weren't always cases that had taken place in earlier installments. So I willingly read at will and out of order. Much to my dismay, I now see that Rex Stout inserted a trilogy within his series and this is the third. I ought to have read And Be a Villain and then The Second Confession before this one. Maybe there will be plenty of time before I read those and having read this one, the conclusion, won't be a spoiler. We'll see.
One of the things I like most about this series is the relationship between Wolfe and Archie. Underneath, they each have the utmost respect for the other. It is only that mutual respect that allows Archie to do and say things that would never normally be tolerated. In this, a female client compliments Wolfe as being handsome. Later, Archie is found with the dictionary open to the word Handsome, after which he informs Wolfe that handsome just means large or substantial, as in a handsome salary.
Unfortunately, most of that kind of back and forth was missing here. And for that I am a contrarian. When I started, the GR average rating for this installment was 4.28. I apologize to those who seemed to like it so much because I can't find a 4th star.
One of the things I like most about this series is the relationship between Wolfe and Archie. Underneath, they each have the utmost respect for the other. It is only that mutual respect that allows Archie to do and say things that would never normally be tolerated. In this, a female client compliments Wolfe as being handsome. Later, Archie is found with the dictionary open to the word Handsome, after which he informs Wolfe that handsome just means large or substantial, as in a handsome salary.
Unfortunately, most of that kind of back and forth was missing here. And for that I am a contrarian. When I started, the GR average rating for this installment was 4.28. I apologize to those who seemed to like it so much because I can't find a 4th star.
March 30, 2016
It has been several months since I listened to Michael Pritchard narrate one of the Nero Wolfe stories. I really missed listening to his voice.
What a shock that Wolfe could walk out and disappear and leave Archie to establish a business of his own. For the details, sorry, you need to find out for yourself! This is one of the best of them.
What a shock that Wolfe could walk out and disappear and leave Archie to establish a business of his own. For the details, sorry, you need to find out for yourself! This is one of the best of them.
January 19, 2022
In the Best Families open as a traditional Nero Wolfe mystery with Wolfe being asked to investigate the secret source of money a wealthy woman’s husband has come into, but things take an unexpected twist when Stout’s Moriarity, Arnold Zeck, warns Wolfe off the case. Wolfe, of course, doesn’t listen and his client ends up dead the same night triggering the most bizarre of Nero Wolfe mysteries as Wolfe flees his home and goes underground to plot the downfall of Zeck—a criminal so influential that even Inspector Cramer says he is untouchable. No prosecutor will charge him, no court will convict him, and no prison will hold him.
The obvious solution to Wolfe’s problem is to assassinate the man. Wolfe is a genius. He undoubtedly could think of a way to do that, but that is far too simple an answer for Nero Wolfe. Instead, at his Machiavellian best, he gears up to go head-to-head with a criminal who may just be as smart as Wolfe is.
This is a great novel. I never liked the Arnold Zeck character, but I still say it’s a great novel because of the extremes Wolfe is willing to go to get Zeck out of his life and professional career.
The obvious solution to Wolfe’s problem is to assassinate the man. Wolfe is a genius. He undoubtedly could think of a way to do that, but that is far too simple an answer for Nero Wolfe. Instead, at his Machiavellian best, he gears up to go head-to-head with a criminal who may just be as smart as Wolfe is.
This is a great novel. I never liked the Arnold Zeck character, but I still say it’s a great novel because of the extremes Wolfe is willing to go to get Zeck out of his life and professional career.
November 2, 2023
I began this book a month back ( read a chapter and could not continue ) . Read it at a stretch over last couple of days. One of the best Nero wolfe mysteries by Rex stout. Wolfe escaping from his home for a few months, Archie as a free lancing detective , a gripping plot.... Need I say more ?
July 11, 2010
As is usually true of trilogies and denouements of the Moriarty Gambit this book didn’t quite deliver all that was promised in the lead up.
Warnings: many spoilers to follow.
On the purely “I figured things out before Wolfe/Goodwin revealed it” front I nailed Leeds as at least involved with Zeck by the time Zeck called the house post sausage warning. After the detailed description of the dogs and their reactions to Goodwin my first question after the murder itself was “how did the murderer get so close to Mrs. Rackham” and my second was “why aren’t the police checking everyone for dog bites?” On one level this made it believable that Wolfe was able to deduce who the murderer was. On another level it makes the police and Goodwin seem extraordinarily stupid.
On the second front, the believability of Wolfe worming his way into the world of Zeck I was completely unwilling to swallow the idea. The number of reasons why this was unlikely are many: Wolfe was a very overweight man and Roeder a man who had extraneous flesh hanging from his face, surely any criminal mastermind would have found that interesting if not suspicious; Zeck would have done background checks on anyone who rose to the level of a “D”and Roeder had no existence prior do the disappearance of Wolfe, again setting off warning bells; after several speeches from Wolfe about the degree to which a series of cut-outs meant that Zeck could not be connected to any actual crimes Zeck is rather forthcoming about his involvement in crimes to someone as low as a “B” (Goodwin); Wolfe, he tells us, got the attention of Zeck by inventing a new way of fleecing people and yet there is no discussion after Zeck is killed of whether those people are recompensed or indeed whether Goodwin or Wolfe feel the need for that; Zeck’s fortress of solitude was easily breached and his entire criminal enterprise collapses on the death of its leader without any explanation of how that would happen; and finally there is no discussion of the fact that even if Zeck is dead there are many underworld (and even overworld) people who would welcome the death of Wolfe for bringing down the Zeck empire and possibly exposing dangerous information to the world.
I was cheering for this book but found it stretched my credulity to the limit. If Lily Rowan was able to figure out that Roeder was Wolfe then so should have Saul at least and perhaps Fred and Orrie. If the Roeder gambit had been played out over a longer period of time, let us say 2 or 3 years, it might have been more believable but as it was it was a very mundane working out to what had been a great setup.
Other comments: while it was a nice detail to have them use Lily Rowan as “the girl” when they needed a reason for Roeder to be out of contact for several hours it again stretches credulity that Zeck wouldn’t have run a background check on her. Rown, we are told in many books, is a well known heiress and frequenter of the New York social scene. This would bring up a problem because her background would indicate that she didn’t spend nights with anonymous crminals and even more problematic would be her long term relationship with Goodwin. Since Archie had to cancel a planned trip to Norway with Rowan in order to fall in with Roeder’s plans it seems unlikely that the evening with Roeder would not have raised suspicion. It could have been handled by having Archie openly drop Roeder off with the suggestion that Roeder had dirt on Rowman and she was paying it off in favours than in the manner it is presented.
On the plus side, Stout’s writing seems to have returned to its prewar level. I forgive him the rather idiot murder plot since it had to be something trivially easy to work out else Wolfe would not have been able to unravel it by long distance and without investigations.
Warnings: many spoilers to follow.
On the purely “I figured things out before Wolfe/Goodwin revealed it” front I nailed Leeds as at least involved with Zeck by the time Zeck called the house post sausage warning. After the detailed description of the dogs and their reactions to Goodwin my first question after the murder itself was “how did the murderer get so close to Mrs. Rackham” and my second was “why aren’t the police checking everyone for dog bites?” On one level this made it believable that Wolfe was able to deduce who the murderer was. On another level it makes the police and Goodwin seem extraordinarily stupid.
On the second front, the believability of Wolfe worming his way into the world of Zeck I was completely unwilling to swallow the idea. The number of reasons why this was unlikely are many: Wolfe was a very overweight man and Roeder a man who had extraneous flesh hanging from his face, surely any criminal mastermind would have found that interesting if not suspicious; Zeck would have done background checks on anyone who rose to the level of a “D”and Roeder had no existence prior do the disappearance of Wolfe, again setting off warning bells; after several speeches from Wolfe about the degree to which a series of cut-outs meant that Zeck could not be connected to any actual crimes Zeck is rather forthcoming about his involvement in crimes to someone as low as a “B” (Goodwin); Wolfe, he tells us, got the attention of Zeck by inventing a new way of fleecing people and yet there is no discussion after Zeck is killed of whether those people are recompensed or indeed whether Goodwin or Wolfe feel the need for that; Zeck’s fortress of solitude was easily breached and his entire criminal enterprise collapses on the death of its leader without any explanation of how that would happen; and finally there is no discussion of the fact that even if Zeck is dead there are many underworld (and even overworld) people who would welcome the death of Wolfe for bringing down the Zeck empire and possibly exposing dangerous information to the world.
I was cheering for this book but found it stretched my credulity to the limit. If Lily Rowan was able to figure out that Roeder was Wolfe then so should have Saul at least and perhaps Fred and Orrie. If the Roeder gambit had been played out over a longer period of time, let us say 2 or 3 years, it might have been more believable but as it was it was a very mundane working out to what had been a great setup.
Other comments: while it was a nice detail to have them use Lily Rowan as “the girl” when they needed a reason for Roeder to be out of contact for several hours it again stretches credulity that Zeck wouldn’t have run a background check on her. Rown, we are told in many books, is a well known heiress and frequenter of the New York social scene. This would bring up a problem because her background would indicate that she didn’t spend nights with anonymous crminals and even more problematic would be her long term relationship with Goodwin. Since Archie had to cancel a planned trip to Norway with Rowan in order to fall in with Roeder’s plans it seems unlikely that the evening with Roeder would not have raised suspicion. It could have been handled by having Archie openly drop Roeder off with the suggestion that Roeder had dirt on Rowman and she was paying it off in favours than in the manner it is presented.
On the plus side, Stout’s writing seems to have returned to its prewar level. I forgive him the rather idiot murder plot since it had to be something trivially easy to work out else Wolfe would not have been able to unravel it by long distance and without investigations.
December 1, 2018
This is the best out of the first 20 or so Nero Wolfe books, which are all good. Wolfe finally is forced to address a threat which has repeated itself several times previously, and the result is a story which has to deviate from the formula while still retaining all that is wonderful about Stout's creations.
December 1, 2025
This is a fabulous example of a Nero Wolfe story, and one of my favorites. However, this would also be a terrible book to start with to introduce Nero.
Part of what makes this book so terrific is Rex Stout has spent the last 20 some odd stories (including those books with more than one story) setting the rules and habits of Nero's house and habitation. He is nearly religiously devoted to his daily periods with his orchids, and meal times are strictly non-business situations. Additionally, he rarely leaves the house and never on business. Every single expectation Stout has established so far in the series is tossed on it's ear in this book.
A client retains Nero to discover how her husband is getting the money he is spending so readily since she is sure it is not her own money being spent. Nero takes the case, and like usual sends Archie out to investigate and return with a report. While Archie is doing that, the client is murdered, and Nero receives a threatening item in the mail and a phone call from the mysterious Mr. Z who has resented Nero's interference before.
Archie is detained at their clients estate by the arrival of the law and when he returns there is no Nero in the house and instructions have been left for each of the household. Archies instructions specifically tell him to not look for Nero.
The reader viscerally feels Archies feelings of confusion and loss as he struggles to wrap up outstanding business items and then figure out how to move on. He is sure at first Nero will turn up at any time. As the months pass though, Archie eventually rents an office and starts his own business. He is doing pretty well, when a well connected gangster from the west coast arrives and involves him in a dangerous job.
Archie gains a lot of confidence in himself and his own abilities, working "in the light of experience guided by wisdom."
The story is tightly plotted with a surprise ending. I'm avoiding any more details on the story to prevent spoilers but if you have already been reading Nero Wolfe and know how it's supposed to go. You are ready for this one.
Part of what makes this book so terrific is Rex Stout has spent the last 20 some odd stories (including those books with more than one story) setting the rules and habits of Nero's house and habitation. He is nearly religiously devoted to his daily periods with his orchids, and meal times are strictly non-business situations. Additionally, he rarely leaves the house and never on business. Every single expectation Stout has established so far in the series is tossed on it's ear in this book.
A client retains Nero to discover how her husband is getting the money he is spending so readily since she is sure it is not her own money being spent. Nero takes the case, and like usual sends Archie out to investigate and return with a report. While Archie is doing that, the client is murdered, and Nero receives a threatening item in the mail and a phone call from the mysterious Mr. Z who has resented Nero's interference before.
Archie is detained at their clients estate by the arrival of the law and when he returns there is no Nero in the house and instructions have been left for each of the household. Archies instructions specifically tell him to not look for Nero.
The reader viscerally feels Archies feelings of confusion and loss as he struggles to wrap up outstanding business items and then figure out how to move on. He is sure at first Nero will turn up at any time. As the months pass though, Archie eventually rents an office and starts his own business. He is doing pretty well, when a well connected gangster from the west coast arrives and involves him in a dangerous job.
Archie gains a lot of confidence in himself and his own abilities, working "in the light of experience guided by wisdom."
The story is tightly plotted with a surprise ending. I'm avoiding any more details on the story to prevent spoilers but if you have already been reading Nero Wolfe and know how it's supposed to go. You are ready for this one.
April 10, 2017
The third in the Arnold Zeck series of Nero Wolfe novels. I read this one years ago, but I had forgotten just how good it is. There are two plots, each related to the other: one involving criminal genius Arnold Zeck who has Wolfe so frightened? determined? that he abruptly leaves his beloved brownstone and disappears, leaving Archie with nothing but a note saying "Don't try to find me." The other is a more-or-less standard mystery involving a body discovered by Archie early in the book, and his phone call to Wolfe describing the circumstances in detail. For most of the book the murder takes second place to the plot to bring down Zeck, even though Zeck is probably involved in it in some way. When, almost as an afterthought, Wolfe finally reveals the murderer, he astonishes us by doing it exclusively with information provided to him in Archie's original report, all the details of which we had known all along. I was certainly surprised, as I was supposed to be. A truly amazing feat of mystery writing.
November 18, 2025
The case seemed innocuous enough: a wealthy, middle-aged woman wanted to know where her younger husband was obtaining the money he was spending after she denied his requests for funds. When Nero Wolfe accepted it, however the last thing he expected was a call from Arnold Zeck, the notorious underworld figure and the one person he truly feared, ordering him to drop it. To do so, however meant allowing Zeck to dictate what cases Wolfe could work, and the famously stubborn detective could never do that. Which was why when Archie Goodwin returned from Westchester after finding their client dead from a knife wound, he discovered that his employer had dissolved his household and vanished, initiating the conflict from which only one of the two men would emerge victorious – and possibly alive.
In the seventeenth Nero Wolfe mystery, Rex Stout delivers on the conflict he teased four books previously in And Be a Villain, which he does in an entirely unexpected manner. Instead of having some grand battle of wits play out, Wolfe vanishes from his life altogether. This gives the reader something they never might have imagined in a Nero Wolfe mystery until this point: seeing Archie Goodwin operating entirely on his own. It’s a great direction, as it allows Stout to demonstrate how well his narrator can independently of Wolfe’s detecting genius, as well as what Wolfe contributes to their partnership. That Goodwin flourishes was certainly gratifying, even if he proved unsuccessful in catching the murderer of Wolfe’s last client on his own.
Yet the murder recedes into the background, as the clash between Wolfe and Zeck takes center stage in the novel. That most of it is waged behind the scenes spares the reader much of the background maneuvering Wolfe performs, and adds to the sense of mystery for them. Wolfe demonstrates an unexpected, even uncharacteristic, adaptability that helps to underscore the stakes for him. And it leads to a final confrontation which, if a little too neat, effectively decides the contest between Wolfe and his Moriarity. That the reveal of the murderer is almost an afterthought underscores how the true focus of the book wasn’t that, but the resolution of the conflict between two men, making this the most unique Wolfe novel yet.
In the seventeenth Nero Wolfe mystery, Rex Stout delivers on the conflict he teased four books previously in And Be a Villain, which he does in an entirely unexpected manner. Instead of having some grand battle of wits play out, Wolfe vanishes from his life altogether. This gives the reader something they never might have imagined in a Nero Wolfe mystery until this point: seeing Archie Goodwin operating entirely on his own. It’s a great direction, as it allows Stout to demonstrate how well his narrator can independently of Wolfe’s detecting genius, as well as what Wolfe contributes to their partnership. That Goodwin flourishes was certainly gratifying, even if he proved unsuccessful in catching the murderer of Wolfe’s last client on his own.
Yet the murder recedes into the background, as the clash between Wolfe and Zeck takes center stage in the novel. That most of it is waged behind the scenes spares the reader much of the background maneuvering Wolfe performs, and adds to the sense of mystery for them. Wolfe demonstrates an unexpected, even uncharacteristic, adaptability that helps to underscore the stakes for him. And it leads to a final confrontation which, if a little too neat, effectively decides the contest between Wolfe and his Moriarity. That the reveal of the murderer is almost an afterthought underscores how the true focus of the book wasn’t that, but the resolution of the conflict between two men, making this the most unique Wolfe novel yet.
September 3, 2025
This is the last in the Arnold Zeck trilogy, which does need to be read in order even though this doesn't matter much with the overall series. Unfortunately, there is an upsetting incident involving an animal. Apart from that, it's one of the best in the series, with a chance to see a different side of Wolfe.
January 14, 2019
Nemesis!
July 29, 2017
The final installment of the Zeck trilogy, this is one of my favorite Nero Wolfe mysteries. Master criminal Arnold Zeck is Wolfe's counterpart to Sherlock Holmes' Moriarty. This book is unusual in that homebody Wolfe actually leaves home for almost five months to prepare for a showdown with Zeck. Archie Goodwin doesn't know where he is and has to carry on by himself. If you're familiar with the Sherlock Holmes canon, you'll notice parallels between this novel and Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House," which adds to the enjoyment.
November 9, 2019
This may be my favorite Wolfe yet and a departure from the normal set up.
August 14, 2021
Aging millionairess Mrs. Rackham asks Nero Wolfe to find out where her penniless husband has suddenly been obtaining mysteriously large sums of money, a request that leads to murder and to threats against the master detective himself.
Review:
Dear readers,
I am a big fan of Niro Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, I think I have read most of the novels Rex Stout wrote about them in Russian and English, some - more than once. Recently I discovered some audiobooks of those novels in Russian and even though I am not that big of audio reader, I listened to some of my favorites and loved it. This novel is one of my absolute favorites for many reasons. Of course it has Archie being as funny as ever when the narrative allows, especially when he wants to tease Wolf.
“When, at 11: 01, the sound of Wolfe’s elevator came, I got the big dictionary in front of me on my desk, opened to H, and was bent over it as he entered the office, crossed to his oversized custom-built chair, and sat. He didn’t bite at once because his mind was elsewhere. Even before he rang for beer he asked, “Has the sausage come?” Without looking up I told him no. He pressed the button twice—the beer signal—leaned back, and frowned at me. I didn’t see the frown, absorbed as I was in the dictionary, but it was in his tone of voice. “What are you looking up?” he demanded. “Oh, just a word,” I said casually.
“Checking up on our client. I thought she was illiterate, her calling you handsome—remember? But, by gum, it was merely an understatement. Here it is, absolutely kosher: ‘Handsome: moderately large.’ For example it gives ‘a handsome sum of money.’ So she was dead right, you’re a handsome detective, meaning a moderately large detective.” I closed the dictionary and returned it to its place, remarking cheerfully, “Live and learn!””.
Of course, Archie's voice and personality makes me love those books a lot but without an interesting plot I would not have enjoyed the book as much as I did and this story makes Wolfe do several unusual things. Readers of these stories know that Wolfe rarely *if ever* leaves his house and pretty much never leaves his house for a prolonged period of time, knowing that he may have to go for a long time without an excellent food his cook makes ( in consultation with him ), and without his orchids and other comforts he enjoys ( and he damn well earned all of those as far as I am concerned :)).
In this book Wolfe has to leave his house for a while because of him having to fight the enemy he hoped to avoid fighting before, but Wolfe of course has his principles and the thing that had to happen happens in this book.
And that brings me to another reason why I love this book so much. No, I don't think I would love the books called "The adventures of Archie Goodwin" - I love them as a duo, and I think Archie is a genius choice for the narrator BUT I never had a doubt that Archie was capable of being an independent private detective if Wolfe was out of the picture and this book confirms that for those who was not sure. I knew he was smart and capable - even if he worked for the genius like Wolf.
Read this one, if you enjoyed at least one of the stories about this duo, I promise you will not regret my suggestion.
Grade: A
Review:
Dear readers,
I am a big fan of Niro Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, I think I have read most of the novels Rex Stout wrote about them in Russian and English, some - more than once. Recently I discovered some audiobooks of those novels in Russian and even though I am not that big of audio reader, I listened to some of my favorites and loved it. This novel is one of my absolute favorites for many reasons. Of course it has Archie being as funny as ever when the narrative allows, especially when he wants to tease Wolf.
“When, at 11: 01, the sound of Wolfe’s elevator came, I got the big dictionary in front of me on my desk, opened to H, and was bent over it as he entered the office, crossed to his oversized custom-built chair, and sat. He didn’t bite at once because his mind was elsewhere. Even before he rang for beer he asked, “Has the sausage come?” Without looking up I told him no. He pressed the button twice—the beer signal—leaned back, and frowned at me. I didn’t see the frown, absorbed as I was in the dictionary, but it was in his tone of voice. “What are you looking up?” he demanded. “Oh, just a word,” I said casually.
“Checking up on our client. I thought she was illiterate, her calling you handsome—remember? But, by gum, it was merely an understatement. Here it is, absolutely kosher: ‘Handsome: moderately large.’ For example it gives ‘a handsome sum of money.’ So she was dead right, you’re a handsome detective, meaning a moderately large detective.” I closed the dictionary and returned it to its place, remarking cheerfully, “Live and learn!””.
Of course, Archie's voice and personality makes me love those books a lot but without an interesting plot I would not have enjoyed the book as much as I did and this story makes Wolfe do several unusual things. Readers of these stories know that Wolfe rarely *if ever* leaves his house and pretty much never leaves his house for a prolonged period of time, knowing that he may have to go for a long time without an excellent food his cook makes ( in consultation with him ), and without his orchids and other comforts he enjoys ( and he damn well earned all of those as far as I am concerned :)).
In this book Wolfe has to leave his house for a while because of him having to fight the enemy he hoped to avoid fighting before, but Wolfe of course has his principles and the thing that had to happen happens in this book.
And that brings me to another reason why I love this book so much. No, I don't think I would love the books called "The adventures of Archie Goodwin" - I love them as a duo, and I think Archie is a genius choice for the narrator BUT I never had a doubt that Archie was capable of being an independent private detective if Wolfe was out of the picture and this book confirms that for those who was not sure. I knew he was smart and capable - even if he worked for the genius like Wolf.
Read this one, if you enjoyed at least one of the stories about this duo, I promise you will not regret my suggestion.
Grade: A
March 16, 2019
I listened to this audiobook. Reclusive, eccentric, enigmatic Nero Wolfe is a genius private detective who never leaves his Manhattan brownstone. Archie Goodwin is his personal assistant and acts as Nero’s eyes and legs. We hear of their cases through Archie’s witty narrative. A wealthy woman hires Nero to uncover how her unemployed husband is suddenly getting money to spend. Nero sends Archie to the woman’s home under the pretense of investigating the poisoning of a dog belonging to the woman’s cousin. He is to observe the husband. But Nero and Archie are warned by an extremely dangerous criminal to stay away from the case. Of course they don’t and the very evening Archie goes to the house the client is murdered. Wolfe does the one thing no one could ever imagine - he runs away. Archie returns home to find Wolfe has arranged for the house to be sold, his cook to get a new job, his precious orchids to be taken to another orchid grower on Long Island, and Archie is on his own. For months Archie is alone, setting up his own office, wondering if this really is the end. Has Wolfe really quit? No one believes Archie when he says he doesn’t know where Wolfe is or whether he will ever return. It seems the crime boss has won. But, of course we know never to count Wolfe out. This is a very enjoyable book, especially if you are a fan of the series, as I am.
April 26, 2020
As good as I hoped it would be - think reading the three Zeck books after the first book in the series was a great way to get an intro to Nero Wolfe, even though it goes against my usual rule of reading series in order. This one was the best yet and a bit different as Nero Wolfe goes into hiding so Archie has a more prominent role. A very satisfactory ending as well. Might read a few more of these now as they are a great light read although the whole series is 47 books so I'll perhaps not attempt them all!
The Zeck books are:
And Be a Villain
The Second Confession
In the Best Families
The Zeck books are:
And Be a Villain
The Second Confession
In the Best Families
April 30, 2011
This was a great book throughout it's 2nd act. The most fascinating part of the book is when Wolfe disappears, leaving Archie and the rest to fend for themselves.
For Archie, there's the question of how to deal with feeling being abandoned by someone who was almost a father figure to him. The complexity of the Wolfe-Archie relationship is in full force here.
One thing that stands out in this book with Archie on his own is that Archie is, in many ways, as eccentric as Wolfe. However, Archie's eccentricities come off differently.
The Archie alone chapters are golden as we get to see Archie in Jail (again), Archie starting his own detective agency, and the type of adventures that Archie has apart from Wolfe. The adventures wouldn't make for interesting novels, but would make for a fun radio program.
There's a great deal in the middle that will delight and fascinate Wolfe fans.
The story suffers from one major defect and then defect is Arnold Zeck. Zeck is supposed to be Wolfe's Moriarty, but I just don't see it. Wolfe doesn't want to face Zeck. Zeck would rather not have to kill Wolfe and in this book and the previous used non-lethal methods to intimidate him. Rex Stout just didn't seem to understand how to create mortal enemies.Wolfe forestalls any action as long as possible and the final confrontation between Zeck and Wolfe: not at all satisfying.
However, even weak murder plots can be forgiven if we're given an interesting story with Wolfe and Archie. And this story is fascinating despite both the defects in the mystery and in the villain.
For Archie, there's the question of how to deal with feeling being abandoned by someone who was almost a father figure to him. The complexity of the Wolfe-Archie relationship is in full force here.
One thing that stands out in this book with Archie on his own is that Archie is, in many ways, as eccentric as Wolfe. However, Archie's eccentricities come off differently.
The Archie alone chapters are golden as we get to see Archie in Jail (again), Archie starting his own detective agency, and the type of adventures that Archie has apart from Wolfe. The adventures wouldn't make for interesting novels, but would make for a fun radio program.
There's a great deal in the middle that will delight and fascinate Wolfe fans.
The story suffers from one major defect and then defect is Arnold Zeck. Zeck is supposed to be Wolfe's Moriarty, but I just don't see it. Wolfe doesn't want to face Zeck. Zeck would rather not have to kill Wolfe and in this book and the previous used non-lethal methods to intimidate him. Rex Stout just didn't seem to understand how to create mortal enemies.Wolfe forestalls any action as long as possible and the final confrontation between Zeck and Wolfe: not at all satisfying.
However, even weak murder plots can be forgiven if we're given an interesting story with Wolfe and Archie. And this story is fascinating despite both the defects in the mystery and in the villain.
March 4, 2023
4.5*
The final book involving Arnold Zeck.
It was nice to see a brief reappearance of Lily Rowan in this book.
The final book involving Arnold Zeck.
It was nice to see a brief reappearance of Lily Rowan in this book.
February 15, 2022
This one was really different. Wolfe has to disappear because arch-villain Zeck is after him. Poor Archie is on his own for a few months, and although he makes out OK, he doesn't like it. Naturally, it all works out in the end.
February 20, 2023
This is a biased review, as this week was not the best for reading: although I recognize it is written in a very intelligent way, it just isn't my type of literature. Couldn't keep me interested. The character of Archie Goodwin brings lightness to the whole book, that was a strong plus!
October 9, 2022
I think this is the best Nero Wolfe mystery out of the first 17. Wolfe’s Moriarty, Arnold Zeck, was hinted at in two previous novels, but now he steps out from behind the curtain. That really adds something to the book, as it becomes a life-or-death struggle between Wolfe and Zeck, who is described as having eyes that were "intended for a shark, but someone got careless".
In addition, this novel has many unusual twists and turns and even more than the usual number of snappy one-liners. Wolfe retires and disappears, leaving his sidekick Archie on his own. Few others believe this and Archie observes, "It's damn discouraging, when you do tell the truth, not to have it recognized". Mild spoilers ahead:
There is not much of historic interest in the novel itself, mainly the usual grumbling about confiscatory Federal tax rates (91% in 1950). But an afterword to the Bantam edition says that, days after Stout had finished it, Merwin Hart accused him of being a communist to a House Select Committee. This touched off a lengthy battle that is usually framed as “Stout vs. McCarthyism”. However, keep in mind that 1) McCarthy was in the Senate, not the House, 2) he was concerned with communists in government, which Stout was not, and 3) McCarthy was a lousy messenger, but he was correct that the FDR and Truman administrations were utterly infested with communists (Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies does a good job of documenting this). It will be interesting to see if this development finds its way into the next few Nero Wolfe mysteries.
For any readers who are interested in trying one, or a few, Nero Wolfe mysteries, this is a good choice. It does not require having read any of the previous novels (none of them do), since any important facts that were mentioned in an earlier book are recapped in this one. I rate this around 4.5 stars, but am rounding up so that I have rated at least one Nero Wolfe mystery as 5 stars. That doesn’t mean I consider it to be the same quality as Anna Karenina, my gold standard, but it is 5 stars within its genre. Goodreads readers apparently agree: this has the highest rating out of all 47 Nero Wolfe mysteries.
It is also noteworthy that all of the first 17 mysteries have been at least 3 stars and many of them 4 stars. There isn’t a bad one in the bunch. Few writers can do that; one of my favorite authors, John le Carré, wrote some lousy books. Even Leo Tolstoy wrote some dreadful stuff, like both epilogues to War and Peace.
In addition, this novel has many unusual twists and turns and even more than the usual number of snappy one-liners. Wolfe retires and disappears, leaving his sidekick Archie on his own. Few others believe this and Archie observes, "It's damn discouraging, when you do tell the truth, not to have it recognized". Mild spoilers ahead:
There is not much of historic interest in the novel itself, mainly the usual grumbling about confiscatory Federal tax rates (91% in 1950). But an afterword to the Bantam edition says that, days after Stout had finished it, Merwin Hart accused him of being a communist to a House Select Committee. This touched off a lengthy battle that is usually framed as “Stout vs. McCarthyism”. However, keep in mind that 1) McCarthy was in the Senate, not the House, 2) he was concerned with communists in government, which Stout was not, and 3) McCarthy was a lousy messenger, but he was correct that the FDR and Truman administrations were utterly infested with communists (Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies does a good job of documenting this). It will be interesting to see if this development finds its way into the next few Nero Wolfe mysteries.
For any readers who are interested in trying one, or a few, Nero Wolfe mysteries, this is a good choice. It does not require having read any of the previous novels (none of them do), since any important facts that were mentioned in an earlier book are recapped in this one. I rate this around 4.5 stars, but am rounding up so that I have rated at least one Nero Wolfe mystery as 5 stars. That doesn’t mean I consider it to be the same quality as Anna Karenina, my gold standard, but it is 5 stars within its genre. Goodreads readers apparently agree: this has the highest rating out of all 47 Nero Wolfe mysteries.
It is also noteworthy that all of the first 17 mysteries have been at least 3 stars and many of them 4 stars. There isn’t a bad one in the bunch. Few writers can do that; one of my favorite authors, John le Carré, wrote some lousy books. Even Leo Tolstoy wrote some dreadful stuff, like both epilogues to War and Peace.
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