Fade to Black

Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Mysteries #5

by Robert Goldsborough, Robert Goldborough

World-renowned detective Nero Wolfe and his sidekick, Archie Goodwin, investigate a case of industrial espionage that resulted in a brutal murder

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Detective, Audiobook, Crime, Historical Mystery, Mystery Thriller

213 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1990

About the author

Robert Goldsborough is an American author of mystery novels. He was born in 1937 and grew up in the Chicago area. Although he worked for 45 years for the Chicago Tribune and Advertising Age, he first came to prominence in the 1980s with the publication, with the approval of the estate of Rex Stout, of his Nero Wolfe mystery Murder in E Minor. Written privately for his mother back in 1978, shortly after the death of Stout, creator of the Wolfe stories, the novel received a Nero Award.

Six other Nero Wolfe books followed from Goldsborough, all favorably received. However, more recently he has turned his attention to creating books with his own characters, beginning with Three Strikes You're Dead, a novel set in pre-war Chicago, and starring Steve Malek, a reporter for the Tribune.

Series:
* Nero Wolfe Novels by Robert Goldsborough
* Snap Malek Mystery

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was younger I discovered Nero Wolfe ... by Rex Stout. I loved those mysteries. I loved visiting the brownstone on West 35th Street in New York City. I loved the interaction of the different characters. Particularly between Wolfe and Archie.

This story opens with Archie attending a Superbowl party thrown by Lily Rowan. Later Archie is entering information on a PC. What next? They will be on Facebook? Twitter? Fritz Brenner is in the background. He still prepares Wolfe's meals but the only dialog is when Archie asks him a question while eating breakfast. Saul Panzer? He is mentioned because Archie goes to his place to play poker. Inspector Cramer? He makes a couple of appearances at Wolfe's. He still jams an unlit cigar in his mouth and tosses it at the wastepaper basket. And misses. But that is about it. Purley Stebbins? He also makes a couple of brief appearances. But that is about it for the usual cast of characters.

This was an okay story. Archie meets an executive with an advertising agency who wants to hire Wolfe to investigate some industrial espionage. Someone is stealing his companies ideas for their biggest client, Cherr-o-key and AmeriCherry is coming out with the same or very similar advertisment first. Can Wolfe investigate? There is a murder but you have to wait to get to it.

At the end of the story Wolfe leans back in his custom made chair, pushes his lips in and out (in front of Cramer), and solves the case. He orders Archie to get all of the characters together where he tells them what he thinks happened. No proof. No arrest. Just conjecture. Everyone goes home. Of course Wolfe was right and earns his pay.

An okay story if you are looking for something to read but at the end I couldn't help wondering what would Rex Stout have done with this storyline?

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book of the Goldsborough series that I found myself laughing at the quippy dialogue. The mystery was mediocre but the interplay was top notch.

[Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

So?

What did he (the author) get right? At least in my humble opinion. He recreated the whole Nero Wolfe environment including the characters, the setting, the quirks, the dynamics etc. A significant accomplishment because it was one hell of a series.

So how come only 3 stars for me?

I was not happy with how the mystery was resolved. Yes, Nero pursed his lips and arranged for all the suspects to gather at the brownstone where he laid out the crime scenario for us. The problem was there was little explanation of the logic used to reach his conclusions.

But, it was a good way to spend an afternoon, like a visit from old friends.

[Bryan Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK, this one just really didn't work for me. I was frustrated by the voice of everyone including Archie this time and it all felt like fanfiction of a Rex Stout story. The elements are there but it's cooked wrong. I'm not a very critical reader so I can't tell you anything other than my impression of the story, but something in this one is wrong.

Again, I HATE HATE HATE, that Nero Wolfe waits in his office while people are assembling for the final exposition. Rex when to huge pains to show that Nero always waited in his room or the kitchen until everyone had arrived so he could make a grand entrance. With the feeling of "offness" i got while reading this book that continued mistake really jangled my nerves.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant interlude in a busy life, a bit of fun and murder…along comes Nero and Archie and things add up. It’s the trip to that point that’s the best part. Narrator is excellent.

[Arnold Kanarek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nero Wolfe is an eccentric and brilliant detective. He is the creation of Rex Stout who wrote many great Wolfe books. Robert Goldsborough does a very good job of continuing the series and staying consistent with Stout's creation. I have read a few of his Wolfe books and this is one of his best. They are quick reads with humor and mystery.

[Ken Mattes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book, published in 2016, in the Nero Wolfe series written by Goldsborough.
The story revolves around industrial espionage in the advertising industry and “Cher-O-Kee” cherry flavored soft drink. Although Wolfe normally rejects these types of cases Archie points out the need for some influx of cash to maintain Wolfe’s life style and pay his salary.
A murder is committed in association with this case and Cramer seeks collaboration with Wolfe.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very boring...

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a “tribute band” Goldsborough is an fine imitator of Rex Stout using Stout’s formula and vocabulary.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nero Wolfe series - #5 by Robert Goldsborough in his continuation of Rex Stout's 47 volume series. A formulaic mystery. Nero Wolfe reads, dines (surely, "eats" is too plebian), and tends his orchids. Archie Goodwin nags him into taking a case. Wolfe meets the clients. Archie conducts interviews and discovers a body. Archie reports to Wolfe. Inspector Cramer visits, threatens and blusters. Wolfe thinks. Wolfe calls a mass meeting at his office. Wolfe uncovers the villain.
Wolfe seldom leaves his brownstone on West 35th St., Manhattan, the site of his home and office. This formula has lasted for some 80 novels and novellas, and with skillful writing can be ever fresh. After re-reading Stout's canon, I am re-reading the first seven Goldsborough continuations after 20 or so years, and for dessert I will read, for the first time, the two volumes he has published after a gap of 18 years. I am sure there are a host of Wolfe fans who can appreciate my anticipation.

Nero Wolfe series - World-renowned detective Nero Wolfe and his sidekick, Archie Goodwin, investigate a case of industrial espionage that resulted in a brutal murder.

[Wastrel]

Jim wrote: "what would Rex Stout have done with this storyline?"

Ignoring Goldborough's writing, which is annoying if you are familiar with Rex Stout stories.... Rex Stout would have had to do some patching up of this story. I just finished reading it. Two things occurred to me:

1) What we have is a locked-room murder. Archie has to use his burglar tools (which apparently he carries everywhere) to get into the apartment and discover the body, because the door is locked. Where are the dead man's keys? There is no mention of them. The murderer must as taken the key and stupidly locked the door... I kept waiting for Archie, Wolfe, or Cramer, or Stebbins to say something, but we never learn what happened to the key to the apartment, not even whether it was missing from the victim's pocket.

2) The final conference is traditional. In this one, Wolfe presents a tenuous theory and admits he has no facts to prove it. He does not succeed in getting any facts, or setting the suspects against each other with some trick of logic. The ad agency woman who was dumped by the victim a year or so ago might have a key to the apartment, and I was expecting Wolfe to spring that issue, but then the question would be: knowing that someone else had a key, why didn't the victim have the lock changed? No, it just won't fly. And then one of the other suspects simply shows up a few days later and confesses everything. After he got away with it! (We are supposed to think, I suppose, that his powerful father forced him to confess. That doesn't work either. He's a tough old guy but not that tough. Family is family)

This is lazy, slovenly mystery writing. Unanswered questions, weak explanations, poorly conceived or poorly realized characters. And then there's the matter of Goldborough's writing. Some of the dialogue is especially bad, Archie's jokes and narration are lame...

[Christopher Rush · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up, for the ol' college try from Mr. Goldsborough. He brings us into the modern world, which is not great (it's awfully hard to imagine Lily and Archie at a Superbowl party), but there are still some nice moments. Fritz is still too much of a worry wort, but what can you do. The mystery is a smidge different (no murders ... at first), so the entrance into this one is fine (despite the football oddness), but ...
Mr. Goldsborough really indulges in a whole lot of red herring conversations in this one, almost all of them featuring Archie, not Wolfe. I can't remember Rex Stout spending this much time on lengthy conversations that don't really pay off (perhaps in the early ones, but not in the great high water era, surely). The resolution is painfully obvious this time, though how Wolfe gets there is thaumaturgy, at best. Yes, it's nice to spend time with the gang again, and that's mainly the appeal with this batch of Goldsborough books, but some of the Cramer moments feel like retrogression. But still, give it a try.

[Anne Hickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It’s not really Nero Wolfe, is it? Robert Goldsborough may have the permission of Rex Stout’s estate to continue writing in this series, but it just doesn’t meet the standards of Rex Stout’s writing. There is too much implied profanity expressed in Wolfe’s office, which is something he would not have allowed. The author is incapable of reproducing Rex Stout’s descriptions of the dishes served in the brownstone, and none of the secondary characters are well written.

Wolfe is written as a one-dimensional crabby person, and the books cast Archie as the main protagonist and action hero. I had trouble staying focused. To be honest, the only reason I ploughed through this audio book is that I just couldn’t finish the paperback version, and it made an almost adequate listen as I was casting on some knitting projects. The paperback is going into a donations box, and the audiobook was free.

This is the second Robert Goldsborough attempted Nero Wolfe novel I’ve given a chance, and no more. I’m returning to the classic lineup of Nero Wolfe novels as penned by the master.

[Zeke Zimonick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more an overall review of the first seven books of Mr. Goldsborough's run on Nero Wolfe, and not specifically book five.

For whatever reason, I read books six and seven of Robert Goldsborough's first Nero Wolfe run before the first five. Unfortunately, this tainted my expectations when I went back and read the first five books, as books six and seven were certainly my least favourite of Mr. Goldsborough's first Nero Wolfe run. While the characters in books six and seven feel like caricatures of Mr. Stout's original characters, books one through five mostly do not have this issue, and the interactions between Archie, Mr. Wolfe, Theodore, Fritz, Cramer, etc. feel like I would expect having read all of Mr. Stout's run on Nero Wolfe.

These does not mean these books are perfect (does everyone have to get upset every time they are asked for an alibi) but they are enjoyable. I would recommend books one through five of Mr. Goldsborough's Nero Wolfe run to fans of the original who want to see the story continue.

[Bill Plott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sure sign of flattery is imitation. Those who write Sherlock Holmes pastiches obviously love the character. Three years ago I picked up Goldsborough's "Archie Meets Nero Wolfe" out of curiosity. What a joy! It was like running into old friends I hadn't seen in years. There was the ponderous Wolfe, Fritz the chef, police inspector Cramer, Saul Panzer the private eye, Lon Cohen the journalist, and of course Archie. That was a prequel. "Fade to Black" is the fourth of Goldsborough's wonderful recreations of Rex Stout's reclusive detective. Wolfe, badgered by Archie to go to work again, reluctantly takes on the case of an ad agency whose planned campaigns are being stolen and passed on to a rival. Of course,nothing can proceed without an unexpected homicide. All concludes with the usual assemblage of all interested parties and the revelation of the thief and also a likely murderer. Goldsborough, who was a Stout family friend, does wonderful homage to one of my favorite detectives.

[Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another installment in the Nero Wolfe (continued) mystery series that was originated by Rex Stout. The current author of this series captures the idiosyncrasies of the character personalities very well along with the clever and snappy dialogue you expect from these characters. However, the mystery solving in this story falls a little short as Nero Wolfe resorts to some guess work, albeit based upon logic, to solve the murder. This mystery is based upon an advertising company that suspects a rival agency of stealing its creative ideas. Initially, they want Nero and Archie to determine if they have a “mole” in their organization who is passing their creative ideas to the competitor. In an effort to cover their tracks, the mole commits a murder. So now Nero must identify the mole to discover who is the killer.

[Alonzo Church · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ace detective Archie Goodwin goes to a Super Bowl Party put on by his girlfriend and in true 90s fashion, networks with an ad exec to snag a client. It seems someone is leaking creative campaigns for the second ranked cherry soda to an ad exec assigned to the first ranked cherry soda. Of course, before you can say Gordon Gekko twice, Archie stumbles on a murder.

This seems pretty close to Nero Wolfe by the numbers, awkwardly set in the nineties (when this book was written). Nero reads interesting books rather than using his genius brain to make some money. Archie wisecracks. Cramer charges angrily into the Wolfe brownstone for no particular reason twice. Wolfe eats well (though this one did not make me hungry — so maybe this is lesser Nero). The mystery isn’t that hard to solve.

So, kind of lightweight, but good enough if it is sitting in your read pile.

[Wanda Boyer M.C., Ph.D., RCC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Mr. Goldsborough for writing Fade to Black. I believe that my fellow readers will enjoy this tale of corporate espionage and intrigue, the many red herrings, and value the chivalry Nero and Archie display in protecting one of the members of the corporate team. In addition, I also want to note the care that Mr. Goldsborough has taken to use sensitive language, of the 1990’s, to talk about the Indigenous tribe of the Cherokee peoples. Specifically, I wanted to thank you Mr. Goldsborough for refraining from historical revisionism by noting that the Cherokee people were forcibly and barbarically uprooted from their homes by European colonists and “driven west, to the Oklahoma Territory… on a thousand mile March [that] became known as the “Trail of Tears” (Goldsborough, 1990, p. 55of 668). I valued your sensitivity to Indigenous people’s, and their intergenerational trauma.

[Cameron Toney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nero Wolfe is one of my favorite fictional detectives- and as someone who devours mystery wholesale, that is saying something. The Brownstone is one of my favorite fictional places to go.
I had been unaware that someone else wrote Wolfe mysteries, so it was a combination of hope and trepidation that I picked this up.
Alas, trepidation was correct.
The trouble with someone else writing a series is that, in most cases, the characters don't seem right. And, I'm afraid, they don't seem right here. Archie is alright, but Wolfe and Cramer seem wrong, and even the suspects lack the interest that is a draw in Rex Stouts work.
The final nail in this books criticism is that the mystery is flat, boring, and solved in a dull and uninteresting matter. That is the kiss of death for a mystery!

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of Goldsborough's continuation of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series. Goldsborough did a very good job of continuing the series in the way in which it was originally written. Wolfe still tends is orchids, breathes in a bushel of air and purses his lips as he thinks through to the solution of the mystery. Unfortunately the series, begun in 1934, is now badly dated. Archie Goodwin's coy description of his relationship with Lily Rowan and the careful avoidance of anything approaching profanity are two examples. I loved this series 50 years ago and read every one of Rex Stout's novels. Sadly Goldsborough's continuation is a bit too true to the original. In this case you really can't go home again except for a brief nostalgic visit. I think it is time to let Nero Wolfe retire.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time, Wolfe and Archie are hired to determine who is leaking critical information from one marketing firm to another. As Archie begins their investigation, we learn just enough about the cast of suspects to be interested when a murder ups the ante all around. I figured out the leaker and murderer almost from moment one, but never had anything remotely approaching evidence to support my suspicions. Wolfe manages to come to the same conclusion I did also without evidence, although at least he constructed a logical chain of events to point to his assumed culprit. Everything concludes in a classic Wolfe confrontation scene but without the bang we usually get from a Stout or Goldsborough novel. This is an enjoyable book, but it’s not one of the best.

[Joe McMahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great with one weak spot

Wolfe and Archie are spot on, and the investigation and setup are perfect...but there’s an absolutely unmotivated confession as a key part of the solution. Stout has written confrontations in which a character is mousetrapped into such an admission as this one — but here it simply didn’t seem to be powerfully enough motivated. Or perhaps the character confessing doesn’t seem antagonistic enough to the person he exposes.

Otherwise a lot of fun and enjoyable. In a lesser book that flaw would have been a dealbreaker, but with everything else so well done I’m willing to only drop one star.

[Marianne Seggerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this book Robert Goldsborough has hit his stride. His earlier Nero Wolfe efforts seemed like he had a list to be checked off (lips? check, red leather chair? check Cramer's cigar? check) but with this book - when I read that bit about Archie finding a guest at Lily Rowan's party just as dull as he was the last time I realized the author had upped his game. The Nero Wolfe idiosyncrasies are all there but now they seamlessly are woven into the plot - a plot as convoluted and corny as anything Rex Stout would have come up with.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoyed the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books back in the day. Now that I have discovered that a new author has continued the books about Nero Wolfe, I am glad to read about him again.
In this book, Nero doesn't want to work on a case involving admen and women. Archie convinces him and he takes the case, although with little enthusiasm. Because he doesn't really care much, there isn't much progress on the case, and then a murder occurs, making it much more interesting.
If you're a fan of Nero Wolfe, you will like this book.

[Kay Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series back in the day (when I apparently had more time for reading), and I enjoy Goldsborough's continuation of the series just as much, as he brings Wolfe and Archie into the computer age (without aging them a day). In this one Archie dives into the advertising business to discover who's passing ideas about the ad campaigns for one cherry soda (yuck) to the ad agency for another. Lots of familiar characters, and the routine at the brownstone never changes.

[Jenna Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nero Wolfe series has always been my favorite. Goldsborough does a great job at continuing the stories. I had a hard time with the setting in this one as well as the fact that the characters weren’t as lyrical as they normally are. None the less these are such fun mysteries and worth checking out if you have finished all of the Stout ones and are itching for more.

[Jon Norimann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book five is one of the better in Goldsborough's continuation of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe. Both Archie, Wolfe and the mystery itself feel written by Stout. This time it is about complications in New Yorks ads businesses. A nice easy 3 hour crime read, short enough that one can follow every twist and turn and enjoy the bantering among the characters.

[Ania Aileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed that I did not enjoy reading this one. It felt flat to me and I don't find it amusing to know who the murderer is and how the murderer did it. There are a lot of details in this book which helps you to paint vivid pictures in your mind but sometimes it's too much.

[Carôle Ceres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing But Pedestrian

This is a story that absolutely reflects Nero Wolfe’s take on gainful employment: Lachrymose & disdainful.

It isn’t awful, but equally, it isn’t interesting. The conclusion is quite blah!

[Michael Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ad agency is in trouble. They ask for help and reluctantly Wolfe takes the case. But a murder interrupts the search for a mole and uncovers the actions of various players in the cut throat world of big advertising.