Status Updates From Fer-de-lance

I’m surprised at how many people not only on Goodreads, but also on the logs, have a very mediocre view of Rex Stout. I too have been put off till now to picking up this series. But now that I have, I think that this book (the very first Nero Wolfe in the series) is utterly brilliant.

Sometimes the writing feels weird. Like how the narrator will tell you what's about to happen, summarize the next few pages, and then you have to watch it happen "in real time" with dialog. Basically repeating itself twice.

Relationship between Archie Goodwin (our narrator) and Wolfe is pretty entertaining. Archie can be an insufferable smart ass sometimes and Wolfe an annoying eccentric, but man are there fun scenes with them. The way they and everyone else that lives with them gets excited about orchids for example.

Lot of casual racism and sexism, especially from Archie. Not sure about Wolfe yet.