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This page lists novels, short story collections, omnibus editions and non-fiction books that feature the New York City based armchair detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin.

Fer-de-Lance

Rex Stout

1934

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"As any herpetologist will tell you, the fer-de-lance is among the most dreaded snakes known to man.  When someone makes a present of one to Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin knows he's getting dreadully close to solving the devilishly clever murders of an immigrant and a college president.  As for Wolfe, he's playing snake charmer in a case with more twists than an anaconda -- whistling a seductive tune he hopes will catch a killer who's still got poison in his heart."

The League of Frightened Men

Rex Stout

1935

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Paul Chapin’s college cronies never quite forgave themselves for instigating the tragic prank that left their friend a twisted cripple. Yet with their hazing days at Harvard far behind them, they had every reason to believe that Paul himself had forgiven them—until a class reunion ends in a fatal fall, and the poems, swearing deadly retribution, begin to arrive. Now this league of frightened men is desperate for Nero Wolfe’s help. But are Wolfe’s brilliance and Archie’s tenacity enough to outwit a killer so cunning he can plot and execute in plain sight?"

The Rubber Band

Rex Stout

1936

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"What do a Wild West lynching and a respected English nobleman have in common? On the surface, absolutely nothing. But when a young woman hires his services, it becomes Nero Wolfe’s job to look deeper and find the connection. A forty-year-old pact, a five-thousand-mile search, and a million-dollar murder are all linked to an international scandal that could rebound on the great detective and his partner, Archie, with fatal abruptness."

The Red Box

Rex Stout

1937

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"A lovely woman is dead, and the fortunes of overextended theatrical producer Llewellyn Frost depend on solving the mystery of the red box: two pounds of candied fruits, nuts and creams, covered with chocolate—and laced with potassium cyanide. When Nero Wolfe’s suspicion falls on Frost’s kissing cousin, Frost wants the detective to kill the sickly sweet case—before it kills him."

Too Many Cooks

Rex Stout

1938

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Everyone knows that too many cooks spoil the broth, but you'd hardly expect it to lead to murder. But that's exactly what's on the menu at a five-star gathering of the world's greatest chefs. As guest of honor, Wolfe was lured from his brownstone to a posh southern spa to deliver the keynote address. He never expected that between courses of haute cuisine he and Archie would be compelled to detect a killer with a poison touch—a killer preparing to serve the great detective his last supper."

Some Buried Caesar

Rex Stout

1939

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"An automobile breakdown strands Nero Wolfe and Archie in the middle of a private pasture - and a family feud over a prize bull. A restaurateur’s plan to buy the stud and barbecue it as a publicity stunt may be in poor taste, but it isn’t a crime . . . until Hickory Caesar Grindon, the soon-to-be-beefsteak bull, is found pawing the remains of a family scion. Wolfe is sure the idea that Caesar is the murderer is, well, pure bull. Now the great detective is on the horns of a dilemma as a veritable stampede of suspects—including a young lady Archie has his eye on—conceals a special breed of killer who wins a blue ribbon for sheer audacity."

Over My Dead Body

Rex Stout

1940

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When a Balkan beauty gets in trouble over some missing diamonds, whom else can she turn to but the world-famous Nero Wolfe? Especially since she claims to be Wolfe's long lost daughter! The stakes are suddenly raised when a student at this woman's fencing school ends up dead after a pointed lesson. As Wolfe and his sidekick, Archie, thrust and parry into a tangle of documents, identities and international intrigue, another student body turns up, expertly skewered through the heart. Is Wolfe's long lost daughter the black sheep of the family, a hot-blooded mistress of murder?"

Where There's a Will

Rex Stout

1940

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Why did the late multimillionaire Noel Hawthorne leave his sisters, April, May, and June, a peach, a pear, and an apple? Why did he will the bulk of his considerable estate to a woman who was most definitely not his wife? Now Nero Wolfe, able, astute, and unscrupulous detective that he is, must get to the bottom of a will that’s left a whirlpool of menace . . . and a legacy of murder that’s about to be fulfilled."

Black Orchids

Rex Stout

1942

Two Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Black Orchids
• Cordially invited To Meet Death

"Not much can get Wolfe to leave his comfortable brownstone, but the showing of a rare black orchid lures him to a flower show. Unfortunately, the much-anticipated event is soon overshadowed by a murder as daring as it is sudden. It’s a case of weeding out a cunning killer who can turn up anywhere—and Wolfe must do it quickly. Because a second case awaits his urgent attention: a society widow on a mailing list of poison-pen letters leading to a plot as dark as any orchid Wolfe has ever encountered."

Not Quite Dead Enough

Rex Stout

1944

Two Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Not Quite Dead Enough
• Booby Trap

"The army wants Nero Wolfe urgently, but he refuses their clarion call to duty. It takes Archie Goodwin to titillate Wolfe’s taste for crime with two malevolent morsels: a corpse that refuses to rest in peace and a sinister “accident” involving national security. It’s up to the Grandiose Master himself, Nero Wolfe, to set the traps to catch a pair of wily killers—as Archie lays the bait on the wrong side of the law."

Three Aces; A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1944

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the novels The Red Box and The League of Frightened Men.

The Silent Speaker

Rex Stout

1946

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When a powerful government official, scheduled to speak to a group of millionaires, turns up dead, it is an event worthy of the notice of the great Nero Wolfe. Balancing on the edge of financial ruin, the orchid-loving detective grudgingly accepts the case. Soon a second victim is found bludgeoned to death, a missing stenographer’s tape causes an uproar, and the dead man speaks, after a fashion. While the buisness world clamors for a solution, Nero Wolfe patiently lays a trap that will net him a killer worth his weight in gold."

Too Many Women

Rex Stout

1947

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Who murdered Waldo Wilmot Moore? Well, there were five hundred female employees at the Wall Street firm where poor Waldo had worked. Any one of them might have done it. And there was also the beautiful lady stockholder who tried to bribe Archie. And the dark-haired lovely who simply couldn't talk to a man until she kissed him. And the girl who filed a murder complaint in the office suggestion box. And the girl who got jilted by death."

And Be a Villain

Rex Stout

1948

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Madeline Fraser, radio talk show host extraordinaire, had a natural dread of dead air. So when one of her on-air guests signed off at the mike after drinking a glass of a sponsor’s beverage, it was a broadcaster’s nightmare come true. Enter Nero Wolfe. He agrees to take the case, with his sizable fee contingent on his solving the murder. But to Wolfe’s surprise, everyone connected to the case now lies in unison about it. And as the portly detective soon discovers, the secret worth lying about only hides another worth killing for."

Trouble in Triplicate

Rex Stout

1949

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Before I Die
• Help Wanted, Male
• Instead of Evidence

"They all thought they were about to die . . . and they were right. Dazy Perrit was an underworld kingpin until a hail of bullets sent him into early retirement. Ben Jensen was a well-connected publisher until a determined gunman severed all his connections. Eugene R. Poor made novelties like exploding cigars until one of them blew him to kingdom come. Only the gourmet sleuth, Nero Wolfe, and his sidekick, Archie Goodwin, can solve the deadly equation of murder times three."

The Second Confession

Rex Stout

1949

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When a millionaire businessman hires Nero Wolfe to probe the background of his daughter’s boyfriend, it seems like just another case of an overprotective father. But when a powerful gangland boss “counsels” the detective to drop the matter, Wolfe receives a warning: a burst of machine-gun fire through the windows of his orchid room. Then the lawyer boyfriend turns up dead, leaving Archie the number one suspect. Throw in drugged drinks, two man-killing debutantes, and officials of a highly un-American party and Wolfe finds himself involved in a case where he must quickly solve one murder to prevent another: his own."

Three Doors to Death

Rex Stout

1950

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Man Alive
• Omit Flowers
• Doors to Death

"One by one they knock on the door of the incomparable Nero Wolfe, each with a case more perplexing than the one before. First comes the niece of a man who committed suicide by jumping naked into a geyser, only to return just in time to be murdered. Then it’s the strange case of the murder victim’s family covering up for the real killer, while a chef stews in jail. Finally a master horticulturist discovers the woman he wants to marry: dead and cooling in a hothouse. Three knocks on the door. Three cases of crime. Enter a world of mendacity, mixed motives, and masterful detection on West Thirty-fifth Street, where murder is always at home."

In the Best Families

Rex Stout

1950

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"The aging millionairess has a problem: 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?"

Curtains for Three

Rex Stout

1951

Three Nero Wolfe novellas.

The contents are:

• The Gun with Wings
• Bullet for One
• Disguise for Murder

"In these three baffling mysteries of motive and murder, even the great Nero Wolfe finds himself stumped. First there is the case of the two passionate lovebirds who want to make sure that neither is a cold-blooded killer. Then it’s off to the races, where Wolfe must choose from a stable of five likely suspects to corral a killer on horseback. And finally the detective finds himself the confidant of a distraught, self-described grifter who claims a murderer is stalking Wolfe’s own brownstone. Through brilliant deduction is determined to expose the truth behind the veils of illusion—and bring down the curtain on three all-too-clever murderers."

Murder by the Book

Rex Stout

1951

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"It wasn’t Leonard Dykes’s writing style that offended. But something in his unpublished tome seemed to lead everyone who read it to a very unhappy ending. Now four people are dead, including the unfortunate author himself, and the police think Nero Wolfe is the only man who can close the book on this novel killer. So the genius sleuth directs his sidekick to set a trap . . . and discovers that the truth is far stranger—and far bloodier—than fiction."

Triple Jeopardy

Rex Stout

1952

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Home To Roost
• The Cop-Killer
• The Squirt And The Monkey

"First, there’s little nourishment for the detective when someone drops a poison pellet into a vitamin addict’s pillbox. Then, a murdered policeman leaves a clue folded in a newspaper, and Wolfe has to read the fine print to decipher his killer’s identity. And what do you do when a chimp is the only witness to a crime? This is no time for monkeyshines from the world’s most celebrated armchair detective."

Prisoner's Base

Rex Stout

1952

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When Priscilla Eads, heiress to cotton-towel millions, first pleads for Nero Wolfe’s assistance, the portly detective decides to wash his hands of a case that has more than its share of dirty laundry. Just hours later Miss Eads and her maid are found strangled to death under circumstances that don’t quite wash. Now, to the dismay of a greedy board of directors and a fortune-hunting South American ex-husband, the astute Wolfe feels, on second thought, a certain responsibility to dip into Priscilla’s case and scrub away the stain—of murder!"

The Golden Spiders

Rex Stout

1953

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Nero Wolfe was almost as famous for his wealthy clients and extravagant fees as for his genius at detection. So why has he accepted a case for $4.30? And why have the last two people to hire him been ruthlessly murdered? Wolfe suspects the answers may lie in the story of a twelve-year-old boy who turns up at the door of his West Thirty-fifth Street brownstone. In short order, Wolfe finds himself confronted by one of his most perplexing and pressing cases, involving a curious set of clues: a gray Cadillac, a mysterious woman, and a pair of earrings shaped like spiders dipped in gold. The case is all boiling down to a strange taste of greed—and a grumpy gourmand’s unappeasable appetite for truth."

Three Men Out

Rex Stout

1954

Three Nero Wolfe novellas.

The contents are:

• Invitation to Murder
• The Zero Clue
• This Won't Kill You

"The legendary Nero Wolfe finds himself deep in foul territory in these three baffling cases of murder and mayhem. In the first, some sharp questions about a poisoning come to an abrupt end—as in death by a blunt instrument. Then Wolfe must decode the last message of a competitor who pencils in the name of his killer before he's rubbed out with one shot in his soundproof office. Finally, the stay-at-home sleuth deigns to attend a World Series game where a rookie's struck out before he gets to bat, leaving Wolfe to prove that when it comes to detection he's in a league by himself."

The Black Mountain

Rex Stout

1954

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When Marko Vukcic, one of Nero Wolfe's closest friends, is gunned down in cold blood, the great detective takes it personally, pledging to do everything in his considerable power to bring the killer to justice. But Wolfe's reckless vow draws him to the most lethal case of his career, propelling the portly P.I. and his faithful factotum, Archie Goodwin, four thousand miles across the ocean to the hazardous mountains of Montenegro. Communist cutthroats and Albanian thugs have already disposed of Wolfe's friend and Wolfe's adoptive daughter . . . now they're targeting the world-famous detective himself."

Before Midnight

Rex Stout

1955

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"The scent of murder is in the air at the great Pour Amour perfume contest, and the incomparable Nero Wolfe is intent on sniffing out the killer. The foul deed is committed during the contest’s final round. Only five riddles separate the contestants from the million-dollar cash prize when someone finds the sweet smell of success too intoxicating to leave to chance. Now the contest creator is dead and the answers stolen from his wallet, and it’s up to Wolfe to follow the trail of clues to a source disturbingly close to home."

Full House: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1955

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the books: The League of Frightened Men; And Be A Villain; Curtains for Three. The last of these was a collection of three novellas:The Gun with Wings; Bullet for One; and Disguise for Murder.

Three Witnesses

Rex Stout

1956

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• The Next Witness
• When a Man Murders
• Die Like a Dog

"Did the dead millionaire who suddenly came back to life—only to end up dead again—write his own death warrant years before? Will the black Labrador retriever who follows Archie home prove that man’s best friend is a killer’s worst enemy? And in a case involving a telephone answering service with three very untalkative operators, could the great detective himself be the witness who will save an innocent man from the chair?"

Might as Well Be Dead

Rex Stout

1956

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Eleven years ago, wealthy Nebraska businessman James Herold gave his only son, Paul, a very raw deal. Now he wants Nero Wolfe to track Paul down so that he can make amends. But what if the young man doesn’t want to be found . . . and what if he’s the same P.H. who’s currently on trial for cold-blooded murder? It’s a case that will draw the great detective and his dedicated sidekick into a sticky web of deceit, one that will tax their resources to the utmost, and even cost them one of their own."

Three for the Chair

Rex Stout

1957

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• A Window for Death
• Immune to Murder
• Too Many Detectives"

"The trail of bodies begins with the death of a self-made millionaire, a fortune in uranium, and the perfect weapon . . . which no longer exists. Then it’s on to a rural lodge to teach two arrogant billionaires, a foreign ambassador, and a famous diplomat that murder is bad for business. Finally, it’s a case of politics making the strangest of bedfellows when a fake millionaire becomes a real corpse in the state capital and the evidence has Nero and Archie in the hot seat."

If Death Ever Slept

Rex Stout

1957

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Murder lurks in the wings of the sprawling Fifth Avenue penthouse of multimillionaire Otis Jarrell, who has just retained the incomparable Nero Wolfe on a case of the utmost confidentiality. But even the master detective cannot prevent tragedy when it inevitably arrives wielding Jarrell’s missing revolver. Soon a second victim meets his maker, and Wolfe must piece together the truth behind Jarrell’s scandalously ill-behaved family. And for one member of that charmed circle—a two-time killer sleeping the fitful sleep of the guilty—it could prove a deadly awakening."

And Four to Go

Rex Stout

1958

Four Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Christmas Party
• Easter Parade
• Fourth of July Picnic
• Murder Is No Joke

" Embark on a year of murder and mystery. It begins at Christmas with a party and a poisoning, then blossoms into spring with sudden death at the Easter Parade. With a killer in the crowd, the Fourth of July is no picnic, and the calendar is overbooked with corpses when death is in season. Here are four cunning cases that leave everyone guessing. When it comes to sleuthing out a clever solution, only Nero Wolfe has a clue."

Champagne for One

Rex Stout

1958

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Faith Usher had a decidedly morbid personality. She talked about taking her life, and kept cyanide in her purse. So when she collapses and dies from a lethal champagne cocktail in the middle of a high society dinner party, everyone calls it suicide—including the police. But Archie was watching it all, and suspects it was murder. So does Nero Wolfe, especially after he's warned by four men against taking the case. For the world's most formidable detective it is a tantalizing puzzle involving an unlikely combination of philanthropy, deception, blackmail, and an unrepentant killer who just may have committed the perfect crime."

All Aces: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1958

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the books: Too Many Women; Some Buried Caesar; and Trouble in Triplicate. The last of these was a collection of three novellas: Before I Die; Help Wanted Male; and Instead of Evidence.

Plot It Yourself

Rex Stout

1959

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When a group of publishers and writers hires Wolfe to solve a case of false plagiarism, it's time for the great detective to hit the books. Four unrelated accusers—including a down-and-out hack writer and a lady poet with a penchant for nude sunbathing—have been fleecing bestselling authors, claiming the authors have stolen their work and ingeniously planting evidence to back up their claims. But when punctuation gives way to puncture, Wolfe knows this is no simple case of extortion. This time he'll need all the critical skills at his disposal to close the book on a killer well versed on the ABCs of murder."

Three at Wolfe's Door

Rex Stout

1960

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Poison à la Carte
• Method Three for Murder
• The Rodeo Murder

"First there is the exclusive dinner party where the guests are gourmets, arsenic is the appetizer, and the suspects are five of the most gorgeous gals in New York. Next, a wandering cab pulls up to Wolfe’s door, containing a lady driver who doesn’t belong . . . and a comely corpse with a knife between her ribs. And finally, a championships rodeo roars into town, featuring square-jawed cowboys, bright-eyed cowgirls, and a dead millionaire with a fancy lariat for a necktie."

Too Many Clients

Rex Stout

1960

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"The dead man had one too many lovers. Nero Wolfe's resourceful assistant Archie Goodwin finds that out when he stumbles into the room where the businessman has been murdered: a love nest lined with red satin and fleshy paintings. Besides the decor—and the trove of women's slippers—another notable feature of the room is the absence of police. So Nero Wolfe has a healthy head start on solving the crime. Then comes a snag: a bidding war erupts for the reclusive sleuth's services. Suddenly Wolfe has too many clients, including one who's party to murder."

The Final Deduction

Rex Stout

1961

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When the seemingly safe return of an abducted millionaire ends in his murder in his own home, Nero Wolfe sends Archie Goodwin to do his usual legwork, while Wolfe uncovers corruption and greed among Manhattan's elite."

Five Of A Kind: The Third Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1961

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the books: The Rubber Band; In the Best Families; and Three Doors to Death. The last of these was a collection of three novellas: Man Alive; Omit Flowers; and Doors to Death.

Homicide Trinity

Rex Stout

1962

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Eeny Meeny Murder Mo
• Death of a Demon
• Counterfeit for Murder

"It’s a wily killer who dares to strike on Nero Wolfe’s hallowed turf—and leave a corpse strangled with Wolfe’s own soup-stained tie. But no sooner does the gourmandizing sleuth clean up this first course of murder than he faces a gun-toting wife who serves up a confession of homicidal intent—only to become the sole suspect when the corpus delicti is found. It’s murder à la carte when the third course is served: a cop-hating landlady brings Wolfe counterfeit cash - that leads to genuine murder. It’s up to Wolfe to see that the malefactors get their just deserts."

Gambit

Rex Stout

1962

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Jerin is a mental freak - a man capable of successfully playing a dozen simultaneous chess games against first-rate players while he himself is out of sight of any of the boards. It is while thus engaged that he is killed. A millionaire - his opponent in more realms than chess - is accused, and Nero Wolfe is given what appears to be the most hopeless case he and Archie Goodwin have ever tackled. You need to know nothing about chess to follow this tale, but some understanding of beautiful mothers and daughters will help."

The Mother Hunt

Rex Stout

1963

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When an abandoned baby is left on her doorstep, the young socialite widow knows only too well the identity of the father: her deceased philanderer of a husband. But who is the mother? The case seems like child's play to Nero Wolfe, until the first dead body. While the police nurse their grudges against him, and the widow nurses Archie, the genius sleuth and his sidekick look for the hand that rocked the cradle. But nothing can pacify the killer, who's found the formula for murder—and is determined to milk it for all it's worth."

Trio for Blunt Instruments

Rex Stout

1964

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Kill Now—Pay Later
• Murder Is Corny
• Blood Will Tell

"If Nero Wolfe and his sidekick, Archie, would ever admit to an Achilles' heel - which they wouldn't - it would be a weakness for damsels in distress. In these three charming chillers the duo answer the call of helpless heroines with nothing to lose-except their lives. First a beautiful young Aphrodite comes to Nero looking for a hero-and the answer to the mystery of her father's death....Then an old flame of Archie's reignites with a plan that may corner him into a lifetime commitment-behind bars....And finally a detective's work is never done, as a hot tip leads the team into the sizzling center of a sexy scandal that could leave them cold-dead cold."

A Right to Die

Rex Stout

1964

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Susan Brooke has everything going for her. Men would have killed themselves to marry her, and, in fact, one did. Susan came to New York to find love and fulfillment, and ended up dead on a tenement floor. The police say her black fiance did it, but Wolfe has other ideas. Before he's done, he'll prove that good intentions and bad deeds often go hand in hand and that the highest ideals can sometimes have the deadliest consequences."

The Doorbell Rang

Rex Stout

1965

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"There’s no one and nothing the great detective Nero Wolfe wouldn’t take on if the price was right. That’s something wealthy society widow Rachel Bruner is counting on when she writes him a check for a whopping hundred grand. But even Wolfe has a moment’s doubt when he finds out why the prize is so generous. For the oversize genius and his able assistant Archie Goodwin are about to lock horns with the FBI—and those highly trained G-men have a way with threats, tails, and bugs that could give even sedentary sleuth Nero Wolfe a run for his money."

Royal Flush: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1965

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the books: Fer-De-Lance; Murder By the Book; and Three Witnesses. The last of these was a collection of three novellas: Die Like a Dog; The Next Witness; and When a Man Murders.

Death of a Doxy

Rex Stout

1966

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"With a rich man footing the bills and a handsome lover on the side, Isabel Kerr seemed to have the perfect setup. Now the well-kept lady is stone-cold dead, and the cops have nabbed a Manhattan private eye who just happens to be an acquaintance of Nero Wolfe. Unable to refuse a friend in need, the great detective deigns to get the gumshoe off the hook. Little does Wolfe realize that in a matter of hours he’ll be entertaining a party of fools and lovers connected with the doxy’s death, including a mystery blackmailer, a sexy lounge singer, and a cold-blooded lady-killer."

Kings Full of Aces: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1966 (?)

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the novels: Too Many Cooks; Plot It Yourself; and Triple Jeopardy. The last of these was a collection of three novellas: Home to Roost; The Cop-Killer; and The Squirt and the Monkey.

The Father Hunt

Rex Stout

1968

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"All pretty Amy Denovo wants to find the father she has never seen, but she can’t afford Nero Wolfe’s outlandish fees . . . or can she? Suddenly she’s knocking on the oversized detective’s door with a parcel full of bills in hand—and a quarter of a million hidden in her closet. It’s all part of a nest egg left by her unknown father. But when Wolfe and his able assistant, Archie Goodwin, begin to trace the money to the man, they make a startling discovery: Amy’s father murdered her mother—and now he may be after her."

Death of a Dude

Rex Stout

1969

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"The mountain couldn’t come to Wolfe, so the great detective came to the mountain—to Lame Horse, Montana, to be exact. Here a city slicker got a country girl pregnant and then took a bullet in the back. Wolfe’s job was to get an innocent man exonerated of the crime and catch a killer in the process. But when he packed his silk pajamas and headed west, he found himself embroiled in a case rife with local cynicism, slipshod police work, and unpleasant political ramifications. In fact, Nero Wolfe was buffaloed until the real killer struck again, underestimating the dandified dude with an unerring instinct for detection."

Nero Wolfe of West Thirty-fifth Street

William S. Baring-Gould

1969

"William S. Baring-Gould unearthed a wealth of delightful personal detail about Nero Wolfe, that idiosyncratic and rotund gourmet, for this diverting “biography”. The doors of Wolfe’s famous brownstone are opened to reveal the corpulent sleuth in his natural element: his daily habits, philosophy, and tastes in food and wine are closely scrutinized, as are the contents of his library and his exotic orchid collection. Here, too, are the stories of Wolfe’s longtime associates—his charming legman, Archie Goodwin, and his indulgent cook, Fritz Brenner. Mr. Baring-Gould also explores Neo Wolfe’s mysterious parentage (linked to that of Sherlock Holmes) and follows his career in a complete, annotated chronology of cases."

Three Aces: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1971 (?)

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the novels: Too Many Clients; Might As Well Be Dead; and The Final Deduction.

Please Pass the Guilt

Rex Stout

1973

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"A bomb explodes in the desk drawer of a top TV executive. Was it intended for him or the man who opened the drawer? They each had enemies enough to die a dozen times over. Was it the jealous wife or the ambitious partner? The secretary who got passed around like an inter-office memo? Or the man who couldn’t wash the blood off his hands? Nero Wolfe didn’t want any part of it - but he was up to his neck in the toughest case of his career!"

Three Trumps: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1973

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the novels: The Black Mountain; If Death Ever Slept; and Before Midnight.

Triple Zeck: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

Rex Stout

1974

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that collects together the novels: And Be A Villain; The Second Confession; and In the Best Families.

A Family Affair

Rex Stout

1975

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When in October 1974 Pierre Ducos, one of Wolfe's favorite waiters at Rusterman's, Wolfe's favorite restaurant, dies just down the hall from Archie's Bedroom, Wolfe is understandably eager to find the perpetrator, but when that murder somehow becomes connected with tape recorders, Washington lawyers, and maybe even a conspiracy to obstruct justice, his fury becomes so intense that even Archie is puzzled."

The First Rex Stout Omnibus

Rex Stout

1975

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that combines the books: The Doorbell Rang; The Second Confession; and More Deaths Than One. (More Deaths Than One was the UK title for And Be A Villain.)

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Corsage: A Bouquet of Rex Stout and Nero Wolfe

Editor: Michael Bourne

1977

The contents are:

• Bitter End: A Nero Wolfe Novella (Rex Stout)
• An Informal Interview With Rex Stout
• Why Nero Wolfe Likes Orchids (Archie Goodwin))

Great Detectives: Seven Original Investigations

Julian Symons

Orbis

1981

Seven stories each featuring a famous fictional detective created by another author. The features detectives are: Miss Marple, Ellery Queen, Nero Wolfe, Philip Marlow, Maigret, Poirot, and Sherlock Holmes.

The Stories are:

• How a Hermit was Disturbed in his Retirement (Sherlock Holmes)
• About Miss Marple and St. Mary Mead (Miss Jane Marple)
• In which Archie Goodwin Remembers (Nero Wolfe)
• Which Expounds the Ellery Queens Mystery (Ellery Queen)
• About Maigret and the Stolen Papers (Inspector Maigret)
• The Life of Hercule Poirot: based on the notes of Captain Arthur Hastings (Hercule Poirot)
• About the Birth of Philip Marlowe (Philip Marlowe)

Seven Complete Nero Wolfe Novels

Rex Stout

1983? / 1990?

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that combines the books: The Silent Speaker; Might as Well Be Dead; If Death Ever Slept; 3 at Wolfe's Door; Gambit; Please Pass the Guilt; and A Family Affair.

Buy from amazon.co.uk

The Brownstone House Of Nero Wolfe

Ken Darby

1983

"As told by Archie Goodwin."

"The biography of a house? Keep in mind that this is the brownstone house of Nero Wolfe, the elephantine sleuth, gourmand, genius, and master of seven languages. His attitude toward physical activity (he hates it) and in fact his aversion to any form of work has endeared him to his countless fans, but it also confined him primarily to his brownstone. He accepted cases only in order to maintain his elegant brownstone, and he solved them in his brownstone. Ken Darby, one of Wolfe's most avid fans, became quite attached to the brownstone house, as any loyal fan would. As a last tribute to the house, no longer home to Nero Wolfe, Darby set out to tell its full story. He tracked down Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's confidential assistant, who also, you will recall, recorded the myriad cases solved by Nero Wolfe. Archie enthusiastically contributed copious notes, which Darby now presents to us. These notes, of course, quote generously from the Wolfe Canon, providing a wonderful journey through corridors and favorite cases."

Death Times Three

Rex Stout

1985

Three Nero Wolfe novellas. The contents are:

• Bitter End
• Frame-Up for Murder
• Assault on a Brownstone

"First, Rex Stout’s great detective, Nero Wolfe, develops an appetite for the sweet taste of revenge when someone slips something most foul into his lunch—in a case motivated by the most “alimentary” of passions. Then, a couturier’s beautiful sister uses Archie Goodwin, Wolfe’s man about town, as her ready-made alibi—and maybe her fall guy—unless Wolfe can spot the loose ends in a nearly seamless crime. Finally, Wolfe has a run-in with the law after a mysterious old woman leaves a package at the detective’s West Thirty-fifth Street brownstone that pits him against a cunning criminal—and the U.S. federal government."

Murder in E Minor

Robert Goldsborough

1986

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"It wasn't Nero Wolfe's idea for Orrie Cather to kill himself, but the great detective gave his blessing to his longtime associate's plan. Cather had killed three people, and it was only fair to pay the price. Though Wolfe reacted to Cather's death with his characteristic calmness, prize assistant Archie Goodwin could see the rotund genius of West Thirty-Fifth Street was shaken to his well-fed core. Wolfe decided his sleuthing days were finished. The detective's retirement lasts until the day Maria Radovich walks through his townhouse door. She is the daughter of Milos Stefanovic, New York Symphony conductor and long-ago compatriot of Wolfe's. Like Wolfe, Stefanovic spent his youth as a freedom fighter in the mountains of Montenegro. The conductor has been receiving death threats, and Wolfe agrees to come out of retirement to help his old friend. But before he can attack the case, Stefanovic is murdered, and for the first time in years, Wolfe and Goodwin must go to war."

Death on Deadline

Robert Goldsborough

1987

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Master sleuth Nero Wolfe's small circle of friends is limited to his assistant Archie Goodwin, his chef Fritz, and Lon Cohen, the head man at the New York Gazette. Cohen knows more about the city's power structure than any man in Manhattan, and for years he happily passed Wolfe information in return for the odd exclusive scoop. But now Cohen needs Wolfe's help, for the Gazette is ailing and the vultures have begun to circle. Scottish newspaper magnate Ian MacLaren plans to gut the paper and turn it into a sex-filled conservative rag. Standing in his way is the company's chief shareholder, Gazette heir Harriet Haverhill. But when the aged Ms. Haverhill dies in an apparent suicide, no one remains to resist the Scot's advances except Wolfe. MacLaren may be fierce, but when the cause is just, Nero Wolfe knows how to play dirty, too."

The Bloodied Ivy

Robert Goldsborough

1988

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"A conservative academic, so far to the right that he thought Ronald Reagan was a pinko, Hale Markham rules Prescott University like an intellectual tyrant -- right up until the morning he is found dead at the bottom of one of Prescott's famously beautiful ravines. Every liberal on campus hated the crotchety old crank, but which one is responsible for giving Markham his final push to the right? The case so intrigues the incomparable, reclusive master detective Nero Wolfe that he takes the unusual step of leaving the confines of his home. With man of action Archie Goodwin at his side, Wolfe examines jealous professors, a fanatical assistant, and a university president with an ego that -- like the school itself -- will not stop growing. Though they are far from the city, Wolfe and Goodwin will find that no back alley is as dangerous as the shadowy corridors of the Ivy League."

The Last Coincidence

Robert Goldsborough

1989

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When Lily Rowan doesn't laugh at his jokes, Archie Goodwin knows something is wrong. Her niece Noreen has been running around with Sparky Linville, a club-hopping bad boy who is the terror of Manhattan nightlife. And the last time she went out with him, Noreen wasn't herself when she came home. All she would tell her aunt was that she had been assaulted. Springing into action, Goodwin waits for Linville outside of Morgana's, a chrome-and-glass palace that sits like a wart on Second Avenue. They nearly come to blows, but Linville's bodyguard intervenes, and Goodwin retreats to plan his next move. In the morning Linville is dead, and Goodwin is the chief suspect. For years he has helped rotund genius Nero Wolfe out of jams, and now it is time for the master detective to return the favor."

Fade to Black

Robert Goldsborough

1990

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"For the men of Madison Avenue, the battle between soft drink giants Cherr-o-key and AmeriCherry seems heaven-sent. For years now, the firm of Mills/Lake/Ryman has fought to help Cherr-o-key become the nation's favorite fizzy cherry soda, but each time they come up with a new slogan, mascot, or jingle, AmeriCherry has beaten them to it. There is a mole inside the agency, and only Nero Wolfe can ferret him out. Although he is as round as a cherry, Wolfe has no taste for soft drinks. But the question of industrial espionage is too sweet for him to resist, and so with assistant Archie Goodwin at his side, he sets out to end this vicious corporate feud. Only when the first adman dies, however, does he realize that a marketing war can be just as dangerous as the real thing."

Silver Spire

Robert Goldsborough

1992

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Staten Island would be forgettable were it not for the gleaming Tabernacle of the Silver Spire, where thousands of congregants come every Sunday to hear the sermons of Barnabas Bay. Millions more tune in on television, giving the good Reverend international fame, and a chance to spread the gospel from New York City's harbor all the way to South Korea. But threatening notes have been appearing in the collection bag, suggesting that one of the faithful has decided it's time this good shepherd get the hook. Believing organized religion is nothing more than a scam, rotund sleuth Nero Wolfe refuses to investigate the threats, instead recommending veteran investigator Fred Durkin for the case. But when Durkin is accused of murdering the Reverend's assistant, Wolfe fights to clear his name. He may not be a Christian, but he will always help a brother in need."

A Nero Wolfe Casebook

Rex Stout

1993 (1995?)

Four Nero Wolfe books in a slipcase. The contents are: Black Orchids; Might as Well Be Dead; Fer-De- Lance; and The Mother Hunt.

The Missing Chapter

Robert Goldsborough

1994

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"The gun was fired close to Charles Childress's head, and his were the only fingerprints on it, forcing the police to conclude that the author committed suicide. But his friends know this is impossible, because Childress loved himself far too much. He had just begun attracting fame, writing new mysteries starring the iconic Sergeant Barnstable, and he had bright hopes for the future. His publisher hires corpulent genius Nero Wolfe to determine who cut Childress's career short, and the detective finds no dearth of suspects. Among the many who may have wanted the wordsmith whacked are his agent, his editor, a corrupt book reviewer, and an enraged legion of Barnstable devotees. With the help of his indefatigable assistant, Archie Goodwin, Wolfe takes a look at those closest to the arrogant, argumentative author, hoping to decide which of Childress's associates merely hated him, and which would have been willing to kill."

At Wolfe's Door: The Nero Wolfe Novels of Rex Stout

J. Kenneth Van Dover

1991 / 2003

The Nero Wolfe Primer

Rex Stout

2002

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that combines the three books: And Be A Villain; Black Orchids and Champagne For One.

Stout Fellow: A Guide Through Nero Wolfe s World

O.E. McBride

2003

"Are you one of the millions who has spent many pleasant hours reading aboutNero Wolfe converting the calories from his gourmet dining (albeit grudgingly) into mental energy to solve a murder? If you have traipsed through that morass of neuroses, idiosyncrasies and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, you must have questions. Did you know that while Wolfe usually tilts the scales near one-seventh of a ton, he may once have weighed less than his svelte associate, Archie Goodwin? Or how many times the "unbreakable" rules of the house are broken? Or why Fritz speaks French although he's not from France? Or how many bullet and knife wounds Wolfe carries on his normally sedentary carcass? Or what Inspector Cramer's first name is? Or how the characters evolved over the four decades of their existence? This book will provide you with the answers to those questions and a thousand others."

The Nero Wolfe Files

Editor: Marvin Kaye

2005

A Nero Wolfe anthology.

"Since 1977, The Wolfe Pack has published 'The Gazette,' chockful of articles and tales of America's greatest sleuth, Nero Wolfe, who prefers beer and orchids to working at his West 35th Street brownstone. The Nero Wolfe Files is a generous collection of Neronian reading delights selected from over twenty-five years of The Gazette by veteran anthologist, novelist, and charter member of The Wolfe Pack Marvin Kaye."

• I. Rex Tremendae
  Nero Wolfe: A Retrospective (John McAleer)
  Rex Stout And His Two Lives (Jacques Barzun)
  Chronology Of The Nero Wolfe Mysteries Adapted From A Compilation (Stephen F. Schultheis)
  Working With Rex Stout (Barbara Benjamin)
  A Meeting Of Minds (Marion S. Wilcox)
  Rex Stout: Minister Of Propaganda (Charles E. Burns)
  Pola Weinbach Stout (1902-1984) (Eleanor Sullivan)
  Rex Stout, Nero Wolfe, And Lawrence Of Arabia (Robert Franks)
  Recipe For A Cookbook (Barbara Burn)
  A Labor Of Love: The Nero Wolfe TV Series (Michael Jaffe)
  A Black Orchid Toast (Isaac Asimov)
  Stout On Stout (Andrew Mcaleer)
• II. The Wolfe Pack
  A Letter From The Mayor (Edward I. Koch)
  How The Wolfe Pack Began (Ellen Kreiger)
  Notes On The 1st Annual Black Orchid Banquet (Marjorie Mortensen)
  Greetings To The Wolfe Pack (Jacques Barzun)
  A Welcome To The Wolfe Pack (John Mcaleer)
  Facsimilie Of The Menu Of The 1st Wolfe Pack Banquet)
  Who's Who In The Wolfe Pack
  The Two Werowances (Ellen Kreiger And Jonathan Levine)
  The Nero Award's Origins And Winners (Ellen Kreiger)
  The American Dinner 1987
  Death Of A Diner (Ettagale Blauer)
  A Memorial Song Parody (Marvin Kaye)
  Henry's Song To Mr. Wolfe (Henry Enberg)
• Appendices
  Black Orchid Song Parodies, Shad Roe Limericks & Other Lampoons (Isaac Asimov, Bill Deandrae, Gahan Wilson, & Other Members Of The Wolfe Pack)
  Nero Wolfe Quizzes (Henry Enberg & Tenby Storm)

Nero Wolfe: The Archie Goodwin Files

Editor: Marvin Kaye

2005

A Nero Wolfe anthology.

"Since 1977, The Wolfe Pack has published 'The Gazette,' chockful of articles and tales of America's greatest sleuth, Nero Wolfe, who prefers beer and orchids to working at his West 35th Street brownstone. Nero Wolfe: The Archie Goodwin Files is a new selection of Neronian delights carefully picked from over twenty-five years of The Gazette by veteran anthologist, novelist, and charter member of The Wolfe Pack Marvin Kaye."

• I. Wolfe Tracks
  A Neronian Clerihew (With A Note About Rex Stout) (Andrew Mcaleer)
  Nero Wolfe: Montenegrin Or American, A Paradox (Oren Dalton)
  The Black Mountain Revisited (Marina Stajic)
  Nero Wolfe And Archie Goodwin, Criminals (Jerry Edwards)
  The Forensic Wolfe (Emily Mikulewicz)
  The Legal Wolfe (Jeanne E. Thelwell)
  Love And Marriage (Joel Levy)
  Nero Wolfe: Logomachizer (Lawrence F. Brooks)
  A Profusion Of Orchids (Charles E. Burns)
  Wolfe And The Post Office (Ettagale Blauer)
  Mr. Wolfe's Nose (Gahan Wilson)
  Stout On Stage (Margaret Goodman)
  A Tribute To Nero Wolfe (Kevin Gordon)
• II. The Goods On Goodwin
  Archie Goodwin: Pragmatic Picador (David R. Anderson)
  Archie's Birthday (Joel Levy)
  Gentleman Don Juan (Frederick G. Gotwald)
  Archie Goodwin And The Woman (Saralee Kaye)
  Archie Goodwin's Annual Iris Inspection (John Mcaleer)
  Archie Goodwin And The Great American Pastime (Charles E. Burns)
  A Toast To Archie Goodwin (Tenby Storm)
• III. The World Of West 35th Street
  A Word From The Werowance About The Brownstone (Ellen Krieger)
  Which Doorbell Rang? (Tamar Crystal)
  Renovations To The Old Brownstone (Patricia Fanning)
  More Than A Pair O'dox & Not A Wolf In The Pack (Stephen Schwartz)
  Lon Cohen: Ace Journalist? (Joel Levy)
  The Rusterman Hunt (Phil Fischer)
  Take A Letter: Secretaries In The Corpus (Jean Quinn)
  From Zeck To Moriarty To Wild (Marvin Kaye)
  Fritz's Herb Garden (Ann Zawistowski)
  Nero Wolfe Brownstone Plaque Is Dedicated (Joe Sweeney)
  A Toast To Fritz Brenner (Jane O'Brien)
• IV. Nero Wolfe Redux
  A Healthy Way To Die (Maggie Jacobs)
  The Daughter Hunt (Henry W. Enberg)
  "Firecrackers" (Charles E. Burns)
  Memo For Murder (Greg Hatcher)
  A Sonnet To West 35th Street (John McAleer)

Fer-De-Lance / The League of Frightened Men

Rex Stout

2008

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that combines the two novels Fer-De-Lance and The League of Frightened Men.

Rex Stout Bantam / Random House

2008

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that combines the two novels Some Buried Caesar and The Golden Spiders.

The Rubber Band / The Red Box

Rex Stout

2009

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that combines the two novels The Rubber Band and The Red Box.

Too Many Cooks / Champagne for One

Rex Stout

2009

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that combines the two novels Too Many Cooks and Champagne for One.

Black Orchids / The Silent Speaker

Rex Stout

2009

A Nero Wolfe omnibus that combines the two novels Black Orchids and The Silent Speaker.

Archie Meets Nero Wolfe

Robert Goldsborough

2012

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Archie Goodwin comes to New York City hoping for a bit of excitement. In his third week working as a night watchman, he stops two burglars in their tracks -- with a pair of hot lead slugs. Dismissed from his job for being 'trigger-happy,' he parlays his newfound notoriety into a job as a detective's assistant, helping honest sleuth Del Bascom solve cases like the Morningside Piano Heist, the Rive Gauche Art Gallery Swindle, and the Sumner-Hayes Burglary. But it's the kidnapping of Tommie Williamson, the son of a New York hotel magnate, that introduces Goodwin to the man who will change his life. Young Tommie has gone missing, and only one detective is built for the job: Nero Wolfe, the heavyset genius of West Thirty-Fifth Street. Together they will form one of the most unlikely crime fighting duos in history -- but first Goodwin must find Tommie Williamson, and prove to Wolfe that he deserves a place by his side."

Three Bullets: A New Nero Wolfe Threesome

Alan Vanneman

2013

Three Nero Wolfe stories.

"Three Novellas incorporating the primary characters in Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series of mysteries. The first novella is set in the 1930s, so as to be appropriate to the original Nero Wolfe stories. The other two have been set in the 21st century."

• Invitation To A Shooting Party
• Fame Will Tell
• Politics Is Murder

Murder in the Ball Park

Robert Goldsborough

2014

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Archie Goodwin and Saul Panzer have ventured into the wilds of northern Manhattan to watch the Giants take on the Dodgers at the Polo Grounds. The national anthem is just winding down when Panzer spies a notable in the box seats: state senator Orson Milbank, a silver-haired scoundrel with enemies in every corner of upstate New York. In the fourth inning, a monstrous line drive brings every fan in the grandstand to his feet -- every fan save for one silver-haired senator, who has been shot dead by a sniper in the upper deck. Archie's employer -- the rotund genius Nero Wolfe -- has no interest in investigating the stadium slaying, but Archie is swayed by the senator's suspiciously lovely widow. Her husband was mired hip-deep in corruption, and sorting out who killed him will be a task far less pleasant than an afternoon at the ball park."

Archie in the Crosshairs

Robert Goldsborough

2015

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"Archie Goodwin is chipper as he strolls home from his weekly poker game, money in his pocket and a smile on his lips. He has just reached Nero Wolfe’s stately brownstone on West Thirty-Fifth Street when a sedan whips around the corner and two gunshots ring out, nearly hitting Goodwin. It is a warning, and the message is clear: The next bullet will not miss. Rotund investigator Nero Wolfe has made more than his fair share of enemies over the years, and it seems one of them has decided to strike, targeting Wolfe’s indefatigable assistant. Some might run for cover, but Archie Goodwin is not the type. With the help of Wolfe’s brainpower, Goodwin will find the man who wants him dead—unless the killer gets to Goodwin first."

Stop the Presses!

Robert Goldsborough

2016

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"There are few people Nero Wolfe respects, and Lon Cohen of the New York Gazette is one of them. So when Cohen asks for a favor, the famously brilliant—and notoriously lazy—detective is inclined to listen. According to Cohen, someone wants to kill the Gazette’s gossip columnist, Cameron Clay. Death threats are a regular hazard for Clay, who’s hurled insults and accusations at every bold-faced name in the five boroughs. But the latest threats have carried a more sinister tone. The columnist has narrowed his potential killers down to five people: an egomaniacal developer, a disgraced cop, a corrupt councilman, a sleazy lawyer, and his own ex-wife. But when Clay turns up dead, the cops deem it a suicide. The bigwigs at the Gazette don’t agree, so they retain Wolfe and his indefatigable assistant, Archie Goodwin, to figure out which of the suspects had the mettle to pull the trigger."

Murder, Stage Left

Robert Goldsborough

2017

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When a renowned theater director senses something amiss during his latest production, he calls in Nero Wolfe. Though the corpulent genius wouldn’t normally accept a job this vague, a mutual friend dangles the prospect of a very rare orchid in exchange for his services, and Wolfe can’t resist. With a mind to suss out useful backstage gossip, Wolfe turns to his faithful assistant, Archie Goodwin, to impersonate a journalist in order to speak to the cast. Though Goodwin’s conversations prove unfruitful, on his last day at the theater, the director is murdered in his soundproof booth, poisoned by an unseen culprit during an evening performance. Now Goodwin is a prime suspect in the director’s demise, effectively sidelining him for the rest of the case, and freelance gumshoe Saul Panzer must step in to help wrangle the various members of the play so New York’s smartest, and most reclusive, private detective can determine who is responsible for these dramatic deaths and clear Goodwin’s name once and for all."

The Battered Badge

Robert Goldsborough

2018

A Nero Wolfe novel.

"When wealthy and popular crusader and reformer Lester Pierce is gunned down in front of his Park Avenue residence, the public outcry forces the NYPD to restructure its homicide department. As the deceased was highly critical of Inspector Lionel Cramer, the longtime head of homicide is temporarily relieved of his badge. But it seems Cramer was not just a scapegoat: He was seen dining in Little Italy with mob kingpin Ralph Mars. All of which amounts to little more than conversational fodder for PI Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin. But if Cramer’s provisional replacement, Capt. George Rowcliff, becomes permanent, Wolfe’s future dealings with the force will be much compromised. Loath to depart from his routine, Wolfe makes the unusual decision to take on a case without an actual client."