dllh's review against another edition
3.0
This one got a little annoyingly jumbled toward the end, but the more of these I read, the more I'm enjoying Archie and Wolfe as characters.
swarmofbees's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alice_horoshev's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
One of the best Nero Wolfe stories ever written 👏
pjonsson's review against another edition
4.0
Another good book in the Nero Wolfe series. I am sure that these books, given their fame and age, have already been reviewed so many times that every word have been analyzed so there is probably not much I can say about this one.
It is good, well written crime mystery. One may or may not like Nero Wolfe with his somewhat abrasive character. It is probably not a character for the easily offended woke mob but then the text itself is probably too complicated and difficult for that group of individuals.
I very much like him although I have to say that, after only having watched the 1981 TV-Show I was surprised when I started to read the real deal as to how badly Nero Wolfe really bullies poor Archie. Actually, sometimes Nero Wolfe can be really petty and vindicative and his insults are in a class by themselves. He compensates for this with his intellect and his mastery in solving mysteries, specifically crime mysteries.
One thing the character of Nero Wolfe shares with another favorite detective of mine, Hercule Poirot, is his habit of gathering everyone towards the end and reveal all their secrets before finally revealing the perpetrator of the crime in questions. Here his verbal, almost abusive, manners comes well in hand.
Although Nero Wolfe also shares some of Hercule Poirot’s eccentricities, especially his love of food, they are also much different. I dare say that Nero Wolfe is a somewhat American version of Hercule Poirot and when it comes to food it seems to be quantity more than quality. I cannot see Hercule Poirot gorging himself on beer the way Nero Wolfe does for instance. I really gave up on counting how many times Nero Wolfe “rang for a beer”.
Anyway, overall this is a very good crime mystery book. I avoid reading these books in front of the TV, something I do with most other books. Not because it is a difficult book to read despite its somewhat old-fashioned language or the fact that the writing is not exactly for the kind of people that flunked their English classes, but because, in order to follow the story and mystery solving I really need to pay good attention to the dialogue and the details.
I am not convinced about the famous rubber band in this book though. I do doubt it would actually have worked. But then, with the phone systems at the time these books were written… maybe.
It is good, well written crime mystery. One may or may not like Nero Wolfe with his somewhat abrasive character. It is probably not a character for the easily offended woke mob but then the text itself is probably too complicated and difficult for that group of individuals.
I very much like him although I have to say that, after only having watched the 1981 TV-Show I was surprised when I started to read the real deal as to how badly Nero Wolfe really bullies poor Archie. Actually, sometimes Nero Wolfe can be really petty and vindicative and his insults are in a class by themselves. He compensates for this with his intellect and his mastery in solving mysteries, specifically crime mysteries.
One thing the character of Nero Wolfe shares with another favorite detective of mine, Hercule Poirot, is his habit of gathering everyone towards the end and reveal all their secrets before finally revealing the perpetrator of the crime in questions. Here his verbal, almost abusive, manners comes well in hand.
Although Nero Wolfe also shares some of Hercule Poirot’s eccentricities, especially his love of food, they are also much different. I dare say that Nero Wolfe is a somewhat American version of Hercule Poirot and when it comes to food it seems to be quantity more than quality. I cannot see Hercule Poirot gorging himself on beer the way Nero Wolfe does for instance. I really gave up on counting how many times Nero Wolfe “rang for a beer”.
Anyway, overall this is a very good crime mystery book. I avoid reading these books in front of the TV, something I do with most other books. Not because it is a difficult book to read despite its somewhat old-fashioned language or the fact that the writing is not exactly for the kind of people that flunked their English classes, but because, in order to follow the story and mystery solving I really need to pay good attention to the dialogue and the details.
I am not convinced about the famous rubber band in this book though. I do doubt it would actually have worked. But then, with the phone systems at the time these books were written… maybe.
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
I started with high expectations for this book, as the first chapter was absolutely hilarious!
& the revelation of the chief villain genuinely surprised me, but it was just too talky talky. Of course this is always a characteristic of this series, since the morbidly obese Wolfe never leaves the house, but this time Archie doesn't move around much as Wolfe decides to have other minions do the leg work. & a tad too many characters.
Still an enjoyable romp.
I started with high expectations for this book, as the first chapter was absolutely hilarious!
Wolfe still paid no attention to me. As a matter of fact, I didn't expect him to, since he was busy taking exercise. He had recently got the impression he weighed too much- which was about the same as if the Atlantic Ocean had decided it was too wet...
& the revelation of the chief villain genuinely surprised me, but it was just too talky talky. Of course this is always a characteristic of this series, since the morbidly obese Wolfe never leaves the house, but this time Archie doesn't move around much as Wolfe decides to have other minions do the leg work. & a tad too many characters.
Still an enjoyable romp.
chlkvnck's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
Published in 1936, this is the third of the Nero Wolfe novels by Rex Stout and already the relationships existing among the characters living under Nero Wolfe's roof are evident. The passive-aggressive, snarky relationship that binds Nero Wolfe and his assistant, Archie Goodwin, makes me smile on the bluest of days. In this outing, a former client wants to hire Wolfe to prove that Clara Fox, one of his employees, is innocent of stealing $30,000. Later that same day, Clara Fox arrives wanting to hire Wolfe for an entirely different reason. Before it's over, Wolfe solves both mysteries without setting foot out of his Brownstone or deviating from his strictly set daily schedule. I love these books.
2readornot2read's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
donkeykong64's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Another new detective for me, and I immediately became a fan of Nero Wolfe and his fat body, beer drinking, and orchid tending. Considerably less British than what I’ve read in the genre, it feels distinctly American with its hard boiled writing style and crackling dialogue. Dug it, even though the central mystery isn’t the most compelling it’s conclusion was still a delight to see unravel.
lilirose's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I gialli di Nero Wolfe sono leggeri, anzi leggerissimi.
Al bando tormenti interiori, scene d'azione rocambolesche o rompicapo cervellotici: chi si approccia a questa serie lo fa per godersi una lettura brillante e spensierata e per lasciarsi deliziare dalle eccentricità del mastodontico detective e dallo spirito sornione del suo assistente Archie Goodwin.
Questo terzo volume non fa eccezione e vi ritroviamo tutti gli elementi più tipici della saga, da quelli accattivanti di cui ho già parlato fino ai limiti evidenti, perché è ovvio che sull'altare della leggerezza qualcosa deve venir sacrificato: di solito è la trama gialla, che anche in questo caso è piuttosto deboluccia; è più interessante il contorno della portata principale (e trattandosi di Nero Wolfe la metafora culinaria ci sta a pennello).
C'è poco altro da dire anche perché ormai arrivata al quarto romanzo ho capito che sono tutti prodotti in serie, con una formula vincente da cui si distaccano raramente. Non il mio tipo di mystery preferito (di solito apprezzo enigmi più sostanziosi con dei bei colpi di scena) ma indubbiamente piacevole.
Al bando tormenti interiori, scene d'azione rocambolesche o rompicapo cervellotici: chi si approccia a questa serie lo fa per godersi una lettura brillante e spensierata e per lasciarsi deliziare dalle eccentricità del mastodontico detective e dallo spirito sornione del suo assistente Archie Goodwin.
Questo terzo volume non fa eccezione e vi ritroviamo tutti gli elementi più tipici della saga, da quelli accattivanti di cui ho già parlato fino ai limiti evidenti, perché è ovvio che sull'altare della leggerezza qualcosa deve venir sacrificato: di solito è la trama gialla, che anche in questo caso è piuttosto deboluccia; è più interessante il contorno della portata principale (e trattandosi di Nero Wolfe la metafora culinaria ci sta a pennello).
C'è poco altro da dire anche perché ormai arrivata al quarto romanzo ho capito che sono tutti prodotti in serie, con una formula vincente da cui si distaccano raramente. Non il mio tipo di mystery preferito (di solito apprezzo enigmi più sostanziosi con dei bei colpi di scena) ma indubbiamente piacevole.