thebeardedpoet's review against another edition
5.0
It seems every Nero Wolfe book is worth its weight in gold. Every time I read one, I smile and smile and smile. I loved everything about it!
jdcorley's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The two novellas of Black Orchids have contrasting flaws which keep the volume from being the best of the best of Nero Wolfe, but they're different flaws, so you never quite get tired enough of them to be annoyed. In the titular novella, the cast of characters never gets enough individualized time on screen or even in the spotlight to be more than just a collection of names. In the second novella, "Cordially Invited to Death", the long slack time before the first murder and the long slack time afterwards robs the story of any real urgency. Conversely, the first novella really crackles with Archie investigative work and the second involves Archie and the police dragging Wolfe into investigating something he has no interest in - always a pleasure. Overall, the book makes a strong case that the novella is an ideal length for a detective story... but perhaps the flaws should give us pause.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Self harm
hotsake's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
Two average Nero Wolfe stories are still better than most mysteries written by other authors.
Two average Nero Wolfe stories are still better than most mysteries written by other authors.
jennyrpotter's review against another edition
4.0
You just can't go wrong with a Nero Wolfe. This one was great! A comprisal of two very loosely connected short stories, a fun and easy read. I particularly liked the second story.Mm
jbleyle63's review against another edition
5.0
This is the fourth or fifth time I've read this collection of two novellas loosely connected by the titled Black Orchids. Though plotting is generally not Stout's strong suit, this book features two of his most entertainingly conceived murders. But the banter between Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe is the major reason I continue to read and reread this series. Nero's verbal exchange with one of his operatives about whether "contact" can be used as a verb pleasantly stood out in this reading with Nero dropping the mic by saying, "Contact is not a verb under this roof." Indeed a pleasure!
swarmofbees's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sdemler14's review against another edition
4.0
I love Nero Wolfe mysteries, this one I think I actually liked Archie better than Nero, which is different for me.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
So, I finally found out how Nero Wolfe gained possession of the coveted black orchids. This had been alluded to in several of the Wolfe mysteries that I have read but I hadn't gotten my hands on a copy of Black Orchids (1941) until this past year.
Nero Wolfe sends Archie Goodwin to the flower show in downtown NYC. Not once, but every day for a whole week. Finally, Wolfe cannot stand it any longer and rather than hear Goodwin's reports on how they look he actually leaves his brownstone home to see for himself. Faithful readers of the Wolfe novels will know what a rare event this is. While they are at the show...Wolfe gazing longingly at the orchids and Goodwin gazing longingly at a lovely young woman who has been part of a garden scene at the show each day...a man is murdered. In full view of all the flower lovers.
When Inspector Cramer finds out that Wolfe and Goodwin were on the scene, he naturally assumes that Wolfe was on a case and knows more than he does. It doesn't take Wolfe long to provide himself with all the facts and he winds the case up in what seems to be record time. This time the wrap-up takes place in the famous Wolfe orchid rooms and as payment for a closed case Wolfe is able to call the black orchids his own.
All of the standard Wolfe mystery ingredients are present and accounted for. Archie finds a lovely lady to fall in and out of love with; he gets to be irritated with Wolfe for turning down a case (before actually investigating the murder); and he gets to subject Cramer and Purley Stebbins to his sterling wit. We even get a little bit of Saul Panzer. The murder method is interesting and the little twist Stout gives to who actually did the deed makes it even more so. A good entry in the Nero Wolfe collection. Four stars.
Nero Wolfe sends Archie Goodwin to the flower show in downtown NYC. Not once, but every day for a whole week. Finally, Wolfe cannot stand it any longer and rather than hear Goodwin's reports on how they look he actually leaves his brownstone home to see for himself. Faithful readers of the Wolfe novels will know what a rare event this is. While they are at the show...Wolfe gazing longingly at the orchids and Goodwin gazing longingly at a lovely young woman who has been part of a garden scene at the show each day...a man is murdered. In full view of all the flower lovers.
When Inspector Cramer finds out that Wolfe and Goodwin were on the scene, he naturally assumes that Wolfe was on a case and knows more than he does. It doesn't take Wolfe long to provide himself with all the facts and he winds the case up in what seems to be record time. This time the wrap-up takes place in the famous Wolfe orchid rooms and as payment for a closed case Wolfe is able to call the black orchids his own.
All of the standard Wolfe mystery ingredients are present and accounted for. Archie finds a lovely lady to fall in and out of love with; he gets to be irritated with Wolfe for turning down a case (before actually investigating the murder); and he gets to subject Cramer and Purley Stebbins to his sterling wit. We even get a little bit of Saul Panzer. The murder method is interesting and the little twist Stout gives to who actually did the deed makes it even more so. A good entry in the Nero Wolfe collection. Four stars.
stuffandwhatnot's review against another edition
4.0
Two novellas linked by the titular black orchids. Archie is a peak snark, and it's wonderful.