hotsake's review against another edition
4.0
Just a solid and fun Nero Wolfe adventure. Both Wolfe and Archie get pissed in this story and that is always a pleasure to read.
jbleyle63's review against another edition
4.0
A sprinkle of international intrigue and some background on Nero Wolfe's origins are highlights of this entry in Stout's series. And Archie's first person narration provides the wit and humor that keep me reading and rereading these books!
daisymama's review against another edition
4.0
very fun. I really enjoyed the style of this book, and will definitely need to read some more Rex Stout. I love all the super-hip 1930's slang :)
quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
I guess maybe now that I'm almost finished with Christie, I'm going to make my way through Stout. Or, at least the ones that are readily available. This one, in particular, is okay, but no great shakes. Totally sufficient commute reading, but nothing that kept me up at night.
finesilkflower's review against another edition
4.0
I really don't have much to say about Nero Wolfe books. They're good. Clever mysteries with enough you can't get that you need it explained, but a few things you can get and feel smart about (usually about one page before it's revealed). As ever, narrator Archie is a smart and clever wiseacre and Nero Wolfe manages to solve the mystery without leaving the house or disrupting his schedule. Inspector Cramer is a major character in this one and is a pleasant addition with his aggrieved, resigned, yet oddly idealistic attitude.
I skipped a few and jumped to #7 with no apparent loss in quality. They don't have enough continuity that you're lost if you skip ahead. They're not without continuity, though. This one adds the interesting wrinkle of introducing a member of Nero Wolfe's family, a development which will presumably feature in future books.
I skipped a few and jumped to #7 with no apparent loss in quality. They don't have enough continuity that you're lost if you skip ahead. They're not without continuity, though. This one adds the interesting wrinkle of introducing a member of Nero Wolfe's family, a development which will presumably feature in future books.
stuffandwhatnot's review against another edition
4.0
This one was superfun! International intrigue and nazi-punching!
ssejig's review against another edition
mysterious
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
3.0
A woman wanders into the house and says that she is a Montenegran. She demands to talk to Wolfe, wanting help for her friend. Archie leaves her alone in the office for a bit and she hides a piece of paper in his office saying that the bearer is the wife of the current prince. Oh, and also, she says she's Wolfe's daughter. And Wolfe doesn't deny that it's a possibility.
However, what starts as an accusation of theft ends up with two murders. There are the usual twists and turns that come in a Wolfe case, including at the end.
However, what starts as an accusation of theft ends up with two murders. There are the usual twists and turns that come in a Wolfe case, including at the end.
malumbra's review against another edition
3.0
International intrigue and the introduction of wolfe’s adopted daughter. It was aight.
tlsouthard's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars.
Boy, we find out a lot about Wolfe's background in this one! The mystery was kind of confusing and seemed a bit pulled out of a hat, but the writing was enjoyable, as always.
Boy, we find out a lot about Wolfe's background in this one! The mystery was kind of confusing and seemed a bit pulled out of a hat, but the writing was enjoyable, as always.