kabaum's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
chlkvnck's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
judyward's review against another edition
3.0
In this fourth book in the Nero Wolfe series, a young woman dies after eating a chocolate laced with potassium cyanide from a box that had been openly left on a desk. Surprisingly, Nero Wolfe is forced to leave his beloved brownstone and venture out into the streets of 1938 New York in order to gather the information that he needs to unravel the case. As usual, a good mystery takes a back seat to the verbal interactions among the main characters, particularly Nero Wolfe and his Assistant Archie Goodwin. This was a perfect book to take on my latest vacation and read while lounging on the beach.
jercox's review against another edition
4.0
If you like Nero Wolfe stories - or as the more accurately should be called, Archie Goodwin stories, as he is the main viewpoint character and observer of life - this is a good addition, with some twists you might see coming but an enjoyable read in any case. It follows the recipe that has worked well for him for the first 4 books
me2brett's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good Stout novel, with twists and turns and excellent interaction between Artie and Wolfe. There were enough clues in this one to figure out the solution before Wolfe's reveal, but in no way did that retract from the satisfaction of reading the part where all the involved parties - plus Inspector Cramer - inevitably gather in the office for Wolfe to Reveal All.
genizah's review
2.0
I think I needed to find these earlier in life, when I was devouring the Poirot books. These don't work for me now in very much the same way that I failed at rereading Christie.
slferg's review against another edition
4.0
I love the old mysteries. The picture I have of Nero Wolfe is of the television series years back. But, that doesn't matter to the pictures carried in the books of Wolfe's mannerisms and habits. I also enjoy Archie's asides and smart aleck remarks to everyone.
This case is about a murder that Llewellyn Frost is afraid involves his cousin, Helen, and insists that Wolfe solve it. Lew doesn't like Helen working for her godfather. When one of the models dies from poisoned candy, he feels Helen is in danger. Of the whole family, Helen seems to be the only one with sense and courage. Frost keeps losing his calm and flying off in all directions. He is thoroughly aggravating and annoying.
Then Helen's godfather dies and she turns to Wolfe to find his murderer, in spite of her family's protests.
This case is about a murder that Llewellyn Frost is afraid involves his cousin, Helen, and insists that Wolfe solve it. Lew doesn't like Helen working for her godfather. When one of the models dies from poisoned candy, he feels Helen is in danger. Of the whole family, Helen seems to be the only one with sense and courage. Frost keeps losing his calm and flying off in all directions. He is thoroughly aggravating and annoying.
Then Helen's godfather dies and she turns to Wolfe to find his murderer, in spite of her family's protests.
katieanne4's review
this was a good one although I did see at least one thing coming. i got it on audiobook because michael prichard was specifically recommended as a good reader but he wasn't my style. kind of booming and bombastic but also with a flat delivery. i have a theory that british readers do more acting and american readers are just reading.
bev_reads_mysteries's review
4.0
The Red Box starts out with a trick. Nero Wolfe is manipulated into leaving the comforts of his brownstone when Llewellyn Frost presents him with a letter from several of his esteemed colleagues in the orchid-growing world imploring the detective to leave his office, leave his faithful staff, leave his orchid-filled greenhouse and travel twenty blocks (eight minutes) to the office of Boyden McNair Incorporated to investigate the poisoning of a beautiful young model. Frost had tried to get Wolfe involved as soon as the death occurred, but the great man would not leave home and none of the suspects and witnesses would visit the brownstone.
It's now a week later and Inspector Cramer and all the policemen at his command have made no progress. So, Frost returns with the letter and manages to get Wolfe to do the unthinkable. He and Archie Goodwin go to the office the next day and begin questioning those involved. But they too make very little headway. On the way out of the building, they see Purley Stebbins of the Homicide Squad.
He stopped and stared, not at me, at Wolfe. "In the name of God. Did you shoot him out of cannon?"
Few of the suspects--from the young woman's friend Helen Frost and the rest of the Frost family to Boyd McNair, fashion designer and employer of the model--want to talk to Wolfe beyond the bare facts. The model, Molly Lauck, snitched a box of chocolates. She ate two and died from cyanide poisoning. Readers might think that the box of chocolates is the red box in question--particularly if their cover looks like mine. But Wolfe's investigations soon reveal that there is a much more important red box yet to be found. All of Cramer's resources and Wolfe's band of investigators--Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin, and Orrie Cather--are called upon to find it. But will it turn up in time to solve a murder?
There is another infuriating (to Wolfe) installment yet to come...he has determined that the poisoned chocolates were really intended for someone other than Miss Lauck when the proposed victim is successfully murdered right before his eyes in his very own office. Wolfe also suspects who the culprit is, but even having witnessed this death himself, there is no proof. He will need Cramer's help to pull off a most audacious confrontation scene...and Cramer, for once, gives his assistance with no complaint. Well...almost no complaint. He wouldn't be Cramer if he didn't fuss just a bit.
All the components for a delightful Wolfe and Goodwin mystery are in place. Wolfe is prodded into taking on a case and Archie is in good form goading his boss and tossing off witty wisecracks. Saul Panzer and the boys see a little action, Cramer chews through a cigar or two, and a hapless assistant D.A. blusters and threatens to take away Wolfe's license. There's even a brave young heroine to root for.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
It's now a week later and Inspector Cramer and all the policemen at his command have made no progress. So, Frost returns with the letter and manages to get Wolfe to do the unthinkable. He and Archie Goodwin go to the office the next day and begin questioning those involved. But they too make very little headway. On the way out of the building, they see Purley Stebbins of the Homicide Squad.
He stopped and stared, not at me, at Wolfe. "In the name of God. Did you shoot him out of cannon?"
Few of the suspects--from the young woman's friend Helen Frost and the rest of the Frost family to Boyd McNair, fashion designer and employer of the model--want to talk to Wolfe beyond the bare facts. The model, Molly Lauck, snitched a box of chocolates. She ate two and died from cyanide poisoning. Readers might think that the box of chocolates is the red box in question--particularly if their cover looks like mine. But Wolfe's investigations soon reveal that there is a much more important red box yet to be found. All of Cramer's resources and Wolfe's band of investigators--Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin, and Orrie Cather--are called upon to find it. But will it turn up in time to solve a murder?
There is another infuriating (to Wolfe) installment yet to come...he has determined that the poisoned chocolates were really intended for someone other than Miss Lauck when the proposed victim is successfully murdered right before his eyes in his very own office. Wolfe also suspects who the culprit is, but even having witnessed this death himself, there is no proof. He will need Cramer's help to pull off a most audacious confrontation scene...and Cramer, for once, gives his assistance with no complaint. Well...almost no complaint. He wouldn't be Cramer if he didn't fuss just a bit.
All the components for a delightful Wolfe and Goodwin mystery are in place. Wolfe is prodded into taking on a case and Archie is in good form goading his boss and tossing off witty wisecracks. Saul Panzer and the boys see a little action, Cramer chews through a cigar or two, and a hapless assistant D.A. blusters and threatens to take away Wolfe's license. There's even a brave young heroine to root for.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.