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A review by markk
Over My Dead Body by Rex Stout
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When a young woman from Montenegro arrives at Nero Wolfe’s brownstone, the matter seems trivial enough, as she requests nothing more than help with a friend accused of stealing some diamonds. Though Wolfe declines her case, the subsequent arrival of a federal agent leads to the discovery of a document the young woman left behind empowering the bearer to negotiate valuable Bosnian forest concessions. It is the second document the young woman brings on a return trip, however, that leads Wolfe to involve himself in the case – one that is offered as proof that the friend accused of theft is none other than the famous detective’s long-lost adopted daughter.
This revelation soon launches Wolfe and his right-hand man Archie Goodwin on an adventure involving murder and international intrigue. After the last couple of novels, Too Many Cooks and Some Buried Caesar, it’s a return to form, with the legendary homebody working from the comfort of his brownstone while Goodwin runs across Manhattan doing the legwork. What’s new to the series is the political element, one that reflects the shadow of events under which Rex Stout wrote his novel. This does more than anything in his previous books to situate the work in a particular time and place, and adds to the stakes involved. What's new is the introduction of the international intrigue, with the author proving as adept in blending a little spy fiction into his standard mystery format, and without diminishing the latter one bit in the process.
This revelation soon launches Wolfe and his right-hand man Archie Goodwin on an adventure involving murder and international intrigue. After the last couple of novels, Too Many Cooks and Some Buried Caesar, it’s a return to form, with the legendary homebody working from the comfort of his brownstone while Goodwin runs across Manhattan doing the legwork. What’s new to the series is the political element, one that reflects the shadow of events under which Rex Stout wrote his novel. This does more than anything in his previous books to situate the work in a particular time and place, and adds to the stakes involved. What's new is the introduction of the international intrigue, with the author proving as adept in blending a little spy fiction into his standard mystery format, and without diminishing the latter one bit in the process.