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sjbanner's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bel017's review against another edition
Quite a cast of characters - I got confused a bit with who was who. The language is dated so I just ignored those parts and enjoyed the whodunit aspect.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting story where Archie and Nero actually pluck a story from the headlines and offer to solve a case (as they are in need of funds.)
The guest of a radio show has died under mysterious circumstances and the suspects put money in if Nero can solve the case.
The guest of a radio show has died under mysterious circumstances and the suspects put money in if Nero can solve the case.
judythereader's review against another edition
4.0
Madeline Fraser has one of the most successful shows on the radio. Not even a little thing like a murder happening live, on air, seems to slow things down. But murder was done and Nero Wolfe's bank account needs an infusion, so he convinces her to let him go after the killer when the police can't find a thing.
I really find that these books hold up for me. So often, when reading a book written in an earlier time period, I find reminders of the offensive views that were more open then. I don't find that with Wolfe. I'm sure there are many I'm missing, but they aren't as overt as, say, the Perry Mason I just read.
I like the language. I like the mysteries. I like the characters. And I like the reader of this audio book.
I really find that these books hold up for me. So often, when reading a book written in an earlier time period, I find reminders of the offensive views that were more open then. I don't find that with Wolfe. I'm sure there are many I'm missing, but they aren't as overt as, say, the Perry Mason I just read.
I like the language. I like the mysteries. I like the characters. And I like the reader of this audio book.
johnnygamble's review against another edition
4.0
enjoyed the narration, enjoyed the mystery and was pleased by the solution
beckmank's review
4.0
I don't know why it's taken me so long to pick up a Nero Wolfe mystery. This book was a fun read. Set (and written) in the 1940's, Nero Wolfe is the brains and Archie Goodwin is his braun. Wolfe rarely leaves his apartment, leaving Archie to gather people and clues in the case for him. They make a great team and a great read.
alesia_charles's review
3.0
What do I think? I think I need to examine why I can accept the misogyny/sexism of the Wolfe/Goodwin duo just as a dubious character quirk. Is it that it's probably accurate that the early 20th century was full of people who regarded the opposite sex as potentially dangerous aliens rather then fellow human beings? "Men of their time" and all that?
Eh, that's too deep for a hot Friday afternoon.
Stout wrote damn clever mysteries, even though his clever heroes were also sexist twits.
Eh, that's too deep for a hot Friday afternoon.
Stout wrote damn clever mysteries, even though his clever heroes were also sexist twits.
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
I am in the process of rereading (listening to the perfectly matched Michael Pritchard) many of the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin mysteries. They hold up very well; in fact, as each novel takes place contemporaneous to its writing, many could be considered period pieces. And be a Villain takes place in 1948 so there are no cell phones, everything is typed, etc. Commercials were done live on the radio, and that features prominently in the mystery as one of the murders is committed on-the-air during a live broadcast, the featured product being spiked with cyanide.
The usual marvelous characters are in place: Inspector Cramer, Fritz (the incomparable cook,) Sgt. Stebbins, and delightfully the Asst. police commissioner O’Hara who, because the case is high-profile insist on horning in. (“Wolfe said to tell you. you’re a nincompoop but I’m too polite to mention it.”) For those not familiar with the series, Nero Wolfe (pay absolutely no attention to the execrable TV series with Timothy Hutton and Maury Chaykin - they make me gag) is an enormously fat and brilliant detective who never leaves his house (well, almost never) and his wise-cracking side-kick, Archie who follows Wolfe’s directions and reports conversations verbatim.
The language is precise and clever replete with comments such as “Someday, sir, you’ll get on the wrong train by trying to board yours before it arrives,” and “there was no finger pointed without wavering,” and finding a solution by “tramping down the improbabilities.”
One could argue that the books are formulaic and I suppose they are, but when you have such a perfect combination, what’s not to enjoy?
The usual marvelous characters are in place: Inspector Cramer, Fritz (the incomparable cook,) Sgt. Stebbins, and delightfully the Asst. police commissioner O’Hara who, because the case is high-profile insist on horning in. (“Wolfe said to tell you. you’re a nincompoop but I’m too polite to mention it.”) For those not familiar with the series, Nero Wolfe (pay absolutely no attention to the execrable TV series with Timothy Hutton and Maury Chaykin - they make me gag) is an enormously fat and brilliant detective who never leaves his house (well, almost never) and his wise-cracking side-kick, Archie who follows Wolfe’s directions and reports conversations verbatim.
The language is precise and clever replete with comments such as “Someday, sir, you’ll get on the wrong train by trying to board yours before it arrives,” and “there was no finger pointed without wavering,” and finding a solution by “tramping down the improbabilities.”
One could argue that the books are formulaic and I suppose they are, but when you have such a perfect combination, what’s not to enjoy?
whimsicalmeerkat's review
2.0
First, let me just say that when I was 16 and read this I never even registered that Archie Goodwin is ageist. At 29, his comments about no women over 30 being worth a look gave me a strong desire to give him a good "talking to." Anyway, on to the book. Honestly, [b:And Be a Villian: A Nero Wolfe Novel|1991252|And Be a Villian A Nero Wolfe Novel|Rex Stout|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1202231595s/1991252.jpg|2777460] disappointed me. I will re-read at least one more of [a:Rex Stout|41112|Rex Stout|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1201136975p2/41112.jpg]'s books, but I have a terrible suspicion that the Nero Wolfe series will go on the list of things that didn't hold up for me over time. Sad, really.