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dennyb1's review against another edition
4.0
Il primo libro con il duo Archie Goodwin e Nero Wolfe protagonisti è un ottimo giallo: ben scritto e congegnato.
Ma è il finale che mi ha colpito tantissimo: cattivo e beffardo.
Quello che fa Nero Wolfe pur di non dover poi lasciare la sua casa per andare in tribunale a testimoniare mi ha fatto rimanere a bocca aperta “davvero”.
Ma è il finale che mi ha colpito tantissimo: cattivo e beffardo.
Quello che fa Nero Wolfe pur di non dover poi lasciare la sua casa per andare in tribunale a testimoniare mi ha fatto rimanere a bocca aperta “davvero”.
lerat42's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
froggiendie's review against another edition
2.0
Fer de lance relate une enquête du détective privé Nero Wolfe. Excentrique, amateur d'orchidées rares et grand buveur de bière, il se veut de la grande lignée des détectives qui résolvent des mystères par l'art de la déduction.
Malheureusement, pour moi ce fut un flop. Nero Wolfe se dit l'un des meilleurs détectives privés, ayant en lui des facultés d'interprétation hors du commun, à l'aide des petits détails dans une affaire.
Pourtant tout au long de ma lecture, ce point n'a jamais été démontré. Ses déductions tombent du ciel, sans aucune explication ni approfondissement.
Pour l'intrigue et l'histoire en soi, elles furent correctes. Mais le plot se flaire très rapidement, surtout si l'on est déjà amateur de polars et d'enquêtes.
En somme, l'histoire fut divertissante, mais le suspens et le génie d'une bonne déduction manquaient à l'appel.
Malheureusement, pour moi ce fut un flop. Nero Wolfe se dit l'un des meilleurs détectives privés, ayant en lui des facultés d'interprétation hors du commun, à l'aide des petits détails dans une affaire.
Pourtant tout au long de ma lecture, ce point n'a jamais été démontré. Ses déductions tombent du ciel, sans aucune explication ni approfondissement.
Pour l'intrigue et l'histoire en soi, elles furent correctes. Mais le plot se flaire très rapidement, surtout si l'on est déjà amateur de polars et d'enquêtes.
En somme, l'histoire fut divertissante, mais le suspens et le génie d'une bonne déduction manquaient à l'appel.
trin's review against another edition
2.0
The first Nero Wolfe novel I've read -- and now I never have to read another one.
There is some incredibly sharp writing here: razor-edged dialogue and shockingly vivid turns of phrase. But there is also a thick and slimy coat of racism, including racist slurs I'd never even heard of before. Wow! Just the education I wanted!
But the worst sin, when it comes to a sprawling old-timey mystery series, is that I don't care about either of the main characters. There is nothing here that makes me interested or intrigued by either Wolfe or Archie; I don't care to see what happens to them or how their relationship develops. Which, according to Loren D. Estleman's introduction -- or inadvertent warning -- it never does. Estleman makes a good case for why the unchanging nature of Wolfe and Archie and their adventures can be a boon for a certain type of reader -- you can pick up any book from any point in the series at any time! -- but I am manifestly not that reader. These characters are terrible and I now know for a fact that they will remain terrible. Cool! I'm out.
There is some incredibly sharp writing here: razor-edged dialogue and shockingly vivid turns of phrase. But there is also a thick and slimy coat of racism, including racist slurs I'd never even heard of before. Wow! Just the education I wanted!
But the worst sin, when it comes to a sprawling old-timey mystery series, is that I don't care about either of the main characters. There is nothing here that makes me interested or intrigued by either Wolfe or Archie; I don't care to see what happens to them or how their relationship develops. Which, according to Loren D. Estleman's introduction -- or inadvertent warning -- it never does. Estleman makes a good case for why the unchanging nature of Wolfe and Archie and their adventures can be a boon for a certain type of reader -- you can pick up any book from any point in the series at any time! -- but I am manifestly not that reader. These characters are terrible and I now know for a fact that they will remain terrible. Cool! I'm out.
captlychee's review against another edition
3.0
This is readable and enjoyable without being the work of inductive genius that I thought I was going to get. Nero Wolfe's excellent deductions are far too clearly the inventions of the author, arrived at through direct authorial intrusion rather than watertight logic - which, I have to admit, is a neat trick in first person narration.
Anyway, the stories don't seem to be dated despite being set in the 1930's and have been very influential, particularly on Garrett's LOrd Darcy stories. Nero Wolfe is alos mentioned in Fleing's On Her Majsty's Secrest Service. I shall probably read more them.
Anyway, the stories don't seem to be dated despite being set in the 1930's and have been very influential, particularly on Garrett's LOrd Darcy stories. Nero Wolfe is alos mentioned in Fleing's On Her Majsty's Secrest Service. I shall probably read more them.
leda00's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
orasmis's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Read it for a bit of light variety. First appearance of Nero Wolf and Archie Goodwin - a somewhat improbable mystery, first published in 1934 and with some of the racism and sexism you would expect from that era. It's hard to describe the plot without spoilers, so I won't try. It moves a long, and carries one along - but it's a bit preposterous.