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caseykoester39's review against another edition
5.0
Devoured this in my pre-election stress because I needed something fun and engaging. As a huge Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin fan, I know the characters well and was so thrilled to see them in this fabulous tale. It's not often Wolfe leaves the Brownstone and when he does, boy is it worth it! I won't give more away, but if you are a fan of the series, this is one of the best entries.
jbleyle63's review against another edition
5.0
While I remain flexible in my choice for favorite British mystery writer [Christie?, Sayers?, Conan Doyle?, Tey?, Crispin?, Innes?] there has never been any debate that Rex Stout is my favorite American in the genre, and probably favorite period. I have read all the Nero Wolfe books at least three times, and this is my fifth reading of the Arnold Zeck trilogy which concludes with this volume. This final showdown between Wolfe and his Moriarty-like nemesis Zeck is a suspenseful joy, but not the place to start the series as many of the pleasures of the entire trilogy come from a familiarity with Wolfe, Archie Godwin, and the rest of the series' supporting cast.
evecdl's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
jasonabbott's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sjbanner's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
malumbra's review against another edition
4.0
Yes one of the better Nero Wolfe stories. Also... kinda in love with Archie Goodwin.
meeners's review
5.0
this one's a doozy! 5 stars because the deviations this book takes from the usual nero wolfe formula are astoundingly extreme and yet somehow also perfectly consonant with the behavior and nature of stout's long-established characters.
there's a lot at stake - again, much more than usual - and the consequences of the plot are both serious and savage. i therefore hesitate to use the word "delight" in describing my reading experience, but in the end it really was something like that - simple sincere delight in seeing how these characters i have known for so long transform (or not) in the face of extraordinary new circumstances. not sure how this book would hold up in a second reading, with the surprise stripped away, but that's a question to be delayed to another day.
there's a lot at stake - again, much more than usual - and the consequences of the plot are both serious and savage. i therefore hesitate to use the word "delight" in describing my reading experience, but in the end it really was something like that - simple sincere delight in seeing how these characters i have known for so long transform (or not) in the face of extraordinary new circumstances. not sure how this book would hold up in a second reading, with the surprise stripped away, but that's a question to be delayed to another day.
seano's review
4.0
A fairly clever mystery, interrupted by a long showdown between Wolfe and Zeck.
The mystery: who killed the heiress, is actually first rate. The showdown with criminal mastermind Arnold Zeck is also a great story, but I did manage to predict a twist or two. The predicted twists are the only reason this isn't 5 stars.
The mystery: who killed the heiress, is actually first rate. The showdown with criminal mastermind Arnold Zeck is also a great story, but I did manage to predict a twist or two. The predicted twists are the only reason this isn't 5 stars.
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