Trouble in Triplicate (Crime Line)

Short stories

Nero Wolfe is one of my favorite mystery characters as he plays on the tradition of the brilliant detective that never leaves his home. I appreciate the books with three stories in them as Rex Stout's writing is fast and witty and always leaves me wanting more. For lovers of older mysteries, these books are a treat. Archie Goodwin is Wolfe's Watson though he doesn't think that highly of Wolfe and enjoys the complex New York they live in. Readers of The Dresden Files and noir will recognize the same DNA in these charming mysteries and be glad they found Rex Stout and that he wrote as much as he did. ( )

Trouble in Triplicate, by Rex Stout, consists of three Nero Wolfe novellas packaged in one book. The first, "Before I Die," involves a gangster who wants to hire Wolfe to protect his daughter and to prevent a hired woman who's pretending to be his daughter from blackmailing him further than she already has; "Help Wanted, Male," has Wolfe in fear for his own life, needing to hire an imposter to cover for him while he seeks the would-be murderer; and the last, "Instead of Evidence," finds Wolfe investigating a novelties company after its co-founder is killed as he had predicted. All of these are fairly slight, not among Stout's best, but as always with the Nero Wolfe series, they are never less than entertaining. I wouldn't recommend starting the series with this trio of lightweight stories, but if you're already a fan, they are worth reading. ( )

Stout was never his best writing short stories nor did he deal well with the Second World War. None of the stories in this collection show Stout at his best nor do Goodwin and Wolfe show the skills or wit that generally endear them to readers. ( )

Just a short comment: Before I Die is as fine a story as Stout ever wrote, and sufficient reason to seek out this book. Instead of Evidence is among the weakest Nero Wolfe stories. Help Wanted, Male is somewhere between, but on the weak side.

This short review has also been published on a dabbler's journal. ( )