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This collector's edition showcases Nero Wolfe's uncanny crime-solving ability--as well as his incredible appetite--when he tackles murder three times over. Features an introduction by Rex Stout biographer John J. McAleer. "Nero Wolfe . has entered our folklore".--The New York Times Book Review.Tags
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This is the collection of stories published after Stout's death, and it contains, to be honest, stories he didn't want people to see. Of those, the first ("Bitter End") is worth reading. The second is an expansion of a story already available in another collection, and the expansion isn't an improvement. The final one is an inferior version of a great story, and honestly I wouldn't recommend anyone read it -- Stout almost never revised stories, but he saw he'd got this one wrong and rewrote it, and he thought he'd destroyed this version.
Basically, a collection solely for Wolfe completists. (Which I am.)
Basically, a collection solely for Wolfe completists. (Which I am.)
It's not fair to say that these are bad stories, but they are unnecessary. Two of them are rewrites of stories already in the canon, and they aren't different enough to warrant publication. The other is a rewrite of a non Wolfe story that Stout wrote, and the fact that he never had it published for most of his lifetime suggests that he wasn't overly fond of it. Unfortunately, this book comes off as an unnecessary cash grab. And I'm always uncomfortable with book printed after an author has died, where they don't have a chance to weigh in on whether or not it's work they would have published.
This is a book that should never have been published. It is a collection of 3 alternative versions of existing Nero Wolfe stories.
The first of the three is a story written by Stout for another character but adapted to fit Nero Wolfe (except that it doesn't unless Wolfe suddenly forgot how to cook). Stout elected to never publish it and I think he would have been unhappy with this.
The second and third are inferior versions of already published stories. Again, I can only think that Stout would have been unhappy with these versions being published. There is a reason he published other versions of them.
The long, very long, preface that tries to explain how these story versions are interesting do not help.
For someone reading this book show more without having read the published versions of the stories, they will probably find them ok, but they would have been so much better off reading the versions Stout wanted to publish. show less
The first of the three is a story written by Stout for another character but adapted to fit Nero Wolfe (except that it doesn't unless Wolfe suddenly forgot how to cook). Stout elected to never publish it and I think he would have been unhappy with this.
The second and third are inferior versions of already published stories. Again, I can only think that Stout would have been unhappy with these versions being published. There is a reason he published other versions of them.
The long, very long, preface that tries to explain how these story versions are interesting do not help.
For someone reading this book show more without having read the published versions of the stories, they will probably find them ok, but they would have been so much better off reading the versions Stout wanted to publish. show less
I would read it for the ongoing commentary by Archie Goodwin. The participation of Nero Wolffe is minimal, amounting to little more than puffing his lips in and out. But Archie has some amusing stories here.
Three novellas (novels?) in one book, all involving women, which we know Nero Wolffe abhors.
These could also be classified as historical fiction, since they were written so long ago. The writing holds up well.
Three novellas (novels?) in one book, all involving women, which we know Nero Wolffe abhors.
These could also be classified as historical fiction, since they were written so long ago. The writing holds up well.
I would read it for the ongoing commentary by Archie Goodwin. The participation of Nero Wolffe is minimal, amounting to little more than puffing his lips in and out. But Archie has some amusing stories here.[return]Three novellas (novels?) in one book, all involving women, which we know Nero Wolffe abhors.[return]These could also be classified as historical fiction, since they were written so long ago. The writing holds up well.
Death Times Three includes 3 novellas featuring the famous armchair detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin. All of the Nero Wolfe mysteries take place in Manhattan through the 1930-70s. The first in this compilation, Bitter End, starts out with contaminated liver pate and continues with the search for a murderer. Following after that is Frame-Up For Murder where Archie is entreated by a beautiful young woman to help her brother save his fashion business only for the waters to be muddied by an ill-timed death. It closes with Assault on a Brownstone which is singular as Wolfe's sanctuary is beset with Treasury officials and Archie meets someone who gets the jump on him. It's a quick, fun read and if you love mysteries it show more will whet your appetite for longer works from Stout. You won't regret it, I promise. show less
This is an interesting collection of 3 novellas published after Stout’s death by his executer that had never appeared in book form before. The first on, “Bitter End” started out as the second Tecumseh Fox novel of 205 pages called Bad for Business. As was customary at the time it was offered to American Magazine in an abridged version or serialization before publication. The editor offered double Stout’s fee if he would rewrite it as a Nero Wolf story. Thus was born the first Nero Wolf novella. Stout wrote many more as we know, but this one was never published in book form. The plot coincides with the Fox novel which was published on schedule. I wonder what his readers thought who read both the Fox novel and the Wolf novella?
In show more February 1958 the 48 page novella “Murder in No Joke” was published in And Four to Go. Rex Stout then did something he almost never did—he did a rewrite and expanded it to 79 pages and re-titled it “Frame-up for Murder.” In June-July of that year Saturday Evening Post published this obviously superior version but it was never published in book form so languished in back issues of the magazine until the executor of Stout’s estate decided to put out this new volume of novellas.
The third novella has an even stranger history. Early in 1959 Stout wrote a 73 page novella called “Counterfeit for Murder” which is published under the title “Assault on a Brownstone” in this volume. Less than two months later he discarded all but the first seven pages and completely rewrote the story resurrecting the corpse of the old lady and substituting as the corpse the young lady who attracted Archie. The new story was published in serial form in a magazine and in Homicide Trinity. The editor of this volume speculates that the only thing that happened between the two writings was a fishing vacation with a dear friend who suddenly died of a heart attack the day after Stout got home and perhaps this was “grief” therapy to resurrect the older victim. The second story was a stronger story because the older character was a stronger character and the original story was never published until this edition. I was thinking while reading this that I wished the old landlady hadn’t died—I wanted to know her better. I’ll have to read the original now. It will be interesting to compare the two. show less
In show more February 1958 the 48 page novella “Murder in No Joke” was published in And Four to Go. Rex Stout then did something he almost never did—he did a rewrite and expanded it to 79 pages and re-titled it “Frame-up for Murder.” In June-July of that year Saturday Evening Post published this obviously superior version but it was never published in book form so languished in back issues of the magazine until the executor of Stout’s estate decided to put out this new volume of novellas.
The third novella has an even stranger history. Early in 1959 Stout wrote a 73 page novella called “Counterfeit for Murder” which is published under the title “Assault on a Brownstone” in this volume. Less than two months later he discarded all but the first seven pages and completely rewrote the story resurrecting the corpse of the old lady and substituting as the corpse the young lady who attracted Archie. The new story was published in serial form in a magazine and in Homicide Trinity. The editor of this volume speculates that the only thing that happened between the two writings was a fishing vacation with a dear friend who suddenly died of a heart attack the day after Stout got home and perhaps this was “grief” therapy to resurrect the older victim. The second story was a stronger story because the older character was a stronger character and the original story was never published until this edition. I was thinking while reading this that I wished the old landlady hadn’t died—I wanted to know her better. I’ll have to read the original now. It will be interesting to compare the two. show less
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Author Rex Stout was born on December 1, 1886. A child prodigy with a gift for mathematics, Stout drifted as he became an adult, holding odd jobs in many places---cook, cabinetmaker, bellhop, hotel manager, salesman, bookkeeper, and even a guide in a pueblo. But his true talent lay in storytelling; he sold his first story, about William Howard show more Taft, in 1912. His most famous creation is Nero Wolfe, a 286-pound detective genius who, with sidekick Archie Goodwin, can often solve a case without leaving his room. It is the way in which the puzzle is solved that intrigues Nero Wolfe, who is much like Sherlock Holmes in his ability to use deductive reasoning. More than 60 million copies (in 24 languages) of Stout's books have been sold. Stout writes quickly, drawing upon a lifetime of impressions. He neither uses an outline nor revises; he lets his characters take over as the story develops. The classy, erudite Nero Wolfe presents for readers an alternative to the hard-boiled branch of the genre. He died on October 27, 1975 (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Rex Stout has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.
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Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Öölane (102)
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1985
- People/Characters
- Archie Goodwin; Nero Wolfe
- Important places
- New York, New York, USA
- First words
- The Bitter End: In the old brownstone house which was the dwelling, and also contained the office, of Nero Wolfe on West 35th Street near the Hudson River, in New York, heavy gloom had penetrated into every corner of every ro... (show all)om, so that there was no escaping from it.
Frame-UP For Murder: I was tailing a man mamed (sic) Jonas Putz.
Assault On A Brownstone: My rule is, never be rude to anyone unless you mean it.
Introduction: During the last years of Rex Stout's life, as his authorized biographer, I received numerous letters from well-wishers and, on occasion, not-such-well-wishers, offering me advice. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The Bitter End. I returned to help Wolfe with the snipe fired with brandy.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Frame-Up For Murder. "Grand Dieu!" Gallant groaned, and covered his face with his hands.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Assault On A Brownstone. "So do I," I said.
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