The Missing Chapter

The Missing Chapter (1993) ( R. Stout’s Wolfe Mystery #7) by Robert Goldsborough. This is the seventh entry to the Nero Wolfe canon written by Mr. Goldsborough and it is a welcome addition. In this read the author has fun at his own expense. As faithful Stout readers know, the writing duties were passed on to Mr. Goldsborough by Stout’s estate. So far he has not let the readers down, producing book after book of material that is on a par with Mr. Stout’s writing.
In this book a writer is dead. The writer had been continuing a beloved mystery series so there are plenty of people, both for and against this action, willing to kill for their literary hero. The death is called suicide by the police and there is no reason to doubt that show more finding. But the writer’s publisher has doubts about the verdict and asks Wolfe to look into it. The case involves a fairly large cast of characters including feuding editors and critics, a girl friend who leads a cold air to the proceedings, and other writers who knew the dead man.
A highlight of the book is the trip to Indiana that Goodwin must abide in order to dig into the writer’s past. A New York boy out in the corn fields is certainly a fish out of water, but Archie aquits himself in style.
The journey to the solution has plenty of turns and a few red herrings, but the truth shines through at last. This book is well worth the time spent on the read. show less

I didn't know that anyone had "continued" the Nero Wolfe mysteries after Stout's death. But here he is, having completed several. The Missing Chapter features the death of another "continuator" - author who continues a series after the original author died.

Goldsborough does a decent enough job with Archie and Wolfe. I note that Archie now has a long-time girlfriend, which is perhaps a nod to the times. In Stout's novels Archie was always after the dame of the moment. We simply don't have that here. So I give him credit for that.

Although the story hangs together fairly well it seems too simple. And I didn't feel any real satisfaction in reading it. This may be simply because I am past Nero Wolfe in general, along with his gastronomical show more and botanical fixations, or it may be that Goldsborough doesnt quite bring what is needed to the table. show less

Technically sound but not very inspired continuation of the most excellent Nero Wolfe series.

Pretty dull. Pretentious. Nor very good mystery. Not very good characters.

New Nero Wolfe - Book 7