Triple Zeck: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

This is the first Rex Stout book which I read. It gave me a life-long love of Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin and all the other characters which flesh out the canon. Full of humor and razor sharp witticisms regarding popular culture and politics, these books are a fine read, whether you like mysteries or not. For me, the mystery is always secondary, in order to enjoy a mystery, there have to be interesting people involved or an interesting era in history. This book qualifies on both fronts.

This is an omnibus of three full-length Nero Wolfe books, each features his arch nemesis, Arnold Zeck. I have only read one Nero Wolfe Rex Stout book before, so that needs to be taken into context. In my opinion, each book got better and better, from "And Be a Villain" to "The Second Confession" to "In the Best Families". While I liked "And Be a Villian", I felt that it didn't have the pace, suspense, dialog and twists that I had hoped and expected. As each book progressed, Zeck's role became more prominent, Archie Goodwin had a bigger role and the pace, creativity and plot twists really stepped up, all while keeping Wolfe's talents squarely in focus. Furthermore, each book had a distinctly different personality - I didn't feel that I show more was reading a formulaic series. Kudos to Rex Stout!

This is a great collection. I definitely recommend it to anybody that enjoys this genre.

Contains:
- And Be a Villian
- The Second Confession
- In the Best Families show less

I re-read the second book in this trilogy--"The Second Confession." Even though I read it several years ago, I didn't remember the killer. This is classic Wolfe/Goodwin although not as much humor. When I need something that is a "comfort" read Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series is a good bet.

What a cool collection. All the evil Zeck mysteries under one cover -- preferably six feet under -- just like they should be. Must read, must own for any Nero Wolfe fan.

This is a collection of the three stories in which Wolfe has his encounters with his Moriarty, the master criminal Arnold Zeck. In the first one )reviewed elsewhere as a separate story) Wolfe is investigating the murder of a man who turns out to be one of Zeck's agents in a blackmail scheme, so their interests are parallel --both want the murderer caught. in the second, The Second Confession, Wolfe is initially hired to investigate a man who is actually one of Zeck's agents, who wants to marry Wolfe's client's daughter. This sets up a possible conflict, but the agent is murdered so again they do not conflict. In the third book. In the Best Families, Wolfe finds himself in direct conflict with Zeck, leaves his house, loses enough weight show more to be unrecognizable, becomes one of Zeck's higher henchmen himself, and arranges that Zeck be killed by one of Zeck's own men.oddly enough, Wolfe still has to provide a separate solution to a murder of a woman (his original client) and her dog. Somehow it is the dog's death that really bothers me. show less