Homicide Trinity

Three stories originally published in "Ellery Queen Mystery" magazine. The version I read was Bantam's rerelease in the 1990s, with an introduction by Stephen Greenleaf. It is always nice to read praise from someone who sees Archie and Nero as I see them. Confirmation as it were. In this set of stories I didn't find too much pushing at the edge of cultural stereotypes. They were straightforward and good puzzles. Also great moments to share with Archie and Wolfe.

"Eeny Meeny Murder Mo" - A murderer has the audacity to commit their crime in Wolfe's office and to catch them, Wolfe must rid himself of the rancor clouding his thoughts.

"Death of a Demon" - Special mention; the scene where Archie makes 4 witnesses of both sexes undress in front show more of each other. I like the way it is played, not for laughs, titillation or humiliation, but as the only way for Archie to solve his problem.

"Counterfeit for Murder" - The introduction of Hattie Annis and the effect she has on Archie is wonderful. show less

The book consists of three novellas; Eeny Meeny, Murder, Mo; Death of a Demon; Counterfeit for Murder. I'd never read any, though I had seen the episode of Eeny, Meeny in the brilliant Nero Wolfe series A&E produced in the 90s. (If you are a Nero Wolfe fan, and have never seen it, RUN to YouTube and watch all 25 videos. I can't read a Nero Wolfe now without hearing Timothy Hutton nail his Archie Goodwin performance - and the show sticks religiously to the books, almost word for word.)
As to these novellas, they are as good as is usual for Rex Stout, and as flawed as any book written in 30 days without editing. I identify with Archie in that I can rarely figure out whodunnit until the denoument, or in rare cases, just before it. One thing show more these three have in common is that Nero is forced into each case by circumstances and his - and Archie's - rules of behavior. I did enjoy them. show less

Several of Rex Stout's earlier novellas have been reissued as Kindle Singles. Excellent.

Archie and Nero are in rare form in this nice classic piece. The confidential secretary of a law firm shows up at the brownstone. Archie's interviews her, knowing that Nero won't be down from the orchids until later and her story, that someone in the firm is meeting with their client's adversary and that it relates to a divorce case, means that Archie has to frame her story in such a way that Nero, who refuses to have anything to do with divorce cases, will be interested. Wolfe is not, despite Archie's entreaties. Then the woman is discovered in his study, strangled with his necktie.

Well, now Wolfe is pissed. No one kills in his house with impunity. show more Classic Stout. show less

Homicide Trinity consists of three of Rex Stout's many novellas: Eeny Meeny Murder Mo, Death of a Demon, and Counterfeit for Murder. I enjoyed all three but liked Counterfeit for Murder best with a somewhat unusual client in Hattie Annis for Nero Wolfe. In fact, all three had unusual clients which added interest to the stories.

Another of Stout's collections of 3 novellas: "Eeny Meeny Murder Mo", "Death of a Demon" and "Counterfeit for Murder"

I enjoyed all 3 of these stories but I think that "Eeny Meeny Murder Mo" was the best. I listened to the digital audiobook from the library & Michael Pritchard does a great narration (though the digital file was clearly made from the original audio cassettes because in a few places, they forgot to edit out the "This is the end of cassette #1. Please turn over this cassette to continue listening."!).

It's official: Hattie Annis is the greatest character in the Wolfe canon. The other two stories were pretty good, too.

Three Wolfe short stories, the first being the best. When a legal secretary is strangled in Wolfe's office, suspicion falls on three lawyers and Wolfe must find the correct answer to "Eeny Meeny Murder" Counterfeit for murder introduces one of Wolfe's most prickly and difficult clients. Good quality Stout.