Prisoner's Base

A young woman shows up at Wolfe's door and requests to stay in his house for a week without giving her name or any details about herself. You can imagine how that goes; or can you?

I am rereading these novels with an eye for whatever cultural wrongs Stout is taking a stab at pointing out. It's a bit of a stretch for this one, but I would say it was the attitude of men towards women in leadership roles in business. He describes several women who have a stake in a manufacturing business; one an heiress who intends to take over on her 25th birthday, one a woman who has been working there for a long time, but is being kept "in her place" by the men who have more power than she, one a woman who is trying to sleep her way to the top, and one show more who wants nothing to do with the business except to receive her monthly allowance from it. Business woman, Viola Duday, is described in an unflattering manner by Archie, but she is allowed to make comments about the lack of women in higher positions in business and the salary differences. In fact, she comes across as more savvy and honest than the men. None of this is relevant to the murder and solution, but Stout manages to highlight some of the inequalities and absurdities without banging on about it. Because it is spoken of with Archie's sarcastic wit, it is taken for granted that it is absurd and no argument or preaching is required.

My first review for this only said that the book left me sad. I must have been in a mood. It is sad that just as one (or more) women are getting their life together, they are murdered, but not more so than any other murder mystery where the victims are not bad people. show less

When a young woman presents herself at Nero Wolfe’s door asking only for a weeks’ shelter in one of the brownstone’s spare rooms, Wolfe’s assistant, Archie Goodwin, sees it as an opportunity to break the impasse that had arisen between them due to a lack of cases. When Nero Wolfe turns the woman out, Goodwin’s frustration soon turns into guilt after learning that the woman had been murdered shortly after leaving Wolfe’s home. Archie takes it personally, and Wolfe does, too, after he is drug down to the police station. Wolfe takes on an unusual client – Archie. As Wolfe’s client, Archie finds Wolfe more inscrutable than ever.

The adaptation of this book is one of my favorite episodes of the Nero Wolfe TV series that aired show more on A&E back in the day. The book is even better. While Archie and the police wear themselves out questioning suspects and probing alibis, Wolfe uses his brain power to deduce the murderer’s identity. The solution seems obvious when Wolfe reveals it, but I was as stumped as Archie and Lieutenant Cramer. show less

This has long been one of my favorite books in the Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin series, though for a long time I wouldn't re-read it because of A Thing that happens. A few years ago I decided that was silly and re-read it. The Thing is still very ... Thing-y, but in my (ahem) maturity I really appreciate the way author Rex Stout handles the situation and the fallout from it in ways that serve the story without striking even a single false note with our beloved characters. So it went back on the re-read list, and I re-read it recently. It's still awfully good, in every sense of the phrase.

A woman invites herself to stay at Nero Wolfe's townhouse. It is all very mysterious as the woman is well familiar with the layout of the place and its inhabitants, yet she does not seem to care that Wolfe is not fond of women. Nevertheless, she offers to pay $50 a night. Archie, unbeknownst to his employer, takes the woman in. Thus begins Prisoner's Base and the story of Priscilla Eads. Wolfe callously turns Ms. Eads away deciding not to take a case she doesn't have. Needed a place to stay is not a mystery or a crime. Hours after her dismissal Ms. E is found murdered. Anger on Archie's part and guilt on Wolfe's prompts Wolfe to solve her murder...for Archie's sake. It turns out to be a complicated case. Ms. Eads had a target on her show more back. As the primary heir to a towel company, she stood to inherit 90% if she lived to see her thirtieth birthday. She was murdered a week shy. Any number of people stood to gain something by her demise. Was it her ex-husband who claimed he had a right to 50% of her inheritance? Was it the other company shareholders who would gain her shares if she died? show less

An excellent story from start to finish. I knew who the culprit was, being a keen fan of the now-defunct A&E series, but the book was so much more detailed and engrossing that I fell into the story and didn't want it to end. In fact, when I first finished it, I moped around the house for a few days before starting all over again, just to rejoin the wonderful world inhabited by Wolfe, Fritz, and the always dashing Mr. Goodwin.

I enjoyed this episode in the Nero Wolfe series. Wolfe and Archie were both at their best with their banter. Some of the plot was a little convoluted, but that made it fun. Definitely an interesting cast of characters. The ending did seem to come out of nowhere, but I didn't mind. The writing was a product of it's time at points, particularly with regards to women.

Nero Wolfe novels are “comfort” reads for me. When I’m tired or just can’t figure out what I’m in the mood to read it has become my habit just to grab the next NW and settle down for a pleasant evening “with friends” without having to think too much. I enjoy the characters and the puzzles and I’m about even with Stout at figuring out the answer before Wolfe does. This is one where I didn’t. Stout played fair but the hints were not made as obvious as they sometimes are. This one has an unusual twist in that the person who becomes the client is a surprise. We also get to see a little of the “human” side of Wolfe’s lawyer, Nathaniel Parker. Recommended for fans of “classic” mysteries