This title consists of two stories: Black Orchids and Cordially Invited to Meet Death.
About the author: Rex Stout (1886 – 1975) was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. His best-known characters are the detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin, who were featured in 33 novels and 39 novellas between 1934 and 1975. (wikipedia). (bibliography)
Major characters:
- Harry Gould, Dill employee acting in their display
- Anne Tracy, Dill employee acting in their display
- W. G. Dill, head of Rucker & Dill, horticulturalists
- Lewis Hewitt, amateur orchid grower
- Fred Updegraff, head of Updegraff Nurseries
- Pete Arango, employee of Updegraff Nurseries
- Rose Lasher, the mysterious woman, a.k.a. Ruby Lawson
- Nero Wolfe, private detective
- Archie Goodwin, private detective
- Johnny Keems, operative
- Lt. Cramer, homicide
Locale: New York City
Synopsis: The New York Flower Show is underway, and the stars of the show are three black orchid plants, grown by millionaire flower enthusiast Lewis Hewitt, who is also the chairman of the Flower Show committee. Nero Wolfe is quite jealous and wants to see, if not possess, them.
Elsewhere in the show is the big Rucker & Dill exhibit, which features not only lots of flowers, but a staged meadow-and-stream scene with employees Harry Gould and Anne Tracy acting as lovers on a picnic. There is an undercurrent of concern at the show about Kurume Yellows, a plant disease which is plagueing the exhibitors. Hewitt even thinks there is some sabotage and wants to hire Wolfe to find out - an idea Wolfe dismisses.
The first hint of trouble is when Fred Undegraff, head of Undegraff nurseries, sneaks a plant clipping from Rucker & Dill's exhibit, and is seen by Harry Gould. Then, during the scheduled picnic scene, Gould is found to be not only asleep (as he is supposed to be portraying), but also quite dead.
The police find a gun hidden in the scenery, with a string from the trigger leading to the service corridor behind the exhibit. The end of the string had been tied to a cane belonging to Hewitt, who was missing it. It was arranged such that anyone innocently picking up the cane (which happened to be Archie Goodwin) would pull on the string and discharge the gun. Pete Arango, employee of Undegraff Nurseries, had observed a woman - Rose Lasher - hanging around the service corridor. She is interviewed but hostile, giving a false name - Ruby Lawson - and address.
Review: This shorter novella is always a fun one to come back to, and it features an episode where Wolfe actually leaves the brownstone.
The best part is when operative Johnny Keems shows up at Wolfe's with Anne Tracy in tow. Johnny, who is always seeking to take over Archie's position, did not follow Wolfe's instructions exactly and is reamed out in front of everyone. It is hilarious how Wolfe puts him in his place; although I definitely would not want to be in that position.
The denouément scene in the rooftop flower rooms is somewhat predictable as Wolfe lays a not-so-nice trap for the killer. There are a number of hints to the reader as to what is coming.
Also please see this review by Bev Hankins on My Reader's Block.
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