dustjackets.com
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)
Series: Nero Wolfe #7
Major characters:
- Carla Lovchen, fencing coach
- Neya Tormic, fencing coach, Wolfe's daughter
- Nikola and Jeanne Miltan, owners of studio
- Nat Driscoll, who had the diamonds
- Percy Ludlow, agent of British government
- Madame Zorka, dressmaker
- Ted Gill, dancing student
- Rudolph Faber (The Chinless Wonder) agent of German government
- Arthur, the porter
- Nero Wolfe
- Archie Goodwin
Locale: New York City
Synopsis: Nero Wolfe is approached by Carla Lovchen, who seeks help for her fellow fencing coach Neya Tormic. To Wolfe's suprise, she produces a certificate - bearing Wolfe's signature - that Neya is Wolfe's adopted daughter. Neya is accused of stealing diamonds from the suit pocket of a client, Nat Driscoll, which was hanging in a locker.
Archie Goodwin visits the fencing studio, run by Nikola and Jeanne Miltan. Another client, Percy Ludlow, sheepishly explains Neya actually had her hand in his suit pocket instead, in the adjacent locker. Driscoll remembers he had actually given the diamonds to his secretary, so it was all just an honest mistake. The case seems closed, but then Ludlow is found dead, run through with an épée with a pointed adapter, a cul de mort, on the end. Archie returns to the office and finds the cul de mort has been slipped into his pocket.
Review: It's a small but cosmopolitan cast as we meet Wolfe's daughter, unseen since he left her behind in Montenegro; and she is one the main characters. There are a number of amusing incidents, particularly when Archie escapes the scene, pretending to be searching for a cat; and when Wolfe has various parties in his house and tries to keep them from seeing each other. Archie is still the tough guy and has several occasions to use his fists. I usually find dialect rendered phonetically annoying but here I found the dialect of Madame Zorka ("Zen I sink, murder ees so horrible...") a pleasure and added to her character. A quick, fast-moving read from the prime years of Rex Stout.
No comments:
Post a Comment