An “excellent” novel that goes back to 1920s New York to reveal how the famed detective first met his incomparable sidekick (Publishers Weekly, starred review). In 1930, young Archie Goodwin comes to New York City hoping for a bit of excitement. In his third week working as a night watchman, he stops two burglars in their tracks—with a pair of hot lead slugs. Dismissed from his job for being … Dismissed from his job for being “trigger-happy,” he parlays his newfound notoriety into a job as a detective’s assistant, helping honest sleuth Del Bascom solve cases like the Morningside Piano Heist, the Rive Gauche Art Gallery Swindle, and the Sumner-Hayes Burglary. But it’s the kidnapping of Tommie Williamson, the son of a New York hotel magnate, that introduces Goodwin to the man who will change his life.
Goodwin knows there’s only one detective who can help find Tommie: Nero Wolfe, the stout genius of West Thirty-Fifth Street. Together, they’ll form one of the most unlikely crime fighting duos in history—but first Goodwin must locate Tommie and prove that he deserves a place by Wolfe’s side.
In this witty story about the origin of a legendary partnership, Robert Goldsborough gloriously evokes the spirit of Nero Wolfe’s creator, bestselling author Rex Stout, and breathes new life into his beloved characters.
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pretty true to the spirit of rex
A great introduction to Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe. Introduced all the main characters and whets the appetite for more. Planning on rereading the whole series!
The author knows Stout’s characters well known mannerisms. He relies on some preconstructed set phrases, something Stout would not do. He also tells more than shows, again something Stout would not do. All that being said it was a good puzzle. And if things seemed a little wooden at times the author did recover some of the spirit did Nero Wolfe …
I have been a fan of Nero & Archie all my life. Loved reading about how they met.
I love the Neto Wolfe books and this continuation of the series is well done. I give Rex Stout a five so Goldborough gets a four. No fantasy about fighting with four broken ribs and a broken arm and beating up six guys! No fake suspense. Just a fairly realistic detective story with interesting and intelligent characters. My kind of mystery!
As an old fan of Archie and Nero, I was delighted to find them again with Goldsboroughs style.
I always wondered how those two met. Now I know.
good ‘pre quel’ and written very much as stout did
For Nero Wolfe fans, this is a delight
Fun. I always wondered how they met.
Always liked Nero Wolf. Great intro to Archie.
Good to know the beginning.