Why did the late multimillionaire Noel Hawthorne leave his sisters, April, May, and June, a peach, a pear, and an apple? Why did he will the bulk of his considerable estate to a woman who was most definitely not his wife? Now Nero Wolfe, able, astute, and unscrupulous detective that he is, must get to the bottom of a will that’s left a whirlpool of menace . . . and a legacy of murder that’s about … about to be fulfilled.
Introduction by Dean R. Koontz
“It is always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore.”—The New York Times Book Review
A grand master of the form, Rex Stout is one of America’s greatest mystery writers, and his literary creation Nero Wolfe is one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time. Together, Stout and Wolfe have entertained—and puzzled—millions of mystery fans around the world. Now, with his perambulatory man-about-town, Archie Goodwin, the arrogant, gourmandizing, sedentary sleuth is back in the original seventy-three cases of crime and detection written by the inimitable master himself, Rex Stout.
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Now and again I read a mystery by an old master. Where There’s a Will was written by Rex Stout, an old master of mysteries. If you haven’t read his Nero Wolfe character, here’s a book for your first one or one more if you have read him before. Nero Wolfe is the opposite of nearly all detectives. He is very overweight, eats too much, raises orchids, and almost never leaves his office. Nero Wolfe stories are told by his assistant, Archie Goodwin, the detective who pounds the pavement for Wolfe, is the storyteller. This one has a collection of unusual characters. If you like character-driven stories, as I do, you’ll enjoy Where There’s a Will, a Nero Wolfe mystery by past master, Rex Stout.
It’s Rex Stout — and Nero Wolfe. What more do you need to know?
I have been reading Rex Stout since the lateb1940’s and I never tire of Nero and Archie.
Another great Nero Wolfe
As usual, a dandy of a story.
Enjoy all Nero Wolfe books. Rex Stout had a vocabulary which much like Poe sent me to the dictionary.
The usual excellent Nero Wolfe tale told from Archie’s sarcastic POV. This case did not seem to generate as much cleverness from His Largeness.
The Rex Stout books may be dated but they are wonderful reads and timeless.
Nero Wolfe is one of my favorite detectives, and this lived up to usual standards.
Rex Stout wrote the best detective novels ever. Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin are worth the read.
Rex Stout at his best!
I heartily recommend all Rex Stouts Nero Wolf mysteries… if you love Sherlock, Sam Spade, and the like, your gonna love Nero.
I like this book because I like all of the Nero Wolf books!
Another great murder mystery involving Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. April, May, and June are three sisters who are surprised to learn that their brother’s will has not left them the bequests they had been promised, but instead has left nearly everything to his mistress, neglecting even his wife. As the investigation into the problem goes on, death happens, the real will is recovered, and Wolfe earns his fee.
I’
m addicted to stories about Nero Wolf and Archie, so I’m giving this 5 stars even though I don’t remember the story. I’ve read them all, with joy.
It’s Nero Wolfe…. it’s vintage awesome detective fiction!
I’ve read and reread all these books. Great plots and wonderful characters. I love this stuff.
Can you call the activities of a man who won’t leave his home to work, who won’t see clients during the two periods of the day when he tends his orchid collection “exploits”? Nero Wolfe must be the least active detective ever dreamed up, yet Rex Stout’s inventive mind and gift for urbane dialog make these novels intensely entertaining. Archie Goodwin does all the legwork and tells us the story, while Wolfe gets the credit. I especially enjoy the details of life in the 1930s and ’40s.
Rex Stout is a new favorite author in this genre. The joy of reading is in the development of the characters. The story structure mimics the Sherlock Holmes formula, but to good effect.
Rex Stout’s formula for Nero Wolfe novels always works. His story lines are fresh and often surprising. It does not matter if the time is in the late 1930s or later the interaction between Wolfe and Goodwin are entertaining and Wolfe always comes up with the answers despite all the cunning and obfuscation of the culprit. Excellent writing about a person and place we would hope was really with us today.