
Cheaters never prosper, but Nero Wolfe encounters one who kills trying. At the Pour Amour perfume riddle contest, a million dollars goes to the contestant who can answer five questions. Someone doesn't like the heat of competition, so he murders the contest founder and steals the answers to the riddles. Now Wolfe has to sniff down a trail of clues that leads disturbingly close to home.
Stout fellow: explore our list of Nero Wolfe mysteries, including novels and classic radio programs.
©1955 Rex Stout; (P)1995 Books on Tape
"It is always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore." (The New York Times)
While this Nero Wolfe mystery might be creaking a bit with old age, the Stout magic still plays well, decades after first publication. A murder mystery wrapped around a puzzle entices Wolfe and the ever steady Archie Goodwin to big pay dirt and even greater fame. The cast of characters is colorful, and the pressure mounts until a truly dastardly event takes place--murder right in Wolfe's office. Veteran narrator Michael Prichard does an outstanding job, especially when Wolfe and Archie work together. Not all of Stout's mysteries work as well as this one, but whether or not you get through it before midnight, a great listening experience is guaranteed. (c) AudioFile 2004
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