©1990 Robert Goldsborough (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
"Rex Stout was a genius"
Robert Goldsborough is not. That is the only explanation I can think of. The Nero Wolfe stories written by Mr. Stout are quick and sharply written with neat plots and clever dialog. Every meal created by Felix is described with loving detail in these books. This Nero Wolfe book written by Mr. Goldsborough is mean spirited and trite. Felix and his meals are an afterthought rather than inspiring enough to have a cook book created for them. Archie isn't a smart alek in the book, he is downright disrespectful of Wolfe. At first I blamed the narrator and he really isn't suitable for Archie but as the book went on I realized the problem was really what was being said rather than the tone of voice. The actual mystery isn't bad. It was agony getting to the end though.