Archie Meets Nero Wolfe

A Prequel to Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Mysteries (The Nero Wolfe Mysteries, Book 8)

By: Robert Goldsborough

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 “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 35th 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, best-selling author Rex Stout, and breathes new life into his beloved characters.

©2012 Robert Goldsborough (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Ridiculous

Nero Wolfe does not use infer when he means imply. He burned a dictionary once because it said the two were synonyms. How does someone make that mistake in this series. Also I find the dialogue clunky and nothing like Rex Stout. Lastly the reader is just awful for Archie. Michael Pritchard was spot on when he read the Blackstone versions.

geat prequel

now going to listen to ferdelance and the rest of the first neros but this is a great introduction

Great book!

This is a good story and great narration. I know Nero Wolf from the TV show, and this narrator’s version of Archie goes hand in hand with Timothy Hutton’s characterization of Archie. Definitely worth listening to! Really enjoyed this one.

I WAS reluctant but warmed up to it.

As a fan of the original Nero Wolfe series, some new guy writing no less than the very first episode annoyed me. After finishing this book, I've found it enjoyable and mostly, true to the overall series' storyline. I recommend it. In fact, I intend to try out the rest of Goldsborough's Nero Wolfe stories.

fun read

Fun introduction to the recurring characters with a satisfactory closing explaining how Archie was employed.

As I imagined their meeting

A wonderful and well written Prequel. To Nero Wolfe fans new readers and chronic Nero Readers. This book does not Disappoint and adds to the Canon.

Excellent narration; faithful in details

Goldsborough brings all the regular characters into his storyline. Ganser’s narration is excellent and makes for completely enjoyable listening as he brings to life each personality. This book and performance is a worthy addition to the Nero Wolfe universe.

Archie's beginning s with Nero

This is the story of how Archie met and began to work with Nero Wolfe. Okay narration, decent story.

best of genre additions

While I am a big rex stout fan and was originally excited to see Robert Goldsborogh's attempted additions to the genre, this is one of the best of that collection. It does a nice job of setting up the future relationship between Archie and Nero, along with some traditional characters like del Bascom. it is difficult to mimic another writer, but this prequel happened before the series was established and seems more genuine in style. I have also adapted to the reader being different many of the Rex stout books. worth reading as the first "Nero wolfe" novel, though different in tone from Rex stout.

What a Ride

Having dipped my toes in the Nero Wolfe world for one other novel, “Archie Meets Nero Wolfe” sealed the deal in terms of making me a fan. I can’t lie, I was initially drawn to the series due to the hardboiled crime element as well as the reader, LJ Ganser, who’s just a favorite of mine. This novel picks up intensity with it twists and clever puzzles solved. Well worth the listen.

So addictive

I have stumbled upon one of my most favourite series of books 🤗
Well written, not repetitive , sometimes humorous , very well narrated and very addictive .