Black Orchids

By: Rex Stout

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Nero Wolfe has left his comfortable brownstone for the promise of a remarkably rare black orchid at a flower show—but before Wolfe and his perennially hardy sidekick, Archie Goodwin, have a chance to stop and smell the roses, a diabolically daring murder takes place right under their noses and puts a blight on the proceedings. Now Wolfe's fancy turns to thoughts of weeding out a murderer—one who's definitely not a garden-variety killer. Only then will Wolfe be ready to throw his weight into a second thorny case, involving a rich society widow bedeviled by poison-pen letters—and a poisonous plot as black as Wolfe's orchids . . . with roots that are even more twisted.

Introduction by Lawrence Block

“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.©1942 Rex Stout; (P)1994 Books on Tape

Vintage...just Vintage!

Any additional comments?

Despite the fact I've read this (and every other) Nero Wolfe story many times, the Audible version allowed me to savor this story "hands-free"! It was just as good. Tightly written and just a load of fun, Rex Stout never disappointed. And Nero finds a way to add to his extensive orchid collection to boot in this one!

The world Rex Stout built around Nero Wolfe & Archie Goodwin is Unique & Captivating!

If you read just about any of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries, be ready to read them all. Even fellow mystery writers speak of the world & atmosphere Stout built around Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin.

The first Nero Wolfe mystery I read came from a small local Library, in small town, Milford, New Hampshire in 1985. Immediately afterward I checked out every single volume the library had. Then I took to eBay to find and buy all of Stout’s Nero Wolfe books. I’ve even read a number of Stout’s books with a different leading man/woman.

The stories are almost addictive. Every few years I read all of the stories, in the order they were initially published.

Wonderfully written and captivating.

two of the best

50 years ago, as a teenager, I found my first Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin novel in our family camper while on vacation at a dude ranch. I kept reading and ignored the horses and campfires. I was fascinated by the world Stout created. I've since read repeatedly and collected all of the books in both hardback, paperback, and now all of them that are available on Kindle and Audible. Nero, Archie, Saul, Fritz, and all the others have become dear friends. Michael Pritchard is a very good narrator.

After 50 years of re-reading, I notice some of the repetitions in the plots, (how many women have been strangled in or around Wolfe's house?!?), though the differences always make up for it.

There are not many novels I read more than once. Rex Stout has created a world that bears many repeated visits.

Typical Wolfe Short Story Collection

If you could sum up Black Orchids in three words, what would they be?

Early Wolfe Shorts

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not really. Like all Wolfe books, they are more of an intellectual challenge than a suspense experience.

Which scene was your favorite?

The murder at the flower show.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Four of Stout's early Wolfe short stories that you can read at your own pace.

Any additional comments?

Stout published about a dozen short story collections, only a few of which are available on Audible and even fewer on CD. It would do us all a service if Audible would make the others available, as they are mostly real gems.

Classic Stout

His first omnibus, two stories contain in a book long enough for one story, the first being almost novel length in the second, or a short story, Rex Stout, nevertheless, brings forth all his magic, and the resultant work is well worth a read, my only disappointment being that he didn’t make each of these stories a full length novel.