Fade to Black

A Nero Wolfe Mystery

By: Robert Goldsborough

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

A soda war explodes into murder for Nero Wolfe, “one of the two or three most beloved detectives in fiction” (Publishers Weekly).

For the men of Madison Avenue, the battle between soft-drink giants Cherr-o-key and AmeriCherry seems heaven-sent. For years now, the firm of Mills/Lake/Ryman has fought to help Cherr-o-key become the nation’s favorite fizzy cherry soda, but each time they come up with a new slogan, mascot, or jingle, AmeriCherry somehow beats them to it. There’s a mole inside the agency, and only Nero Wolfe can ferret him out. Although he’s as round as a cherry himself, Wolfe has no taste for soft drinks. But the question of industrial espionage is too sweet for him to resist, and so with assistant Archie Goodwin at his side, he sets out to end this vicious corporate feud. Only when the first adman dies does he realize that a marketing war can be just as dangerous as the real thing.

©1990 Robert Goldsborough (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

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I very much enjoy this series. The wordsmithing is Grand, the narration is extraordinary, the characters are explicit and believable, the banter and snappy dialogue is vivid. I am glad there are more to come.

Nero and Archie. My Heroes

You can't a Nero Wolfe mystery. There's intrigue, witty conversation and of course orchids.

Good example of Nero Wolfe

I was a little apprehensive to start reading Nero Wolfe by someone else other than Rex Stout. I am glad that Goldsborough did a great job and that the Rex Stout state chose him to continue his legacy. The idea of bringing Nero Wolfe 30 years into the future, was also daring. I suppose that we are already far enough from the 80’s to see it as a classic piece too.
He can deliver the same soul of any Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin story. The use of specific vocabulary typical to Wolfe and Archie, and the idea of bring back the same banter and relationship with all the other peripheral characters was right to the point.

This may not be my favorite Nero Wolfe story from Goldsborough, but it’s pretty good and fateful to the brand. I am looking forward to more Nero Wolfe.

Not Quite Nero Wolfe but Good

Goldsborough includes all of the obvious Nero Wolfe elements, but something is missing. I know nothing about writing, but I don't get the same "feeling" listening to this as I get listening to Rex Stout's writing. I can't put my finger on it. I am very glad that Goldsborough wrote these books, but it's just different from listening to Rex Stout's writing. I feel more suspense from Stout. Stout also includes a lot more incidental humor. I think I smile more when listening to Stout. Goldsborough's books are more informational. Again, I'm glad he wrote these books and I recommend them to anyone who likes Nero Wolfe.
The reader is very good. I couldn't give him 5 stars because he mispronounces the very important Wolfe word, "phooey." Phooey is pronounced, "foo - ee," with two syllables as pronounced by Sydney Greenstreet and other actors and readers. Ganser says it with one syllable. Other than "fwee," I like Ganser's Archie and other characters.

Well, it’s not Rex Stout

The plot is contrived and the attempt to reprogram Stout’s language is largely unsuccessful and sometimes painful.