Homicide Trinity

By: Rex Stout

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

The orchid-growing gourmet Nero Wolfe and his confidential assistant, Archie Goodwin, dine on a three-course feast of murder. The menu in the first case is a double helping of lethal instruments. In the second, an embarrassing situation develops when Wolfe's own soup-stained tie becomes a deadly weapon. Finally, Rex Stout proves that one can indeed have too much money, when a healthy serving of greenbacks and a ham actor lead Archie to an unpleasant discovery: a poor dead soul who may or may not have gotten his just desserts.

Stout fellow: listen to all of our Nero Wolfe mysteries, including classic radio programs!

©1962 Rex Stout (P)1997 Books on Tape Inc.

Critic Reviews

"It's always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore." (The New York Times)
"What's not to like about a Nero Wolfe mystery? The mysteries are short, cleverly plotted, well paced, and, if you're an audiobook listener, wonderfully read by Michael Prichard....Prichard has read nearly 20 books in Stout's series and has mastered Wolfe's deep, meditative voice and Archie's spry, chipper voice, as well as those of a host of other characters we recognize from one recording to the next." (AudioFile)

Best of the Nero Shorts

This book contains three Nero Wolfe short stories; Eeny Meeny Murder Mo, Death of a Demon, and Counterfeit for Murder. Eeny Meeny Murder Mo was my favorite of these, and is also one of the stories that A&E adapted for TV. I generally prefer longer Nero Wolfe novels to the collections of short stories, but this was the best of the short collections. As usual Michael Prichard’s narration is excellent and audio quality is great. Each of these shorts have a situation or character that is so good, it overcomes the lack of richness I get from Stout’s novels. I thought I had read every Nero Wolfe story long ago, but somehow had missed Counterfeit for Murder, which was a pleasant surprise.

If you have never read a Nero Wolfe story, this is perhaps the best introduction to the series. The Nero Wolfe stories are funny, stimulating, and touching, developing a cast of character you come to appreciate in relationships that are like a close, clever, cantankerous family. The stories have twists that are unexpected, yet seldom unbelievable. The logic holds together, and even when I have not figured out the mystery, I almost always feel that I had a fair chance, but missed some subtle point, sometimes a single line.

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

Excellent Wolfe Recording

If you could sum up Homicide Trinity in three words, what would they be?

good nero wolfe

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

I had read the three stories included in this recording before, but I do think Prichard's recording made it easier to follow and more suspenseful.

Which character – as performed by Michael Prichard – was your favorite?

I have always like Archie in the books, but Michael Prichard's reading of him makes him even more fun.

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

No, I learned my lesson. I now savor each Wolfe recording since eventually I will have them all and there won't be any more new ones.

Any additional comments?

The was a relic from the cassette recoding left on this version. After about 30 minutes, the narrator says "end of Cassette one, please turn over." etc. It only happens the once, but maybe someone can edit it out. (This is why I downgraded the overall rating to 4 stars.)

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great Listening

Great enjoyment. Well read. Lots of fun.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Not one but Three!

love these stories! The reader is always spot on with both Archy and Nero.
We have a blackmailee, killers, two bit actors, the rich and the poor. This is a great spread between the three stories.. Of course, by way of mental deduction Nero never fails to prove "who done it"

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

All fun to listen to

These short gems are fun to listen to. My only criticism -- they are just too short!

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

terrible formatting!

What would have made Homicide Trinity better?

formatting was terrible, stories run together in the same chapters, chapter breaks in the middle of a thought, in one spot listener told to turn over the disc.

Audio needs cleanup

The story and audio quality are fine. The instructions every 30 minutes to flip the cassette tape is annoying and should have been removed.

Great Book

I've been a Rex Stout fan more or less all my life. He is very re-readable,. My mother was a fan, and so my daughter is the third generation fan, love all his books, he didn't write a bad one. Try this, you'll like it.

I so enjoyed the short stories

This was a good break from the longer books. It was very quick stories, not over done