The Battered Badge

A Nero Wolfe Mystery

By: Robert Goldsborough

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

A shake-up in the New York Polic Department's homicide squad following a high-profile murder is bad for business for private investigator Nero Wolfe.

When wealthy and popular crusader and reformer Lester Pierce is gunned down in front of his Park Avenue residence, the public outcry forces the NYPD to restructure its homicide department. As the deceased was highly critical of Inspector Lionel Cramer, the longtime head of homicide is temporarily relieved of his badge. But it seems Cramer was not just a scapegoat. He was seen dining in Little Italy with mob kingpin Ralph Mars. 

All of this amounts to little more than conversational fodder for private eye Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin. But if Cramer's provisional replacement, Captain George Rowcliff, becomes permanent, Wolfe's future dealings with the force will be much compromised. Loath to depart from his routine, Wolfe makes the unusual decision to take on a case without an actual client. 

His investigation quickly points toward Pierce's organization, Good Government Group, where high-minded idealism is often trampled under the competing ambitions of the staff - several of whom would clearly have benefited from Pierce's demise. Despite the burgeoning list of suspects, Wolfe hasn't ruled out the involvement of the underworld and its connection to Cramer. But in order to untangle an abundance of motives and end the inspector's forced furlough, Wolfe may have to venture out of his comfort zone - and the premises of his brownstone. 

Continuing his beloved series, Nero Award-winning author Robert Goldsborough "demonstrates an impressive ability to emulate Rex Stout's narrative voice" (Publishers Weekly). 

The Battered Badge is the 60th book in the Nero Wolfe mystery series, but all titles can be enjoyed in any order.

©2019 Robert Goldsborough (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A pale, poorly written imitation of the real thing

Do yourself a favor, and read Rex Stout's original series. This is bad fan fiction. I've purchased three Goldsborough books hoping that he gets better, and each time I'm so disappointed that I can't finish the book. I wish I could get a refund. I'm going to erase this atrocity from my library and listen to And Be a Villain for the fifth time.

Okay

I am a longtime fan of Nero and Archie. I’ve enjoyed Robert Goldsborough’s continuation of Rex Stout’s detectives in the past but this one was pretty predictable, almost formulated and L. J. Ganser’s narration felt phoned in. It was okay but a tad disappointing.

One of The Best

From Goldsborough or Stout! The author deftly mixes up roles using our favorite characters. Menus may not be as outrageous and Wolfe seems stuck in time as references to a particular period are lacking. The ways the characters demonstrate respect and even affection for each other rings through. Great listen!

Ok if you think of it as fan fiction

I have been a die-hard Wolfe fan since I was a teen in the late 1970s, and gave the first Goldsborough book a chance when it came out, but found it unreadable. To me, it did not have any of the authentic flavor or charm of Wolfe, Archie or the other characters. Since I joined audible, I have listened to the original stories many times. When this book came up for free I tried it. It was (barely) adequate to carry me through til the end, with a very poor story and interactions that would NEVER have occurred within the old brownstone. I made it through by thinking of it as fan fiction, but even so, I rolled my eyes many times, and even skipped through some of the tedious last quarter of the book. It was a ridiculous and unsatisfying murderer reveal, too. I won’t waste any credits on any more Goldsborough interpretations of Nero Wolfe.

sad.

Not sure who I miss most, Rex Stout or Michael Pritchard. This is not a Nero Wolfe mystery.

Nero Wolfe Fan

Good Story. It held my interest. The characters in the performance were not always distinguishable.

Plesantly surprised

Big Nero wolfe fan. It takes some getting used to the new reading style but settled in.