2½ stars. While I enjoyed this, especially the beginning where Wolfe actually leaves his brownstone, I found the plot a tad weak. The solution seemed pretty obvious to me well before the end... ( )

Moving right along in my shared chronological re-read of the Nero Wolfe series with Liz and Steve, we are up to Book 4. The recurring characters' are starting to assume the shape and personality that they would wear for the remaining 43 books, which makes this the first story that recalls for me at least a little of the familiar warm feelings I have for this, my most favorite series of all time.

The plot finds rotund genius Nero actually leaving his beloved New York City brownstone on business, a thing that almost never happens. Readers get a taste of how he feels about the idea from this response to his prospective client's suggestion that he visit the scene of the crime:

" 'Sir, I would not enter a taxicab for a chance to solve the Sphinx's deepest riddle with all the Nile's cargo as my reward!" He sank his voice to an outraged murmur. 'Good God. A taxicab.' "

The client prevails (though with Archie at the wheel, not a NYC cabbie), and Wolfe begins a desultory investigation into the poisoning of a fashion model. The death blow was delivered in a box of candy, but was Molly Lauck the intended target, or did she bite the Jordan almond meant for someone else? ( )

Nero Wolfe has a plethora of clients in his latest case involving the death of a fashion model from eating a poisoned chocolate. Llewellyn Frost hires Wolfe, even managing to lure him out of his brownstone to interview suspects in their natural habitat. Frost wants to protect his cousin Helen, another model who witnessed the death. After a second murder, Frost gets cold feet, so Helen hires Wolfe to carry on with the investigation. At a certain point, it becomes clear that a red box holds the solution to the murders. But where is the box?

Wolfe’s exceptional powers of deduction exasperate his assistant Archie, Inspector Cramer of the police, and perhaps most readers. He holds his cards close to his chest, yet there are enough clues for a perceptive reader to guess the motive for the murder and the murderer’s identity. Wolfe, Goodwin, and Inspector Cramer make references to the cases in the earlier books in the series, but not in a spoilery way. It’s savvy marketing that might nudge readers to buy the earlier books to find out what they missed! ( )

Na Nova York de 1936, uma jovem modelo abre uma caixa vermelha e morre ao ingerir um bombom envenenado: seria ela o alvo da cilada ou apenas a vítima acidental de uma trama envolvendo seu patrão, o magnata Boyd McNair? É o que Nero Wolfe deverá elucidar, sem sair de casa, utilizando sua prodigiosa inteligência dedutiva e os préstimos do fiel assistente Archie, que enfrenta vários perigos para recolher indícios que ajudem o genial detetive a armar sua própria rede.

This might be the first time we see Wolfe leaving the office for a client but I don't think it will happen much. The story is centering around young heiress Helen Frost who is about to become an adult as people around here start dying.
( )