I read all, or almost all the Nero Wolfe mysteries when I was in junior high, having finished reading Nancy Drew. I found this title in a box of old paperbacks, and decided to re-visit the old brownstone on West 35th Street. Somehow, the edition I happen to have is a British printing - which was strange to read to say the least. In amongst all of Archie's slang some of the terms had British spelling. It was weird. But that's only for the edition I found, an American edition shouldn't have that problem.The Nero Wolfe books are all told in first person from Archie Goodwin's point of view. Archie is Wolfe's "legman", secretary, and as he'd say - "chief needler". And what Archie needles Wolfe about is money, chiefly the need to make some by taking cases. This novel, however, starts a bit differently. Archie comes home late from a date, and not with his main squeeze Lily Rowan. Wolfe is annoyed because Lily had called several times looking for Archie - and Wolfe didn't know where he was since Archie didn't tell him his plans. Archie, in turn, is understandably annoyed at Wolfe's over-controlling nature. But then - it is Archie's pov.The next morning, a man shows up at the brownstone, wanting to hire Wolfe and Archie to prove that his daughter-in-law is "a snake". Wolfe patiently explains he doesn't take divorce cases. Said client, Otis Jarrell, continues to push and drops a $10,000 cash retainer on Wolfe's desk. The result of the wrangling is that Archie ends-up going to Jarrell's home/office under an assumed name as Jarrell's new secretary.Archie arrives, meets all the players, and starts to investigate. Jarrell has also suffered some business losses - but he blames them all on his daughter-in-law. This accusation has no basis in fact, and before long, Archie sees his and Wolfe's client is a bit much.Just as Archie is getting started on his investigations, something happens - a gun is stolen from Jarrell's desk. This proves to be more important than it at first seems.The rest of the book is very typical in structure and content to a Nero Wolfe story, including Wolfe and Archie finding ways to corral all the suspects at Wolfe's office in his brownstone so Wolfe can interview them. Wolfe's set of errands, and final confrontation/solving of the mystery (which includes two murders by the end) works, but I felt it was predictable.Overall, I thought If Death Ever Slept fell a bit flat. I figured out exactly what Wolfe was doing at the end of the book, which isn't typical of what I remember of reading these books. I liked that the story was mostly dialogue, it made for a fast read, but the story needed a bit more depth and a red herring or two -- something to make it work. None of the "guest" characters were all that interesting, several of them were annoying, and I even found a flaw or two in the final "let's reveal the murderer" scene. Rex Stout has written much better.Overall, though I'd recommend the Nero Wolfe series to anyone who likes a good mystery (especially one in the Agatha Christie/Sherlock Holmes vein but American), don't start with this particular story. I think Rex Stout's novels from the 1930s were his best, though one has to make allowances for social change.
A millionaire came to Nero Wolfe asking him to get a proof his daughter-in-law is - to use his own expression - a snake. He suspects her of selling his business secrets to outsiders, among other things. Usually even Archie Goodwin who is always eager to get a client does not touch such cases with a ten foot pole, but this time he just had fallout with Nero Wolfe and they were not on speaking terms. So Nero Wolfe knowing Archie would have to impersonate the millionaire's secretary agrees hoping Archie would reject, but the latter agrees hoping the former would do so as Wolfe has to suffer some discomfort when his sidekick is not around to do countless minor chores. The net result of this? Archie moves in to the millionaire mansion undercover. He soon learns not only he is way over his head, but the developments might be too much even for Wolfe's genius. Dead bodies will make appearances. Let me start my own musings by stating that I really do believe people who disclose the identity of the villain in their review of a mystery books without at least hiding it in spoiler tags bring huge amount of bad karma on themselves. It would take rescuing a truckload of kittens to just begin bringing some good karma for counterbalance:I would also de-friend such people without a second thought. Really if you do this you suck, plain and simple. There, I said it. As usual the interactions between two main characters, and between them and the police represented by head of Homicide in Manhattan Inspector Cramer and Sergeant Purley Stebbins are great and amusing. The mystery element was good enough to keep me glued to the book until the end.
What do You think about If Death Ever Slept (2006)?
A clash of wills between Wolfe and Archie (compounded by mutual fits of stubbornness) results in Archie masquerading as a secretary in the home of millionaire Otis Jarrell-- a situation that neither Wolfe nor Archie relishes overmuch. Officially, Jarrell hired them to prove that his daughter-in-law stole (and sold) business secrets. But when Jarrell's gun turns up missing and his previous secretary winds up with a hole in the back of his head, the case rapidly escalates into a full-fledged murder investigation. But who done it? And with a house full of suspects with ample motive, means, and opportunity, how will Wolfe ever find the culprit?This entertaining entry in the Nero Wolfe series boasts several strong and/or complex female characters. First, there's Trella Jarrell, second wife to client Otis Jarrell, who likes men to spend money on her and who has a habit of saying things she doesn't mean, but who also provides Archie with several noteworthy bits of information. Then there's Lois, Jarrell's unmarried daughter, who looks great in a tennis dress and dances like a dream, even if she did once write a poem about a squirrel (from which poem the title of this book was taken). Nora Kent, Jarrell's secretary, is cool and competent and definitely knows more than she lets on. And Susan Jarrell, the aforementioned daughter-in-law, seems to be fairly run-of-the-mill, but somehow possesses the ability to attract men like moths to flame. And fan favorite Lily Rowan even makes an appearance of sorts, as her antics are the source of Archie and Wolfe's initial quarrel.Not that it's all women. Jarrell himself figures prominently in the story, as do his son, Wyman, and brother-in-law, Roger--to say nothing of ex-secretary Jim Eber and business competitor Cory Brigham. But, with the exception of the horse-mad racing junkie Roger, the women are far more interesting.The mystery itself is nothing spectacular, but Archie gets to demonstrate his wit, charm, and humor, which makes the story worth reading. Probably not the best book to start with, but if you're already a fan, then you should definitely add this one to your list.A note on the audiobook edition: I think I'm starting to warm to Michael Prichard's narration. It's still not spectacular, by any means, but I'm not actively distracted by it. His Wolfe is better than his Archie, but then Archie is always the toughest character to portray well.
—Alexis Neal
If Death Ever Slept (1957) This Rex Stout novel begins with a spat between Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. A rich man shows up and asks to hire Archie to move in as his secretary to help catch his daughter-in-law who is “a snake.” Nero considers the offer to piss off Archie and Archie takes the offer to piss off Nero. Archie does and soon is involved in two or three murders, I forget which. There is a ritual denouement scene in most of these novels where Detective Cramer (with his annoying sidekick Sergeant Purley Stebbins) indulges Nero by gathering all of the suspects at his office for the truth to be revealed. Cramer usually makes the same speech to the suspects, about how they don’t have to be there after he’s ordered the to do so.
—Jeff
I liked the idea of 1950s NYC's answer to Sherlock Holmes, but I didn't really like this novel. Maybe I picked the wrong one to start with. But I didn't care about the characters, and the mystery seemed pretty pointless and was solved in a boring, unconvincing way.However...check out some of the foods they ate during this book: - shad roe with créole sauce - bread triangles fried in anchovy butter- "hedgehog omelet"- avocado, whipped with sugar and lime juice and green chartreuse- fresh strawberry omeletIt's a crazy world out there.
—Sarah
