What do You think about Three Doors To Death (1995)?
This is collection of three short stories about Nero Wolfe. Each story is a fast read. Of course with a short story there isn't the time for a lot of twists and red herrings, but each story is a fun read. Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin must solve three murders. In one a young model thinks she has seen her dead uncle and Wolfe must figure out what is going on. In another story Wolfe's good friend who is a restaurant owner asks Wolfe to clear his mentor of the murder of the owner of another chain of restaurants. In the third story Wolfe is looking to hire a replacement for the man who tends his orchids. When the new man is accused of murder Wolfe solves the case in order to get back to his beloved orchids.
—Peggy
Finished the first of three Nero Wolfe cases - Man Alive. A young woman asks Wolfe to find her uncle who supposedly committed suicide a year ago but she is sure she saw him. When the uncle is actually killed at the business the woman is the chief suspect. Three deaths have occurred to those associated with the business - two accidents and a supposed suicide turned murder. Wolfe is suspicious. Completed the second case, Omit Flowers. Nero Wolfe is approached by a friend, a wonderful cook, who has been arrested for murder. The friend swears he didn't do it but circumstantial evidence indicate that he could be guilty. Wolfe believes his friend and takes the case free. The murdered man is the husband of a woman who owns a chain of restaurants called Ambrosia, her second husband. The woman has declared that he will run the restaurants as her first husband did but he has no experience. Who did the murder? The cook, one of several children, the wife or the former girlfriend. The third tale was called Door to Death. Nero Wolfe is looking for someone to care for his exotic flowers - one of the few passions which will bring him out of his home. When he finds the man he wants, he finds that the man is accused of murdering the woman he plans to marry. The Pitcairns, who employ him, are perfectly willing to let him suffer the consequences. However, Wolfe, works to prove the man's innocence so he can take care of the exotic flowers. Suspects include the other servants, an assistant gardener, and all of the Pitcairn family. All in all these tales were fun to read.
—Rusty
I suppose I could spend some time detailing the plots of these three novellas, but when it comes right down to it they are formulaic, but my, what a formula. I love Rex Stout, although the early novels are probably better than those toward the end of his life. Nevertheless, if you have never read any Nero Wolfe stories, you must. The characters are classic and the word interplay between them is wonderful. My favorite is the third. Wolfe is desperate as Theodore has left for an extended period of time to care for his sick mother so Wolfe has no one to do the dirty work with the orchids. He thinks he’s found a replacement and has actually left the brownstone to beseech Andy to come work for him. Unfortunately, Andy’s fiance has just been killed and he’s the prime suspect so if Wolfe wants to get his orchids cared for he has to solve the crime quickly. Wolfe actually has to sneak through the woods in the middle of the snow, falling down a couple of times. Now that must have been a sight.Just go read all those you can get your hands on.
—Eric_W
