Rating: 
Summary: Can't think of a better detective than Nero Wolfe
Review: Rex Stout came up with a winner in Nero Wolfe. Archie and Nero combine for some of the best mystery/suspense reading possible. This book involves Wolfe with the most dangerous guys possible, the FBI. How he gets himself into and out of this mess is great to read. The book is full of excellent characters and no one can write a suspense story like Rex Stout.
Rating: 
Summary: Stout at His Best
Review: Rex Stout has always been one of the best mystery writers. The Doorbell Rang is one of his best. It sprints along and gets you caught up in the story. Nero Wolfe takes a case to stop the FBI themselves from harrassing a rich woman. On the way, he encounters a murderer, lying women, lying men, and a pair of FBI agents who he uses in one of the most creative ways I have ever read.
What makes this book so great is that it's different from most Nero Wolfe books. In this one, the main case is not a murder. The enemy is a huge and powefrul organization. Throughout the book, special precautions are taken by Wolfe and Archie, his wisecracking assistant, because they both know that the FBI isn't above bugging. The way they fulfill their clients wishes is wonderful, but of course I won't tell you how they do it. And the very end made me laugh out loud in the middle of a crowded bus. Just wait for it and you'll see what I mean. Stout is also a great writer and the Doorbell Rang is full of snappy writing and Wolfe in all his eloquence. It is a great book and it is really fun to read.
Rating:
Summary: The King of Suspense strikes again
Review: Rex Stout is clearly the best writer in this genre. He manages to combine exciting and original plots with a light, entertaining and witty style of writing. How can someone not laugh about the acid sarcasm that runs between Archie and Nero? How can someone not be amused by the Wolfe's small idiosyncrasies? In The Doorbell Rang Stout is once again at his best. This time Wolfe lured by an incredibly wealthy client takes on Hoover and the FBI. This adds some not very realistic element to the story and that is why I gave this book only four stars. Besides from that excellent read, very enjoyable. Gotta love Stout!
Rating:
Summary: The King of Suspense strikes again
Review: Rex Stout is clearly the best writer in this genre. He manages to combine exciting and original plots with a light, entertaining and witty style of writing. How can someone not laugh about the acid sarcasm that runs between Archie and Nero? How can someone not be amused by the Wolfe's small idiosyncrasies? In The Doorbell Rang Stout is once again at his best. This time Wolfe lured by an incredibly wealthy client takes on Hoover and the FBI. This adds some not very realistic element to the story and that is why I gave this book only four stars. Besides from that excellent read, very enjoyable. Gotta love Stout!
Rating: 
Summary: Pfui to this out-of-date story about Nero Wolfe and the FBI.
Review: The Nero Wolfe mystery stories were recommended to me by a friend and I chose The Doorbell Rang because no less than Clifton Fadiman felt that it was one of Rex Stout's best mysteries. I think few readers today will take much interest in this out-of-date telling of Nero Wolfe's encounter with the FBI. At no point in this story was I much interested in anything that happened. In fact, my response can best be summarized by one word that Nero Wolfe uses often: Pfui.
Rating:
Summary: Rubinek makes Archie Goodwin come alive
Review: The pesky FBI is up to tricks harassing a prominent citizen and she feels that no one can help her but Nero Wolfe. Mais oui! Wolfe isn't too happy to take on J. Edgar, but who would be? Still he figures a way out of the conundrum that leaves his client happy and the Feds only slightly disgruntled.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Wolfe-ian shenanigans--Rex Stout at his very best.
Review: There are mystery books where the mystery is the thing and there are mystery books where the character(s) is/are the thing.With Stout, the characters are the thing. One does not read Stout to immerse oneself in an intricate mystery that one tries to solve. On reads Stout because you know you are in for a treat�not only do you get the ongoing give and take with the usual suspects�Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, he of the intrepid heart and very dry wit, Fritz and Cramer, house chef and NYPD Homicide Captain, but each book also introduces an interesting and well developed cast of secondary characters as well. And, given that Wolfe is as much a psychologist in his detecting as a detective, convincing and in depth characterization is critical to the success of any given story. It�s just after the New Year and the indolent Wolfe needs a client. A doozy shows up�a rich widow being harassed by the FBI. She offers Wolfe a $100,000 retainer to devise a means of getting them off her back. Wolfe, with no real idea how to proceed, draws down on his credit balance with a local journalist and gets the inside poop on several FBI operations in the NYC area. Wolfe focuses on a murder where three FBI men are involved. He begins investigating the crime with an eye to setting up a situation where he can use the crime as a lever against the FBI. What makes this novel particularly interesting is the role the murder plays in the plot. Usually, the murder IS the plot. Here it is a sideshow to the main event�Nero Wolfe v. the FBI. The manner in which Wolfe succeeds in setting up and trapping the local FBI officers is brilliant and extremely entertaining. Moreover, this book features the full blown cast of Wolfe characters, a rarity for a Wolfe novel. Stout�s Nero Wolfe is one of the classic 20th century detective series�and this is classic Wolfe from beginning to end.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Wolfe-ian shenanigans--Rex Stout at his very best.
Review: There are mystery books where the mystery is the thing and there are mystery books where the character(s) is/are the thing. With Stout, the characters are the thing. One does not read Stout to immerse oneself in an intricate mystery that one tries to solve. On reads Stout because you know you are in for a treat'not only do you get the ongoing give and take with the usual suspects'Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, he of the intrepid heart and very dry wit, Fritz and Cramer, house chef and NYPD Homicide Captain, but each book also introduces an interesting and well developed cast of secondary characters as well. And, given that Wolfe is as much a psychologist in his detecting as a detective, convincing and in depth characterization is critical to the success of any given story. It's just after the New Year and the indolent Wolfe needs a client. A doozy shows up'a rich widow being harassed by the FBI. She offers Wolfe a $100,000 retainer to devise a means of getting them off her back. Wolfe, with no real idea how to proceed, draws down on his credit balance with a local journalist and gets the inside poop on several FBI operations in the NYC area. Wolfe focuses on a murder where three FBI men are involved. He begins investigating the crime with an eye to setting up a situation where he can use the crime as a lever against the FBI. What makes this novel particularly interesting is the role the murder plays in the plot. Usually, the murder IS the plot. Here it is a sideshow to the main event'Nero Wolfe v. the FBI. The manner in which Wolfe succeeds in setting up and trapping the local FBI officers is brilliant and extremely entertaining. Moreover, this book features the full blown cast of Wolfe characters, a rarity for a Wolfe novel. Stout's Nero Wolfe is one of the classic 20th century detective series'and this is classic Wolfe from beginning to end.
Rating:
Summary: Very good
Review: This is not one of Stout's better plots, possibly because of the artifice necessary to put together a story where Wolfe successfully takes on the FBI. However there is lots of office chatter between Wolfe and Archie, and Cramer has a nice role. Well worth a read, I think.
Rating:
Summary: A memorable Wolfe
Review: This is one of the very best Wolfes, set in the early 60s, with the changing times providing Stout with fresh backcloths for the familiar characters. However, you'll probably enjoy it more if you've already experienced some Wolfe stories which follow the standard whodunnit formula, like Gambit or Champagne for One. The Doorbell Rang must have been fairly brave in poking fun at Hoover and g-men in general (did Stout get bugged himself in consequence?).
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