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Rating: 
Summary: Mystery is Feasible, but Characters Are Horrible
Review: First, the good thing: The mystery in this book is quite good with an unexpected twist at the end.
Next, the bad things: While the mystery is good, that's not really the focus in a Nero Wolfe novel. Stout's murders and solutions never quite compare to Agatha Christie's or Ngaio Marsh's, but their characters never quite compare to Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. In fact, those two are the mainstays of Stout's literary genius, but all mainstays must come to an end, and they do in this, Stout's final novel.
Granted, he was quite old when he wrote this, but the mystery holds up well. The characters, however--the part Stout should have been able to do even if half-senile--, do not. Archie is much, much more serious and barely even resembles his usual wise-cracking self. Wolfe is more tolerant in general, but when he is being his usual "odd" genius-self, it goes beyond "odd" to just plain bizarre.
The continuity of several things in the series is also disrupted. They discuss the murder at meals, Wolfe leaves the plant rooms early to meet with a caller who does not have an appointment, and the helpers, Saul, Fred, and Orrie, are also just not right.
For the mystery, this book isn't bad, but as far as characterization and continuity are concerned, it's no good. If you're a die-hard Stout fan, you need to read this book, but don't make it your first Nero Wolfe endeavor. Try "Fer-de-Lance" or "Some Buried Caesar." You'll be much happier.
Rating:
Summary: Mystery is Feasible, but Characters Are Horrible
Review: First, the good thing: The mystery in this book is quite good with an unexpected twist at the end.
Next, the bad things: While the mystery is good, that's not really the focus in a Nero Wolfe novel. Stout's murders and solutions never quite compare to Agatha Christie's or Ngaio Marsh's, but their characters never quite compare to Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. In fact, those two are the mainstays of Stout's literary genius, but all mainstays must come to an end, and they do in this, Stout's final novel.
Granted, he was quite old when he wrote this, but the mystery holds up well. The characters, however--the part Stout should have been able to do even if half-senile--, do not. Archie is much, much more serious and barely even resembles his usual wise-cracking self. Wolfe is more tolerant in general, but when he is being his usual "odd" genius-self, it goes beyond "odd" to just plain bizarre.
The continuity of several things in the series is also disrupted. They discuss the murder at meals, Wolfe leaves the plant rooms early to meet with a caller who does not have an appointment, and the helpers, Saul, Fred, and Orrie, are also just not right.
For the mystery, this book isn't bad, but as far as characterization and continuity are concerned, it's no good. If you're a die-hard Stout fan, you need to read this book, but don't make it your first Nero Wolfe endeavor. Try "Fer-de-Lance" or "Some Buried Caesar." You'll be much happier.
Rating: 
Summary: Stout has lost his touch in old age? Pfui.
Review: I didn't see in this book that characters were out of character or that the plot or whatnot had problems. Archie is his usual capable smartass self, and Wolfe's diction and grammar remain laser-precise (to use a metaphor he would scorn). The difference from the other novels is that this one has a somber note, and it sounded from Stout's deep disappointment with Watergate. (Wolfe fans know of his respect for words: "somber" goes back to a near-identical French word that means "grave.") Stout was thinking about issues of patriotism and betrayal when he penned this novel, and it shows. It should. Nixon was given control of the ship of state, and while steering it he indulged in wrecklessness and flummery. Wolfe does break some of his cherished rules; but can't we allow him to in Archie's last report of his doings? And he breaks them because the case is "a family affair." His self-esteem, as large as his fabled seventh of a ton, has been tweaked. A murder has happened in his own home--and, twice as indigestible, the victim is mighty Nero's own waiter at Rusterman's. He requires satisfaction and will halt his planetary momentum at nothing--not even jail time--to get it. Being a male chauvinist lookalike, as Saul Panzer would have it (and not just a lookalike, unfortunately), Archie's machismo could never allow him to comment at length on how he felt about where the investigation led. His lapses say it for him. A question implicit in what he and Wolfe discover is: how does one come to terms with finding betrayal where one expected sincerity? It can be an anguishing question, and the stylish solution devised by "the family" leaves behind it both a mystery solved but a lesson learned about the need to be critical of those who claim to uphold the law of the land.
Rating:
Summary: Stout has lost his touch in old age? Pfui.
Review: I didn't see in this book that characters were out of character or that the plot or whatnot had problems. Archie is his usual capable smartass self, and Wolfe's diction and grammar remain laser-precise (to use a metaphor he would scorn). The difference from the other novels is that this one has a somber note, and it sounded from Stout's deep disappointment with Watergate. (Wolfe fans know of his respect for words: "somber" goes back to a near-identical French word that means "grave.") Stout was thinking about issues of patriotism and betrayal when he penned this novel, and it shows. It should. Nixon was given control of the ship of state, and while steering it he indulged in wrecklessness and flummery. Wolfe does break some of his cherished rules; but can't we allow him to in Archie's last report of his doings? And he breaks them because the case is "a family affair." His self-esteem, as large as his fabled seventh of a ton, has been tweaked. A murder has happened in his own home--and, twice as indigestible, the victim is mighty Nero's own waiter at Rusterman's. He requires satisfaction and will halt his planetary momentum at nothing--not even jail time--to get it. Being a male chauvinist lookalike, as Saul Panzer would have it (and not just a lookalike, unfortunately), Archie's machismo could never allow him to comment at length on how he felt about where the investigation led. His lapses say it for him. A question implicit in what he and Wolfe discover is: how does one come to terms with finding betrayal where one expected sincerity? It can be an anguishing question, and the stylish solution devised by "the family" leaves behind it both a mystery solved but a lesson learned about the need to be critical of those who claim to uphold the law of the land.
Rating: 
Summary: Stout's Last -- With a Killer Ending
Review: Why do people say that Stout's age was showing when he wrote this book? To me, it's just as clever as any of the previous Wolfe tomes, and it has a surprising, killer ending. Very courageous of Stout to plot it like he did. An excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: Stout's Last -- With a Killer Ending
Review: Why do people say that Stout's age was showing when he wrote this book? To me, it's just as clever as any of the previous Wolfe tomes, and it has a surprising, killer ending. Very courageous of Stout to plot it like he did. An excellent book.
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