Black Orchids
1942
  • Black Orchids
  • Cordially Invited to Meet Death
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Scroll down to see the Synopsis, Quotation(s), Review(s), if any, and other information.
  • Black Orchids First Edition
  • Helen Hokinson depiction of matron bringing her entry to a flower show
    In Cordially Invited to Meet Death, Archie alludes to the artwork of Helen Hokinson when he compares the matrons attending the orchid show to those depicted on the covers of The New Yorker. Scroll down for a Hokinson cover and additional information.
  • Rex Stout Mystery Quarterly Magazine -- 1945, No. 1
  • Black Orchids Philadelphia Inquirer -- Gold Seal Novel
  • American Magazine -- Mister in Action
  • Death Wears An Orchid (Amer. Mag.)
  • Black Orchids -- UK -- Crime Club Edition
  • Black Orchids -- UK -- Crime Club Dust Jacket Blurb
  • Invitation To Murder -- Avon printing of Cordially Invited to Meet Death
  • Black Orchids -- Avon
  • Black Orchids -- Avon
  • Black Orchids -- Avon
  • Black Orchids -- Pyramid
  • Black Orchids -- Pyramid
  • Black Orchids
  • Black Orchids
  • Black Orchids
  • Black Orchids
  • Black Orchids
  • Black Orchids
  • Black Orchids
  • Black Orchids & Silent Speaker
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Cover art donors are accredited on the Corpus Summary Page
Synopsis:
Tower Books Edition

Here in one book are two Nero Wolfe mysteries, both of them complete with Archie Goodwin! It's a double treat for Nero's fans, and a double must for any reader who is so unfortunate as not to have made their acquaintance.

In Black Orchids trouble comes to Nero when he goes to the flower show -- Nero always gets in trouble when he goes out -- but when he finds that Inspector Cramer more than half believes that Archie is the murderer, he really stirs himself.

In Cordially Invited to Meet Death, Bess Huddleston, a high-powered, high-society social secretary sort of woman, comes to Nero Wolfe with two anonymous letter. The letters involved her and she was afraid that if they went on she would lose her business as a party arranger for the high and lofty. When Archie went to investigate he ran right into the middle of a very unpleasant murder. And then it was up to Nero Wolfe. These two mysteries present Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin at their brilliant and exciting best.>
Quotations:

"It is surprising that Mr. Gould lived as long as did, in view of his character" (99)

"'There is nothing in the world,' he said, glaring at me as if I had sent him an anonymous letter, 'as indestructible as human dignity. That woman makes money killing time for fools. With it she pays me for rooting around in mud. Half of my share goes for taxes which are used to make bombs to blow people to pieces. Yet I am not without dignity.'" (p. 111)
Other:
In Cordially Invited to Meet Death, Archie alludes to the artwork of Helen Hokinson when he compares the matrons attending the orchid show to those depicted on the covers of The New Yorker.

See the gallery above to view Helen Hokinson's depiction of a New York matron attending the flower show.

Black Orchids features an introduction by Lewis Hewitt.

Bess Huddleson was widely assumed to be modeled on the persona of Elsa Maxwell
orchidComments, Questions, Corrections:
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Last updated
November 6, 2012