Mystery fans continue to marvel that Rex Stout's novelettes are packed with as much plot, characterization, wit, and suspense as his full-length novels. Once again Viking offers three of his latest shorter works in a big Nero Wolfe bargain volume. In two of these stories Nero - much to his dislike - stirs from his premises.

In "Invitation to Murder" he comes rushing to a millionaire's home to save Archie and incidentally to determine if one of three handsome women is a murderer.

In "This Won't Kill You" he actually goes to a World Series game and solves a murder in which fielding errors and base hits are among the clues.

To make up for this unaccustomed dashing about, in "The Zero Clue" Nero not only stays strictly at home, but manages to get most of Manhattan's homicide team occupying his house while he tries to decipher the mysterious clue left by the dying mathematical wizard.

Invitation to Murder:
"I am indifferent to what you call it, blackmail or brigandage, but it would be childish for you to suppose I would perform so great a service for you as a benefaction. My spring of philanthropy is not so torrential." (p. 41-42)

The Zero Clue:
"Confound it, am I suggesting a gambol for my refreshment? Do you think I welcome an invasion of my premises by platoons of policemen herding a drove of scared and suspected citizens?" (p. 71)

This Won't Kill You:
"The requisitions of the income tax have added greatly to the attractions of mercenary crime." (p. 122)

Invitation to Murder:
Opens with Herman Lewent's request that Wolfe investigate the possible murder of his sister by the three female inmates of his brother-in-law's household. Archie successfully tricks Wolfe into leaving the house on business.

The Zero Clue:
A great story: another run-in between Wolfe and the statistical school of detection. Opens with the murder of Leo Heller, a mathematical detective.

This Won't Kill You:
Confusingly also known as This Will Kill You, and as The World Series Murder. Another favorite: opens with Wolfe forced to attend a baseball game.

Comments, Questions, Corrections:

The Webmaster

Thanks to Steve Grande for donating
www.nerowolfe.com
to The Wolfe Pack.