Collections
Series
Publication
Bantam Books (1955), Paperback
Description
Trying to determine why his last two clients were ruthlessly murdered, Nero Wolfe wonders if the answer is linked to a young boy who turns up at his brownstone apartment, and he finds clues in a gray Cadillac, a mysterious woman, and spider-shaped earrings.
Language
Original language
English
User reviews
LibraryThing member christiguc
Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books are told in the distinctive voice of Archie Goodwin, Nero Wolfe's leg-man. Nero Wolfe is a rotund genius private investigator who doesn't leave his house unless absolutely necessary. He insists on good meals (with no discussion of work), uninterrupted time with his
In this story, a young boy comes to Wolfe's home with a business proposition. The boy works a street corner, earning money by cleaning windshields of cars stopped at a traffic light. That evening, the boy had started working on a car when the woman driving the car turns to him and expressly mouths "help, call the police." The man sitting beside the woman notices the boy's expression, and the car quickly drives off. The boy remembers the license plate number and a description of the woman driver who wore gold spider earrings. The next day, before Wolfe can identify the car, the boy is intentionally run over by the same car. Because Wolfe feels an obligation to the boy, he makes a quick stab at identifying the mystery woman. The woman he locates hints at a problem she has, pays Wolfe a retainer, and promises to come back the next day to go into details. The next morning, she is found dead--run over by a car. For Wolfe, the situation is insufferable: he has a reputation to maintain and can't have people hiring him and then getting killed. Plus he has the money the woman paid him for a retainer that he has to feel he has earned. He is committed to investigate.
Stout's books are a joy to read. Archie's playful, positive tone keeps the whole narrative at a jovial ramble. Also, each book is short enough to be swallowed in one gulp. The mysteries aren't very complex, and the format is very formulaic, with the case being resolved in Wolfe's recitation in his study in front of all the suspects and the police. The joy is in the characters, and the mystery is just enough to keep the plot going. When I'm finished reading, I don't feel as if I've engaged my mind in solving a mystery like in some mystery books, but I do feel like I've just finished a light-hearted banter with a friend.
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orchids (four hours a day), and a good night's rest. In contrast, Archie is a good sport with a wonderfully sarcastic sense of humor and is game for most anything.In this story, a young boy comes to Wolfe's home with a business proposition. The boy works a street corner, earning money by cleaning windshields of cars stopped at a traffic light. That evening, the boy had started working on a car when the woman driving the car turns to him and expressly mouths "help, call the police." The man sitting beside the woman notices the boy's expression, and the car quickly drives off. The boy remembers the license plate number and a description of the woman driver who wore gold spider earrings. The next day, before Wolfe can identify the car, the boy is intentionally run over by the same car. Because Wolfe feels an obligation to the boy, he makes a quick stab at identifying the mystery woman. The woman he locates hints at a problem she has, pays Wolfe a retainer, and promises to come back the next day to go into details. The next morning, she is found dead--run over by a car. For Wolfe, the situation is insufferable: he has a reputation to maintain and can't have people hiring him and then getting killed. Plus he has the money the woman paid him for a retainer that he has to feel he has earned. He is committed to investigate.
Stout's books are a joy to read. Archie's playful, positive tone keeps the whole narrative at a jovial ramble. Also, each book is short enough to be swallowed in one gulp. The mysteries aren't very complex, and the format is very formulaic, with the case being resolved in Wolfe's recitation in his study in front of all the suspects and the police. The joy is in the characters, and the mystery is just enough to keep the plot going. When I'm finished reading, I don't feel as if I've engaged my mind in solving a mystery like in some mystery books, but I do feel like I've just finished a light-hearted banter with a friend.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
Another one of my favorites, I like the idea of hunting down a lady with golden spider earrings and avenging a young boy.
LibraryThing member ostrom
One of my favorites by Stout. It has more pathos than many of the others.
LibraryThing member FiberBabble
Wow, the end story was quite convoluted! There were some real one-liner gems in this one that made me laugh out loud. I just can't find any bad stuff to say about Nero Wolfe. I want to grow up to be him.
LibraryThing member bontley
pleasing, not especially awesome
LibraryThing member addunn3
A young boy hired by a young boy, but then the kid is run over by a car, and two others follow suit. Nicely done plot - you may even have a chance to figure it out!
LibraryThing member antiquary
I recall reading this when I must have been about as young as Pete, the boy who is wiping a car windshield when a woman in the car mouths "Help, get a cop" --he gets Archie Goodwin instead, but then gets killed himself. Archie and Nero Wolfe investigate a complex case involving two different women
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wearing the gold earrings. Show Less
LibraryThing member steve12553
Classic Nero Wolfe. Intricate plot and wonderful characters.
LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
Nero Wolfe is known for his gourmet taste and appetite, appreciation bordering on fanaticism of orchids and for his high priced fees for his detection work. When he takes a case for the paltry sum of $4.30 from a 12 year old kid, named Pete, who gets killed by a hit-and-run driver, it makes little
Wolfe runs an ad looking for the lady wearing the golden spider earrings. Surprisingly she answers the ad, but becomes upset when she finds out about Pete's death. Scared she will need Wolfe's help, retains his services with a $10,000 check. Before Wolfe can even start on her case, she turns up dead. Being that the bank balance is on the low side, and the death of the lady, Wolfe becomes intent on solving both murders.
Along the way more bodies turn up, along with a blackmail scheme and a scam against immigrants. Archie dresses as a mortician, in one instance, to obtain more information on someone. Saul Panzer takes on the role of an immigrant to gain information on the scam/blackmail racket that is going on.
This is not one of the simpler of Wolfe's cases, and at times I wondered how things were all going to tie up. Definitely not a fast read mystery!
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sense to most who know him...except Archie and Wolfe, himself.Wolfe runs an ad looking for the lady wearing the golden spider earrings. Surprisingly she answers the ad, but becomes upset when she finds out about Pete's death. Scared she will need Wolfe's help, retains his services with a $10,000 check. Before Wolfe can even start on her case, she turns up dead. Being that the bank balance is on the low side, and the death of the lady, Wolfe becomes intent on solving both murders.
Along the way more bodies turn up, along with a blackmail scheme and a scam against immigrants. Archie dresses as a mortician, in one instance, to obtain more information on someone. Saul Panzer takes on the role of an immigrant to gain information on the scam/blackmail racket that is going on.
This is not one of the simpler of Wolfe's cases, and at times I wondered how things were all going to tie up. Definitely not a fast read mystery!
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LibraryThing member TomDonaghey
The Golden Spiders (1953) (Nero Wolfe #22) by Rex Stout. Is it a kidnapping or the fevered dream of a kid? Little Pete Drossos was washing car windows for spare change when he saw a woman being threatened by her passenger while stopped at a red light. He noticed the golden spider earrings she was
An Immigration agent is killed by the same car, but a day before Pete. After Archie puts a notice in the papers, Laura Fromm, rich woman, wearing the earrings, come to see Wolfe. They determine she wasn’t driving the car. She is killed shortly after leaving Wolfe’s office.
All leads point to a local charity for displaced persons.
Further investigation leads to a nest of lies and immoral activity among the directors of the charity, but the secret of the killer’s identity is known only to Wolfe and the killer. Everyone is gathered at the brownstone for the final reveal.
This is one of the more well know of the Wolfe novels and it is darn good. It is fun to see the great detective working for lest than $5, but when his ego is bruised there will be no stopping the man.
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wearing as she silently asked for help. He gets Archie to let him see Wolfe, which Archie does as a joke on Wolfe. But when Pete is hit and killed by the same car the next day, things don’t look so funny.An Immigration agent is killed by the same car, but a day before Pete. After Archie puts a notice in the papers, Laura Fromm, rich woman, wearing the earrings, come to see Wolfe. They determine she wasn’t driving the car. She is killed shortly after leaving Wolfe’s office.
All leads point to a local charity for displaced persons.
Further investigation leads to a nest of lies and immoral activity among the directors of the charity, but the secret of the killer’s identity is known only to Wolfe and the killer. Everyone is gathered at the brownstone for the final reveal.
This is one of the more well know of the Wolfe novels and it is darn good. It is fun to see the great detective working for lest than $5, but when his ego is bruised there will be no stopping the man.
Show Less