Status
Available
Series
Genres
Publication
Bantam (1995), Paperback
Description
As Nero Wolfe prepares to speak at a gathering of the world's great chefs, one is found indelicately murdered. When the target for killing shifts to himself, the great detective must close this case quickly or his next meal may be his last. World-class cuisine, charming company . . . The secret ingredient is poison. Everyone knows that too many cooks spoil the broth, but you'd hardly expect it to lead to murder. But that's exactly what's on the menu at a five-star gathering of the world's greatest chefs. As guest of honor, Wolfe was lured from his brownstone to a posh southern spa to deliver the keynote address. He never expected that between courses of haute cuisine he and Archie would be compelled to detect a killer with a poison touch--a killer preparing to serve the great detective his last supper. "It is always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore."--The New York Times Book Review A grand master of the form, Rex Stout is one of America's greatest mystery writers, and his literary creation Nero Wolfe is one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time. Together, Stout and Wolfe have entertained--and puzzled--millions of mystery fans around the world. Now, with his perambulatory man-about-town, Archie Goodwin, the arrogant, gourmandizing, sedentary sleuth is back in the original seventy-three cases of crime and detection written by the inimitable master himself, Rex Stout.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member mmyoung
Not the best Wolfe or Stout . Very interesting as a snapshot of what America was like in 1938. Particularly of note is the treatment of African-Americans at the resort in Virginia and the total absence of a looming presence of a European war. Since the bulk of the cast of characters were Europeans
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-- some of whom were on visiting the United States this obliviousness to the onset of a war is rather stunning. It is difficult to know if Stout was more aware than he assumes his audience was. Wolfe and Goodwin are not shown to be racists -- but neither are they offended at what, to the current day reader, is the stunning level of racism expressed by other characters, including characters that the reader is clearly meant to see as at worst banal rather than evil or stupid. Show Less
LibraryThing member MusicMom41
In this fifth outing for Nero Wolfe and Archie they go to West Virginia to attend a meeting of the world’s 15 finest chefs. They meet every five years to cook, eat, and talk about food and elect new members to replace those who have died. Wolfe has been invited to the event and be the guest
Since this takes place in West Virginia in 1938 at a spa-like location we meet several blacks employed there in menial positions. Many people object to the racist language used in this book, but that was how it was then. Even Archie showed some mild effects of the tenor of the times. What I was impressed with is how Rex Stout has Nero Wolfe relate to these employees, taking the trouble not only to ask but also to remember the name of each one of them when he interviews them, letting one educated black air his opinions without putting him down but never condescending to them. In short he treated them just as he would treat any other person he was interrogating. I think it was remarkable that an author would make a point of having his character behave this way at a time when most people were prejudiced against blacks even outside of the South.
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speaker at the final banquet. This is probably the best one so far in the series, especially in getting to understand the two recurring characters. We see Wolf under trying (for him) circumstances on a train and in a hotel room. The characters are interesting and we learn more about Marko Vukcic. We know from near the beginning who the victim will be but the puzzle is very interesting and although about two thirds through I had a suspicion about the perpetrator I wasn’t sure until almost the end. Since this takes place in West Virginia in 1938 at a spa-like location we meet several blacks employed there in menial positions. Many people object to the racist language used in this book, but that was how it was then. Even Archie showed some mild effects of the tenor of the times. What I was impressed with is how Rex Stout has Nero Wolfe relate to these employees, taking the trouble not only to ask but also to remember the name of each one of them when he interviews them, letting one educated black air his opinions without putting him down but never condescending to them. In short he treated them just as he would treat any other person he was interrogating. I think it was remarkable that an author would make a point of having his character behave this way at a time when most people were prejudiced against blacks even outside of the South.
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LibraryThing member Meredy
Six-word review: 1930s Southern racism makes story painful.
Extended review:
I've stated my opinion that an author oughtn't to be faulted for accurately reflecting prevailing or common views and attitudes of his or her own time and place; or, I suppose, of others' if faithfully represented. For every
Several recent readings have tested my commitment to that opinion, most notably the novels of John Buchan (1910s) and Neville Shute (1940s), with their depiction of native Africans and Australians, respectively; or, more precisely, their depiction of white men's view of them. I've managed to read through the portions that are objectionable by today's standards, saying that people really did think and speak that way and that we shouldn't forget what it is that people have struggled to overcome.
Rex Stout's Too Many Cooks, however, exceeds my limits of tolerance. It is set in a Southern state in 1938, and the race of black Americans is a key issue in the plot. Even though the most offensive speech and behavior are expressed as those of characters belonging to that culture, the language of the narrator and various other characters throughout is simply too condescending, superior, and even contemptuous to be read with equanimity in 2016. Not only blacks but women and even Chinese come in for some heavy-handed stereotyping that is bound to choke most modern readers. Nero Wolfe makes a speech against racism and for justice:
"The ideal human agreement is one in which distinctions of race and color and religion are totally disregarded; anyone helping to preserve those distinctions is postponing that ideal...." (page 110)
but that is not enough to offset the effects of unapologetically racist representations expressed--perhaps even with harmless intent--throughout.
For that reason, even though the story is a good enough series mystery, solved by fair means--an interesting setup, and the clues are all present, but only Nero Wolfe puts them all together--I regret rereading this one and can't recommend it except to students of evolving social attitudes in the United States of the twentieth century.
Extended review:
I've stated my opinion that an author oughtn't to be faulted for accurately reflecting prevailing or common views and attitudes of his or her own time and place; or, I suppose, of others' if faithfully represented. For every
Show More
way in which social progress has improved conditions, there was a time before that progress in which views were held that we would now consider unacceptable; for example, demeaning attitudes toward women.Several recent readings have tested my commitment to that opinion, most notably the novels of John Buchan (1910s) and Neville Shute (1940s), with their depiction of native Africans and Australians, respectively; or, more precisely, their depiction of white men's view of them. I've managed to read through the portions that are objectionable by today's standards, saying that people really did think and speak that way and that we shouldn't forget what it is that people have struggled to overcome.
Rex Stout's Too Many Cooks, however, exceeds my limits of tolerance. It is set in a Southern state in 1938, and the race of black Americans is a key issue in the plot. Even though the most offensive speech and behavior are expressed as those of characters belonging to that culture, the language of the narrator and various other characters throughout is simply too condescending, superior, and even contemptuous to be read with equanimity in 2016. Not only blacks but women and even Chinese come in for some heavy-handed stereotyping that is bound to choke most modern readers. Nero Wolfe makes a speech against racism and for justice:
"The ideal human agreement is one in which distinctions of race and color and religion are totally disregarded; anyone helping to preserve those distinctions is postponing that ideal...." (page 110)
but that is not enough to offset the effects of unapologetically racist representations expressed--perhaps even with harmless intent--throughout.
For that reason, even though the story is a good enough series mystery, solved by fair means--an interesting setup, and the clues are all present, but only Nero Wolfe puts them all together--I regret rereading this one and can't recommend it except to students of evolving social attitudes in the United States of the twentieth century.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
One of the better stories, dealing with racism, also lots of cooking which I enjoy.
LibraryThing member Romonko
This is the first Nero Wolfe book that I've read, although I have seen the dramatatizations that have been done on television. I enjoyed these, and I enjoyed this book. Wolfe is an eccentric and he is wonderfully portrayed. In this book he and his sidekick Archie are on their way to a gourmet cook
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convention in West Virginia. This is something in itself because Wolfe rarely leaves his home in New York City. He solves most of his crimes from there, close to his orchids and his own wonderful cook. Wolfe is a gourmet, and food drives everything he does. The mystery is intricate, and the story here is lots of fun. I do need to read more of Rex Stout's wonderful character. This is a sign of a good author, when one of his characters makes it into folklore, and becomes a household name, like Nero Wolfe is. Show Less
LibraryThing member sfeggers
Fun read, but pretty dated in language and culture.
LibraryThing member darlingtrk
Nero Wolfe is as sardonic as ever. This book is not his absolute most brilliant, but put 10 awesome chef's a room, kill one of them and see which is more important, finding a killer or making a great sauce. Also, anyone who thinks that civil rights has not taken some major strides forward needs to
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read this and ask themselves when the last time was they heard so many racial slurs about every possible ethnicity. The sad part is that at the time this was completely acceptible and represented "respectable" society. But as always, when the context is taken into account, the story is entertaing with an unexpected ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member devenish
It is very unusual for Nero Wolfe to leave the comfort of his New York Brownstone,but in "Too Many Cooks' this is what he does. Wolfe his been invited to speak to a group of world famous cooks in Kanawha Spa in West Virginia. With much complaining but at the same time with some pleasure,off he
Not the best of the Nero Wolfe stories but far from the worst. Interesting to take the large detective out of his normal area and into the wilds of Virginia.It is also interesting that there is almost as much about food as murder in this murderous culinary tale.
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sets,accompanied by Archie Goodwin. Ten great chefs are assembled ready to cook,eat,drink and listen to speeches. Before all this can happen,one of their number is killed and another is arrested for the murder. Wolfe feels that the wrong person has been accused and with the help of Goodwin proceeds to find the murderer.Not the best of the Nero Wolfe stories but far from the worst. Interesting to take the large detective out of his normal area and into the wilds of Virginia.It is also interesting that there is almost as much about food as murder in this murderous culinary tale.
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LibraryThing member sonofcarc
I was teenager when I first read this book, and I was much impressed by Wolfe's progressive racial attitude. On mature rereading, however, an element of self-satisfied preening comes through.
It must be said, however, that Rex Stout didn't just talk the talk, he walked the walk. According to his
[Incidentally, an earlier reviewer says the book is oblivious of the looming war. This is not strictly true. There is a scene in which a French chef and an Italian chef have a shouting match, and Archie says, "I suppose that's how the war will start." In 1938, France v. Italy looked like as likely a flashpoint as any. Stout certainly wasn't unaware that war was coming; he was as early and persistent an interventionist as could be found.)
It must be said, however, that Rex Stout didn't just talk the talk, he walked the walk. According to his
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biographer, his social circle included plenty of black people (some of them among the Harlem luminaries of the time).[Incidentally, an earlier reviewer says the book is oblivious of the looming war. This is not strictly true. There is a scene in which a French chef and an Italian chef have a shouting match, and Archie says, "I suppose that's how the war will start." In 1938, France v. Italy looked like as likely a flashpoint as any. Stout certainly wasn't unaware that war was coming; he was as early and persistent an interventionist as could be found.)
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LibraryThing member antiquary
By consensus, the best of the Nero Wolfe books and a classic mystery. Wolfe is invited to the Kanawha Spa in West Virginia (probably based on the Greenbriar) to give a talk on American contributions to cuisine to "The Fifteen" an association of the best professional chefs in the world (including
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Wolfe's good friend Marko Vukcic) . At the event, one of the Fifteen is murdered, and another is accused of the crime.Wolfe clears him after obtaining evidence from one of the black waiters (who reappears in A Right to Die as an older man). The atmosphere of the event and the exotic characters of the Fifteen are superbly done. In a romantic subplot, yhe accused chef (Jerome Berin) has a beautiful daughter who attracts both Archie and the young DA of the county where the murder occurs. Another complication is that the dead chef was married to Mark Vukcic's former wife, and Mark still feels a strong attachment to her.m despite Wolfe's earnings. Show Less
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Nero Wolfe leaves his brownstone in NYC to attend a gastronomical gathering as the guest of honor. During the event, one of the chefs is murdered and Wolfe gets chivvied into investigating.
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
I have just completed the fifth Nero Wolfe mystery, Too Many Cooks by Rex Stout and believe me, reading a Nero Wolf novel is totally satisfying on many levels. The arrogant, gourmandizing sedentary sleuth that is Nero Wolf is a treat on his own, but add in his man-about-town, the suave Archie
This novel was originally published in 1938, and Nero Wolfe and Archie have travelled south to a five-star resort to attend the gathering of the world’s greatest chefs. As guest of honor, Wolfe is served both haute cuisine and murder. Reluctantly at first, Wolfe eventually decides he does need to solve this case.
At that time, much of the hotel staff were black and although Wolfe actually did address and deal with some of the outright and obvious prejudice, there was still a number of racial slurs and condescending speech about and towards these black characters. This brings thoughts of today’s policy of pulling these types of books from the shelves. I have mixed feelings about this, yes, it is distasteful to read, but how are we going to remember how hurtful this casual racism is and improve upon it if we don’t see where this type of prejudice comes from. I would rather books like this come with a foreword discussing the situation than to see them disappear.
Rex Stout delivers interesting, intricate mysteries that give the reader plenty to puzzle upon. The interplay between Wolfe and Archie make these books well worth picking up. I enjoyed Too Many Cooks and fully intend on continuing my exploration of this series.
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Goodwin, admired by the likes of Agatha Christie and P. G. Wodehouse, and you have characters that are a delight to read about. This novel was originally published in 1938, and Nero Wolfe and Archie have travelled south to a five-star resort to attend the gathering of the world’s greatest chefs. As guest of honor, Wolfe is served both haute cuisine and murder. Reluctantly at first, Wolfe eventually decides he does need to solve this case.
At that time, much of the hotel staff were black and although Wolfe actually did address and deal with some of the outright and obvious prejudice, there was still a number of racial slurs and condescending speech about and towards these black characters. This brings thoughts of today’s policy of pulling these types of books from the shelves. I have mixed feelings about this, yes, it is distasteful to read, but how are we going to remember how hurtful this casual racism is and improve upon it if we don’t see where this type of prejudice comes from. I would rather books like this come with a foreword discussing the situation than to see them disappear.
Rex Stout delivers interesting, intricate mysteries that give the reader plenty to puzzle upon. The interplay between Wolfe and Archie make these books well worth picking up. I enjoyed Too Many Cooks and fully intend on continuing my exploration of this series.
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LibraryThing member gloriaoliver
First, I need to give a warning to sensitive readers. This book was originally published in the 1930s, so some of the terms used for African Americans, which were normal (right or wrong) at that time, could offend some readers.
I do want to point out that though Archie goes by the common vernacular,
With a giant pool of suspects, many of which disliked the murdered man to the point of considering doing it themselves, this book makes for a twisted path in trying to ascertain the killer. Add in the fact that poor Nero has traveled outside his home (something he is loath to do) to go to the event, and lack of sleep as events unfold, and Nero Wolfe and Archie will be put to the test to solve this caper.
I do want to point out that though Archie goes by the common vernacular,
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Nero Wolfe, who is a more world-traveled and enlightened man, does not. So the two create a foil over the subject. But even Archie doesn't agree with the views or attitudes of some of the other characters on the subject.With a giant pool of suspects, many of which disliked the murdered man to the point of considering doing it themselves, this book makes for a twisted path in trying to ascertain the killer. Add in the fact that poor Nero has traveled outside his home (something he is loath to do) to go to the event, and lack of sleep as events unfold, and Nero Wolfe and Archie will be put to the test to solve this caper.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Although private detective Nero Wolfe rarely leaves his New York brownstone, his reputation as a gourmand leads to an invitation to deliver the keynote address to an intimate gathering of the world’s greatest chefs. The book opens with Wolfe and his assistant, Archie Goodwin, on a train headed
This is the kind of impossible crime that made Wolfe such a famous fictional detective. The book was written in the Jim Crow era and set in the southern U.S., and several of the spa’s African American staff are crucial witnesses. While other characters in the book use highly offensive racial slurs for the African American service workers as well as for other ethnic minority characters, Wolfe never uses this offensive language, and he treats the African American staff with respect.
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for the Kanawha Spa in West Virginia. From conversations on the train and at the spa after their arrival, it’s apparent that chef Philip Laszio is universally disliked. When Laszio is murdered while supervising a tasting contest, all clues point to one suspect. However, Wolfe realizes that there is more to this case than meets the eye. Will he survive long enough to expose the real killer?This is the kind of impossible crime that made Wolfe such a famous fictional detective. The book was written in the Jim Crow era and set in the southern U.S., and several of the spa’s African American staff are crucial witnesses. While other characters in the book use highly offensive racial slurs for the African American service workers as well as for other ethnic minority characters, Wolfe never uses this offensive language, and he treats the African American staff with respect.
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LibraryThing member tuckerresearch
After watching most of the great Nero Wolfe A&E series (starring Maury Chaykin as Nero Wolfe and Timothy Hutton as Archie Goodwin), I decided to read some of the original novels. I got a hold of And Be a Villain and liked it, so I decided to get them all so I could read them in order (from 1934 to
Nero Wolfe's irascibility is one of the best parts of the series, along with his curtness, erudition, and gourmet/gourmand qualities. Archie Goodwin's sarcasticness is one of the best parts of the series, along with his innate goodness.
In this book, Wolfe is actually out of the brownstone, traveling on a train to a meeting of chefs at a fancy spa in West Virginia. One of the chefs is murdered and another is accused. Wolfe takes part for personal reasons and is paid with a sausage recipe. The mystery is, like all Wolfe books, pretty good. I tried to find the clues and was wrong, but the clues were there.
It was interesting to see Wolfe in 1938 (when the book was written) treating African Americans like equal human beings, even in Jim Crow West Virginia. (This echoes author Rex Stout's views.) For instance, the local whites call the black people the n-word while Wolfe uses the (then appropriate) "negro."
All-in-all, a good one.
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1975). I can imagine the brownstone properly and Maury Chaykin, Timothy Hutton, and Colin Fox in their roles.Nero Wolfe's irascibility is one of the best parts of the series, along with his curtness, erudition, and gourmet/gourmand qualities. Archie Goodwin's sarcasticness is one of the best parts of the series, along with his innate goodness.
In this book, Wolfe is actually out of the brownstone, traveling on a train to a meeting of chefs at a fancy spa in West Virginia. One of the chefs is murdered and another is accused. Wolfe takes part for personal reasons and is paid with a sausage recipe. The mystery is, like all Wolfe books, pretty good. I tried to find the clues and was wrong, but the clues were there.
It was interesting to see Wolfe in 1938 (when the book was written) treating African Americans like equal human beings, even in Jim Crow West Virginia. (This echoes author Rex Stout's views.) For instance, the local whites call the black people the n-word while Wolfe uses the (then appropriate) "negro."
All-in-all, a good one.
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Subjects
Awards
Language
Original publication date
1938
Physical description
208 p.; 8.52 inches
ISBN
0553763067 / 9780553763065