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It seems that Althea's current husband, Jimmy Vail, has been kidnapped. Althea is more then willing to pay the ransom, but she wants to hire Nero in case something goes wrong.
The ransom payment goes fine and Jimmy returns. In fact, everything seems to be going well. Until the police call and ask Althea to identify a body. Nero has put his reputation on the line for this case, so he can't let it go. But what is really going on? Meanwhile, Nero is also hired to find the missing ransom money. Can he do that without leaving home?
This is only my second outing with Nero Wolfe, but I really enjoyed it. Nero is an interesting character. I must admit I tend to like him in spite of his harsh demeanor. I'm sure that Archie really helps in that regard. The plot moves swiftly from one event to another. The solution was obvious yet so covered with red herrings I never saw it coming.
The book was written in the 60's, so that makes the occasional reference dated. On the whole, this is a strong mystery that will please any fan of the genre.
Instead, they learn that Jimmy Vail has been kidnapped, and that Althea is prepared to pay the half-million ransom demanded as the price of his return. But to hedge her bets, she wants Wolfe in reserve, to avenge Jimmy if payment doesn't bring him back alive. Wolfe and Archie aren't to investigate unless Vail is harmed, and he does return home safely - only to be found dead shortly thereafter, crushed by a fallen statue of Benjamin Franklin. A tragic accident, coupled with the murder of Mrs. Vail's secretary...and Mrs. Vail's grown son and daughter aren't interested in hiring Wolfe to investigate it, but rather to recover the ransom money, since their mother will let whichever sibling finds it first *keep* it.
For once, the female characters aren't particularly sympathetic; Archie sympathizes with the son's desire to develop a spine, and can't abide the arrogant foolishness of the daughter. Saul, Fred, and Orrie are brought into play, keeping tabs on various suspects - not to expose a killer, technically - but given the fishy circumstances of the kidnapping, and of the secretary's death, they'll end up solving the murder to find the money. For another not-a-murder-investigation story (but with a wider playing field and more fun), see _Before Midnight_, where Wolfe's goal was to help salvage a contest - where the man bearing the answer sheet had been murdered, putting Wolfe squarely in Inspector Cramer's path. :)
Nothing anyone has to say will stop a Nero Wolfe fan from jumping at the chance to get their hands on another Wolfe Mystery and The Final Deduction should be no exception.
While it may lack some of the suspense and surprises of the better Wolfe narratives (The Black Mountain or any of his encounters with Arnold Zeck), The characters we have come to know and love all make an appearance. Saul, Fred, Orrie, are there to give Archie Goodwin a hand with the legwork, Inspector Cramer to harass Wolfe, Doc Vollmer to supply him with a hideout and of course Fritz and Theodore to maintain the all male bastion on West 35th St.
If this is your first Nero Wolfe mystery don't let it be your last. You'll soon be looking to visit the brownstone again and again to see how detective work was done before they all used cell phones and faxes. I'm a second generation Rex Stout fan and I know that if there is a heaven, then Rex is up there writing a new Wolfe Mystery for my mother every week.
It seems that Althea's current husband, Jimmy Vail, has been kidnapped. Althea is more then willing to pay the ransom, but she wants to hire Nero in case something goes wrong.
The ransom payment goes fine and Jimmy returns. In fact, everything seems to be going well. Until the police call and ask Althea to identify a body. Nero has put his reputation on the line for this case, so he can't let it go. But what is really going on? Meanwhile, Nero is also hired to find the missing ransom money. Can he do that without leaving home?
This is only my second outing with Nero Wolfe, but I really enjoyed it. Nero is an interesting character. I must admit I tend to like him in spite of his harsh demeanor. I'm sure that Archie really helps in that regard. The plot moves swiftly from one event to another. The solution was obvious yet so covered with red herrings I never saw it coming.
The book was written in the 60's, so that makes the occasional reference dated. On the whole, this is a strong mystery that will please any fan of the genre.
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