Nero Wolfe is an eccentric, obese private detective who lives and works in a brownstone in New York City. Wolfe almost never leaves his house; spends four hours a day tending his orchids; has a chef who prepares delicious gourmet meals; loves beer; and would rather read books than take new cases.
Wolfe employs Archie Goodwin as his assistant, legman, and gadfly - a smartmouth who prods Wolfe to 'go to work' when the bank account is running low.
Stout's original Nero Wolfe books are set in the 1930s but this story is updated by several decades. Thus Archie has a personal computer to keep up with the orchid germination records and he uses the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to drive to Staten Island.
In this mystery, Nero and Archie investigate the murder of a televangelist's associate pastor.
*****
Reverend Barnabas Bay is head of the 'Tabernacle of the Silver Spire' megachurch in Staten Island and is a also a popular televangelist.
For the past six Sundays, though, someone has been leaving disturbing notes in the offering pouch. The messages read:
REV. BAY: MISFORTUNE PURSUES THE SINNER (PROVERBS 13:21)
REV. BAY: TAKE YOUR EVIL DEEDS OUT OF MY SIGHT (ISAIAH 1:16)
REVEREND BAY: THE STING OF DEATH IS SIN (I CORINTHIANS 15:56)
REV. BAY: DEATH IS THE DESTINY OF EVERY MAN (ECCLESIASTES 7:2)
REVER. BAY: YOU DESERVE TO DIE (I KINGS: 2:26)
REV. BAY: THE TIME IS NEAR (REVELATION 1:13)
Bay and his wife scoff at the missives, believing them to be from a disgruntled tourist who'll soon be leaving town.
Other church functionaries are worried, though, and the Silver Spire's financial officer, Lloyd Morgan, wants Nero Wolfe to investigate.
Wolfe is not a fan of organized religion and he refuses to take the case. Archie, who's worried about the detective agency's dwindling bank account, cajoles and prods Wolfe to no avail.
The upshot is that Archie suggests Morgan hire Fred Durkin, a freelance operative Wolfe uses on occasion. Fred isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but he's honest and reliable.
After Fred is on the job for a couple of weeks, he suggests the notes are an inside job. Soon afterwards, the Silver Spire's senior associate pastor, Royal Meade, is killed.
Unfortunately for Fred, his gun - with his fingerprints - is the murder weapon. Fred is promptly arrested, and Wolfe's nemesis, Police Inspector Cramer, expects a speedy conviction.
Wolfe and Archie KNOW Fred is innocent, and Archie is dispatched to the Silver Spire to investigate. Archie interviews Reverend Bay's employees and colleagues, and learns the victim, Royal Meade, was abrasive and disliked.
Archie reports back to Wolfe, but the case is murky. As a result, Wolfe has one of his 'relapses', during which he remains in his room, reads books, and refuses to work.
Then Archie happens upon a vital clue, Wolfe gets a light bulb moment, and the killer is revealed in the usual 'gathering of the suspects' fashion.
Like many light mystery series, these books are formulaic but fun. It's always entertaining to visit with Wolfe and Archie, partly to observe their scrumptious meals, like shad with sorrel sauce and sweetbreads in patty shells.
Shad with Sorrel Sauce
Sweetbreads in Patty Shells
This isn't among the best books in the series, largely because Wolfe doesn't have the parade of suspects visit his office as usual. Still, fans of the novels would probably enjoy spending a little time with characters they like.
Rating: 3 stars
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