285 pages
English language
Published April 22, 1992 by Bantam Books.
From a cover blurb: As any herpetologist will tell you, the fer-de-lance is among the most dreaded snakes known to man. When someone makes a present of one to Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin knows he's getting dreadully close to solving the devilishly clever murders of an immigrant and a college president. As for Wolfe, he's playing snake charmer in a case with more twists than an anaconda -- whistling a seductive tune he hopes will catch a killer who's still got poison in his heart.
This is the very first Nero Wolfe novel that Rex Stout published. You can see the hallmarks of Wolfe's world already, Archie Goodwin, beer, food and clever villains.
Rex Stout's Nero Wolf series is delightful light reading. Easily devoured, satisfying yet not too heavy.
Sad to say that for me, this book was a failed "tale." I was hoping to enjoy Rex Stout's detective (Nero Wolfe), but did not. All I found was an incredibly boring story. No more Rex Stout for me...
Slightly underwhelming and a bit too long. Once the murderer was revealed, I lost interest—and didn’t really need another 80 pages of denouement and 300 glasses of milk.
I've been on a re-reading kick, I thought I might enjoy some Nero Wolfe. Nope -- too sexist and racist.
