Paul Chapin's college cronies never forgave themselves for the prank that crippled their friend. Yet with Harvard days behind them, they thought th...
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Jul 24, 2011
Tony
rated it: 
Stout, Rex. THE LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENED MEN. (1935). **.
I’m usually an enthusiastic fan of Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries, but this one challenged my enthusiasm. The middle part of the novel was incredibly boring and drawn out. Here goes: A group of men visit Nero Wolfe’s offices and explain that they want him to take on a case of a rampant murderer and bringing him to justice. Until that was accomplished, they lived in fear of their lives. It seems that when these men – all of them Ha More...
I’m usually an enthusiastic fan of Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries, but this one challenged my enthusiasm. The middle part of the novel was incredibly boring and drawn out. Here goes: A group of men visit Nero Wolfe’s offices and explain that they want him to take on a case of a rampant murderer and bringing him to justice. Until that was accomplished, they lived in fear of their lives. It seems that when these men – all of them Ha More...
Mar 27, 2011
Jonathan
rated it: 
Second installment in the Nero Wolfe detective series.
Thirty years ago a club of Harvard upperclassmen gathered together and inadvertently maimed an unsuspecting freshman in a hazing incident on old Harvard yard. Nothing really comes out of the incident until thirty years later when one of the club members, a guy named Judge Harrison, falls to his death at a club reunion. The following monday the club members receive a letter supposedly from the maimed member, whose name is Paul Ch More...
Thirty years ago a club of Harvard upperclassmen gathered together and inadvertently maimed an unsuspecting freshman in a hazing incident on old Harvard yard. Nothing really comes out of the incident until thirty years later when one of the club members, a guy named Judge Harrison, falls to his death at a club reunion. The following monday the club members receive a letter supposedly from the maimed member, whose name is Paul Ch More...
Aug 19, 2011
Alexander
rated it: 
There are few writers as prolific as Rex Stout, and fewer still who dedicated so many novels to the same character. In this case, The League of Frightened Men, originally published as a magazine serial over six weeks in the Saturday Evening Post in 1935, Nero Wolfe appears as the star of the second novel in the series along with Archie Goodwin (his right hand man), Fritz Brenner (his live-in chef) and Theodore Horstmann (his orchid man). Other regulars, like Saul Panzer and Fred Durkin, Wolfe's
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Apr 30, 2010
Mmyoung
rated it:
Re-reading (rather than reading) this book probably highlights both its weaknesses and it strengths. It has some lovely conceits - not the least of which being the way in which it privileges the reader by suggesting that the insightful reader (someone like Wolfe) would be able to nail the psychological possibilities of a suspect far better than could a psychologist who had known the suspect for decades. One wonders is Stout was witty enough to make some of the supposed twists so incredibly obvio
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Jan 15, 2009
Judy
rated it:
Don't you just have to dip into the crime classics every once in a while? Me, too. So when I found this book hiding in the shelves of the library, I just had to bring it home. The story was the usual Nero Wolfe all-will-be-revealed-in-the-last-ten-pages format, but the political incorrectness was refreshing in these days of calling short people, height challenged etc. The overt sexism was a surprise. I hadn't really remembered how blantant it was. All in all, Rex Stout can spin a good yarn
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Feb 06, 2012
Dan
rated it:
Nero Wolfe is unlike any fictional detective I've ever read.
For starters, he's an enormous fat man for whom finger twirling is unusually strenuous exercise and will go to great lengths to avoid leaving his house. He employs various ill-qualified minions to do the footwork while he does the brainwork. This puts him just as far apart from the lonely, wiry desperadoes of Hammett and Chandler as it does from the Great One himself, Sherlock Holmes.
But it isn't his physical dif More...
For starters, he's an enormous fat man for whom finger twirling is unusually strenuous exercise and will go to great lengths to avoid leaving his house. He employs various ill-qualified minions to do the footwork while he does the brainwork. This puts him just as far apart from the lonely, wiry desperadoes of Hammett and Chandler as it does from the Great One himself, Sherlock Holmes.
But it isn't his physical dif More...
Oct 10, 2010
Stina
rated it:
The main plot twist was telegraphed fairly early on, but there were plenty of other twists and turns to keep me busy. I also liked how the story dealt with the psychology of the day -- just enough to be interesting and not so much that it would have been annoying. I don't think this one was part of the A&E series, but I think it could have been adapted to television well. I kept seeing the guy who plays Ben Linus on Lost as Paul Chapin.
Jun 17, 2011
Joe
rated it:
This episode of the Nero Wolfe Mysteries find Nero and Archie investigating an apparent murder at a Harvard Reunion.
Thrity years before, the friends talk Paul Chapin (now a famous author) into doing something dangerous, it all goes wrong and Paul is left crippled.
Back in the present of the 1930's, the friends begin to die in suspicious ways followed by murder notes to the survivors. Is it Paul taking revenge or is it a set-up? Only Wolfe and Archie can uncover
Thrity years before, the friends talk Paul Chapin (now a famous author) into doing something dangerous, it all goes wrong and Paul is left crippled.
Back in the present of the 1930's, the friends begin to die in suspicious ways followed by murder notes to the survivors. Is it Paul taking revenge or is it a set-up? Only Wolfe and Archie can uncover
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Jan 14, 2012
Stutley
rated it: 
I enjoyed this one more than some of the others in the series. There were a couple of slow parts but nothing that held up the story or caused me to lose interest. I didn't expect the twists in the plot. I have to say I was keeping pace with Archie rather than Wolfe. As soon as the climax of the story arrived, though I was able to put two and two together and catch up before Wolfe did the reveal. A satisfactory read.
May 13, 2009
Craig
rated it:
I've only read a handful of Rex Stout novels, so it's hard to compare. Here's what I think I've noticed: the banter between Nero and Archie is a bit more caustic than usual, but it is nonetheless more witty than most. I can tell that Stout was still figuring things out with this one. But the unexpected resolution with Chapin, the colorful characters, and the humorous dialogue make it one of the best so far.
May 24, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
Second in the Nero Wolfe series, and a useful example of the difference between narrator Archie's conclusions about a case, and Wolfe's misleading statements which hide his real opinion. While the story is unusual for detective fiction, and has a broad cast of characters, the number meant I didn't really engage with most of them.
The Kindle version I read had a number of scanning errors.
The Kindle version I read had a number of scanning errors.
Jul 11, 2010
Jon
rated it:
The second in the Nero Wolfe series, and typically good. Archie Goodwin is still basically a tough guy (later he will become much smarter), and Wolfe even repeatedly makes fun of his inability to keep up with the subtleties of what's going on. I like the later books somewhat better, after Archie becomes more of an equal partner.
Jun 26, 2010
Nina
rated it:
Really enjoyed this story about a murder investigation. The protagonists work in NYC during the first half of the 20th century, so I enjoy hearing about different neighborhoods and streets which I recognize. The writing is funny, as are the characters occasionally.
Apr 28, 2011
Niffer
rated it:
Another early Nero Wolfe book, this one took a little longer for me to get into. The "League" characters were a little hard to keep straight, which made it challenging to concentrate on "who done it." Once I got into it, though, it was a real page turner.
May 22, 2010
Moontyger
rated it:
I kept hearing about the Nero Wolfe books, so I finally decided to read some. This wasn't bad and the mystery itself was interesting, but I have to admit that, even knowing the age of the book, the casual sexism and racism of the narrator bothered me.
May 06, 2011
Jake
rated it:
Audio Book. Very Good. I liked it a lot although I wish Nero Wolfe would have shared more of insight through out the book. He kept telling Archie that he wouldn't explain it to him. It is amazing how fat Rex Stout makes him sound.
Jul 05, 2009
Dana
rated it:
I read a 1968 edition complete with the colorfully offensive slang of the 30's when this was originally published. Maybe it was because of that,or maybe because it was so early in Stout's career, but this one seemed harsher.
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Feb 12, 2009
Taylor
rated it:
This is for all Rex Stout books. If you like mysteries, then I would highly recommend Rex Stout. The Nero Wolf and Archie Goodwin Team has always been one of my favorite.
Jul 05, 2010
Barbara
rated it:
Probably my least favorite Nero Wolfe book thus far. Not as much humor as I expect and actually tedious many places. And Archie Goodwin is NOT supposed to be tedious. :-)
A 1.6.
A 1.6.
Jun 09, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
This book was especially enjoyable as I could hear the voices and see the motions of Maury Chakin as Nero Wolfe and Timothy Hutton as Archie Goodwin from the A&E mini-series.
Sep 14, 2011
Jason
rated it:
Didn't like this nearly as much as Fer-de-lance. It feels superficially like a Wolfe story, but doesn't quite seem as tightly put together as the previous installment, nor the other stories with which I'm familiar. I'm glad to have read it once, but I doubt this one will get a repeat read.
Feb 04, 2012
Tim
rated it:
One of the longer Nero Wolfe novels at times feels like it, though it's hard to complain about a book in this series; all are fun.
May 02, 2010
Tyler
rated it:
Good story, and I absolutely love the sarcastic nature of this book. I think I will look into reading more from the series.
Jan 17, 2009
John
rated it:
Another interesting mystery tale of Nero Wolfe & Archie Goodwin. Some very interesting occurrences in this one. Well written.
Apr 28, 2011
Connie
rated it:
Each book is great. I enjoy reading them in sequence but it is not essential.
