From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Fer-de-Lance (Nero Wolfe, #1)

Rex Stout

Start date: January 1, 2017

Finish date: January 31, 2017

Discussion: Group reads

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Group reads

* November 2025 group read - Winner!
By Judy · 20 posts · 32 views

last updated Sep 17, 2025 08:43AM

* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
By Susan · 16 posts · 16 views

last updated Sep 19, 2025 01:03PM

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What Members Thought

Jan 15, 2016 Leslie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries, audiobooks

Wolfe was more talkative than I remember from the other books! But the main thing I noticed was that this first book in the series reads as if it is from the middle of the series, in the sense that Wolfe & all his cohorts are presented as having been together for a while and this is just one more case. I guess I was expecting something like A Study in Scarlet, explaining how the "gang" got together. Glad I read/listened to it but it isn't as good as some of the other books in the series...

This a ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2017 SewingandCaring rated it did not like it

Shelves: detectives, 2017-detectives-challenge

If you like that whole bogart film noir hard boiled detective stuff you will love it. I hated it. I hated it to the point where the moment I saw the obvious villain I started skim reading before skipping to the last two chapters to find out if I was right. I was. Too many words, not enough plot, horrible unlikable detectives and I just didn't like having how clever he was being rammed down my throat all the frigging time. Also there is no levity, just one long interminable monologue. Ugh. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 26, 2014 Gary Vassallo rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2014

Really enjoyed this book. Loved both Archie & Nero, they are great characters. Thought the twists and turns in the mystery were great. I look forward to reading more in the series.

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2017 Sandy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-classic, series-active, rread-2017

Fun read with unique characters - combines the classic detective solving the mystery using his brain (Nero Wolfe) with the hard-boiled, wise-cracking operative (Archie). Both have enough quirks to carry a series of over 40 books. Brought back conversations with my father, who told me about a detective who didn't leave home and raised orchids. ...more

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Jan 06, 2017 Marcus Vinicius rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries

My first book by Rex Stout. I liked the story, specially the main characters (Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin). The irony and wisdom of Nero Wolfe combines with the promptness and intelligence of Goodwin. The art of solving a crime puzzle was performed.

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