Murder by the Book
by Rex Stout
  

a Nero Wolfe & Archie Goodwin mystery

Viking; New York, 1951

216 pages

  
[Nero Wolfe, private detective:] "I have no information to withhold."

[Inspector Cramer, of Manhattan Homicide:] "Goddammit, you said you —"

[Wolfe:] "I said I have reason to think the two deaths are connected. It's based on information, of course, but I have none that the police do not have. The Police Department is a huge organization. If your staff and the Bronx staff get together on this it's likely that sooner or later they'll get where I am. I thought this would save you time and work. I can't be charged with withholding information when I know nothing that the police don't know — collectively."

Murder by the Book is a superb example of the generally excellent Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin series of mystery novels. Rex Stout begins this one by bringing New York City Police Inspector Cramer in a reasonably affable and tactful mood (for him) to consult with Nero Wolfe about a body fished out of the East River, and to share a morsel of information with Wolfe and his active aspect, Archie Goodwin. At this early stage Wolfe can offer no help, and it is quite a while before we get to the exchange above.
  

Wolfe is a cerebral fellow, and part of the joy of reading these mysteries — as narrated to us by Archie Goodwin — is watching him not only wrestle with abstruse problems of detection, but match wits with criminals, accessories, bystanders, witnesses, and police: many of whom can be quite sharp. In this novel, we have almost an apotheosis of Wolfean conferences as he confronts a phalanx of lawyers.

Some neat Wolfean sayings herein. One specific to his handling of the case:

Wolfe flipped a hand. "Surely you don't credit me with a monopoly in mendacity?"

Another, a general rule for living rightly:

"A schedule broken at will becomes a mere procession of vagaries."
  

Archie Goodwin not only is entrusted with a critical task concerning the women possibly related to the case — rather throwing him into the briar patch — but also must venture far afield to Los Angeles. This trip gives Rex Stout an opportunity for a substantial rainstorm and hence some gentle fun at the expense of the perpetual-sunshine mythology of Southern California.

Murder by the Book is one of my favorites among Nero Wolfe novels, a series of high quality throughout.

© 2010 Robert Wilfred Franson