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Title: The first Wolfe stands up with the best of them.
Review: Having recently made the acquaintance of Rex Stout's eccentric sleuth, Nero Wolfe, I have been devouring the (thankfully numerous)items in the canon as I find them. One of the endearing things about Nero Wolfe's world is its consistency and solidity. The characters are clearly drawn and clearly themselves. I must admit, however, that I was surprised to discover, when I ran into FER DE LANCE in the course of my explorations, that this is actually the first Wolfe novel. Archie and Wolfe, Theodore and Fritz, and the brownstone on 35th are as notably themselves in this, the first of the series, as they are anywhere in the series. If you read attentively, you may pick up a few clues here and there that show that the author was not completely polished, not totally settled into the world of Nero Wolfe yet - but there's nothing obvious, and that is quite an achievement. This is one strong first book, and an original twist on the murder mystery to boot!
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