Champagne for One (Nero Wolfe Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rex Stout (Author)

Book Description

Series: Nero Wolfe Mysteries | Publication Date: December 8, 1995

Unwilling to accept a suicide ruling after witnessing the death of the admittedly morbid Faith Usher, Archie Goodwin is assisted in the investigation by Nero Wolfe, who has been warned to stay away from the case. Reissue. NYT.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this 1958 Nero Wolfe mystery, the rotund, beer-guzzling supersleuth and his sidekick, Archie Goodwin, endeavor to prove that a socialite's apparent suicide was actually a murder.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Deceased --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Crimeline (December 8, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553244388
• ISBN-13: 978-0553244380
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #727,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My first Nero Wolfe, but not my last, November 13, 2001

By 

Mark S. Winger (Wood Dale, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Champagne for One (Nero Wolfe Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I read all of the other reviews and was prompted to buy this book, because there was a consensus that this was one of his best books or the start of a solid string of Wolfe novels. The only problem with the other reviews I have is that none of them, really take into account the first time Wolfe reader. I found the dialogue and interaction between Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin very intriguing. It shares some similarities of the genius detective and his trusty sidekick. The difference being here that Archie is more the eyes and ears and the man about town that Wolfe is not. If you read Christie or Conan Doyle, then you may tire of the dolt of a sidekick who can never figure out in the slightest what the hero detective is up to. While Wolfe is the genius here, the story revolves around the fact that Archie is present to the supposed suicide of a young single mother that he feels is actually a murder. It is Wolfe's trust in Archie that commits him to the case at hand. Throughout the way the police and other parties try to convince Wolfe to give it up, but his intelligence and the resourcefulness of Archie and company find the truth. Truly an entertaining story and intriguing characters. It is clear from Stout fanatics that it is worth the read, and take it from a first time reader as well.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wolfe hits top form, August 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Champagne for One (Nero Wolfe Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is Wolfe in his pomp. After a patchy time, with a few sub-standard stories during the early/mid 50s, I think that in this book, Stout established the key ingredients which he continued throughout his excellent later period. After Champagne for One, he never wrote a weak full-length Wolfe. Good plot- there's even a passable sub-plot!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great nero wolfe book., August 14, 2001

By 

Mz Susan ""Tell me a story"" (Tampa Florida) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Champagne for One (Nero Wolfe Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

One of the best of Nero Wolfe. I also recommend Some Buried Caesar, one of more light-hearted books. I read Rex Stout nearly 20 years ago and have just started re-reading them. I am enjoying them more the second time around that i did the first. the plots and characters are ageless! I can still laugh at the unique interplay betwee Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe, still envy the freedom of Nero's lifestyle, and still admire the plots. One of the great things about Rex Stout, is that (unlike some mystery writers that I could name), he doesn't hold out clues or keep secrets that the hero discloses at the end. He gives you the clues (sometimes tossed out in the middle of a paragraph). And sometimes, just sometimes, the reader get the thrill of solving the mystery!