Her Forbidden Knight [Paperback]

Rex Stout (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1997

In Stout's early and always entertaining mystery story, when Lila Williams, an innocent telegrapher at New York's upscale Lamartine Hotel, becomes enmeshed in a counterfeiting gang, the unlikely knight who comes to her rescue is one of the forgers. This exciting page-turner provides Stout fans with hints of Nero Wolfe's masterful cross-examination and charades, and police detective Barrett foreshadows the character of Inspector Cramer

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is the first hardcover edition of an early Stout mystery that was brought back as a mass-market paperback in 1997. An early work in Stout's career, this pre-Nero Wolfe mystery was first serialized in All Story during the 1920s. The plot follows innocent Lila Williams who accidentally gets involved with counterfeiters. Severn House books can be ordered at a discount at 800-830-3044.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

What a pleasant surprise for Stout fans. A hitherto-unpublished work has been uncovered, and the book is a prime example of why Stout's popularity has endured. A motley gang of gentlemanly ne'er-do-wells hangs about in the lobby of Manhattan's Lamartine Hotel, casting ardor-filled glances at beauteous Miss Lila Williams and regaling each other with tales of their impressive--and mostly fictional--exploits. The gentlemen know Miss Lila would never return their admiration, but at least they can protect her from less well intentioned swains. Imagine their chagrin when handsome John Knowlton arrives on the scene and immediately gains Lila's doe-eyed admiration. When the gang finds a shady secret in his past, they try to force him to vamoose. What happens next is touching, sweet, funny, and thoroughly delightful. Stout transports readers back to a time when the world seemed more innocent, a man's good name was a valuable asset, and happily-ever-after was a reasonable goal. An unexpected treasure from one of the grand masters of mystery, this vintage Stout is a fine acquisition for all collections. Emily Melton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Pub (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786704446
• ISBN-13: 978-0786704446
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,532,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No signs of Archie in this one, December 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Her Forbidden Knight (Paperback)

An amateurish effort, very difficult to read through to the finish. It does make the later work more impressive, after one sees how far Stout had to come. I won't be reading the other early books being re-released.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Tale of the Erring Knights, April 5, 2001

By 

Joanie (KC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Her Forbidden Knight (Stout, Rex) (Paperback)

Young and shy Lila Williams, an attractive telegrapher, working in the once popular New York Hotel, the Lamartine, finds herself surrounded by five gentlemen protecters who earn the name the "Erring Knights". As another man, the mysterious John Knowlton appears there one day, Lila shows more interest in him and he for her than the Knights can stand. The sparks begin to fly as they try to "protect" Lila and to uncover Knowlton's secrets.

This is my first Rex Stout novel, but I've read other mysteries such as my favorite series by Elizabeth Peters. 'Her Forbidden Knight' is different from other mysteries for a variety of reasons. First of all the main character is not a detective, and there really isn't a crime to discover. In fact most of the mystery in the book revolves around Knowlton's and Billy Sherman's past. This novel also contains a good deal of Romance elements in it, especially towards the end of the book. Without it though, the book would be bland and boring.

My favorite quote from the book, which also came from my favorite character, Lila Williams, is: "I guess there is no 'why' in love,..." Her hidden courage shown towards the end of the book is stunning. Throughout the book she transforms into a colorful character full of both joy and deep sorrow.

This is a great book for anyone who loves a good mystery and doesn't mind a little bit of romance tacked on. Teens and adults would get the most out of the book, including people already familar with Rex Stout's books. Although people claim this book to be a foreshadowing of the Nero Wolfe series, I don't think so. This book stands by itself as an original story. It is a story filled with humor and triumph; the kind I love to read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Early effort, October 26, 2008

By 

Jeanne Tassotto (Trapped in the Midwest) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Her Forbidden Knight (Hardcover)

Before he wrote the Nero Wolfe series Stout produced this tale about the mean street of Manhattan. It has some O. Henry/Damon Runyon/Dashiell Hammett overtones as the tale unfolds. A rather seedy group of men who hang about the lobby of a shabby hotel befriend a young woman who works there. She comes to call them her 'Knights Errant' when she realizes that they have appointed themselves her protectors. A new man joins the group, and over the objections of the rest, begins to court the young woman. Trouble begins though when it becomes known that he is supporting himself by passing counterfeit money. Many twists and turns take place before true love triumphs.

Fans of the Nero Wolfe series will possibly be interested in this one as a precursor to his later works. The plot is intricate, full of the twists and turns that will later keep Wolfe and Archie busy for decades to come. The characters are richly imagined, given their own personalities and their own little moments to shine just as the minor characters of his later series will be. Unfortunately in this one Stout seems more to channel others rather than using his own voice, he also seems to be uncertain whether this is a romance, a crime story or a tear jerker meant for a magazine. It is not an example of Stout's best work and unless the reader has completely exhausted all of Stout's other works and simply must have more from 'the master', skip this one.