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Kings Full of Aces: A Nero Wolfe Omnibus

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This omnibus edition of TOO MANY COOKS, PLOT IT YOURSELF, and TRIPLE JEOPARDY is titled KINGS FULL OF ACES because Stout and his publishers for reasons best known to themselves acquired a habit of naming Nero Wolfe omnibi after variations on playing cards (including both bridge and poker terms).

While the 2 novels + 1 short story collection herein are no worse here than taken separately - no abridgements or alterations have been made - this edition provides no added value.

The selection of titles is an odd assortment. For more detailed discussion of the individual works herein, see reviews of the 3 separate books; no changes were made to include them here. They have few points in common, not even being 3 back-to-back books in publication order. While they're no worse here than taken separately, this omnibus edition provides no added value.

TOO MANY COOKS (1938) was the 5th Wolfe book, back when he was less reluctant to leave the brownstone than he became in later years. Of course, on the occasions when he did leave for personal reasons, they tended to fall into a few main categories: the obligations of citizenship (voting, for instance); the obligations of friendship (Marko or Archie, usually); orchids; food.

In this instance, Marko Vukcic makes his first appearance, having persuaded his old friend to attend a meeting of Les Quinze Maitres (15 world-class chefs) in West Virginia; Wolfe has very definite opinions about American contributions to fine food, and is willing to go to some trouble to back them up. (This is worth reading just to see Archie yanking Wolfe's chain by waiting until the last minute to join him on board the train, after reflecting on what he went through to get his boss there.)

Wolfe's price for helping out the inevitable murder suspect among the masters takes an unusual turn, too: a recipe that the man has refused point-blank to share with *anyone*. :)

TRIPLE JEOPARDY (1952) was the 20th Wolfe book, a short story collection rather than a novel, consisting of "Home to Roost", "The Cop Killer", and "The Squirt and the Monkey".

"Home to Roost" (a.k.a. "Nero Wolfe and the Communist Killer") The Rackells want to hire Wolfe to investigate their nephew's murder. Arthur appeared to be a communist, but defended himself to his family by claiming to be an undercover FBI agent. Which was true? Did either have anything to do with his death? (This was written during the worst of the anti-communist witch-hunts. Stout himself eventually came under fire, which was ridiculous; after that, his tone on the issue changed.)

"The Cop-Killer" In this case, the anti-communist angle, such as it is, is that two of the employees at the barbershop patronized by both Wolfe and Archie are illegal immigrants, and panicked badly when a cop dropped in to investigate a simple hit-and-run death. But did they kill him? (The setting leaves a restricted set of suspects, as the murder took place during business hours in the barbershop, and most of the employees haven't had any chance to leave other than Wolfe's new clients.)

"The Squirt and the Monkey" After getting involved with a case he should've known better than to touch - a cartoonist who wanted Archie's help in finding a stolen gun - Wolfe's and Archie's licenses are suspended, so that Wolfe *must* get involved to protect his ability to make a living.

PLOT IT YOURSELF (1959) was the 32nd Wolfe book. A group of people who make their living from words - playwrights and authors - are being preyed upon by someone who, working through a different cat's-paw each time, frames the writer for plagiarism in such a way that either a large out-of-court settlement or a large *in*-court settlement will result. The relevant professional organizations have finally opted to call in a competent investigator, pooling their resources and their information. But once Wolfe becomes involved, the people who've been fronting for the mastermind behind the scheme start turning up dead...