Red Threads (Crime Line) [Paperback]

Rex Stout (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1995 | Series: Crime Line

Investigating the bludgeoning murder of Val Carew, killed near the tomb of his late wife, also dead under suspicious circumstances, Inspector Cramer finds a single clue in a red thread found in the victim's hand. Reissue.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553762990
• ISBN-13: 978-0553762990
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,126,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, if you forget it's Rex Stout, July 5, 2003

By 

James A. White (Cookeville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Threads (Rex Stout Library) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a good mystery, and the clue used to trap the murderer is very a la Agatha Christie. In fact, the whole novel is a la Agatha Christie. It seems almost as if it were written to show the general public that Cramer could indeed solve a case without Wolfe's help.

The story starts one month after a brutal crime has taken place. Val Carew has been scalped in the tomb/slightly unnatural shrine of his late Indian wife with, naturally, an entire houseful of guests.

Cramer is called home from a Canadian vacation to solve the crime. Then he disappears for 60 pages while we are introduced to the characters, their motives, alibis, and relationships with each other. Once he reappears, he solves the crime, albeit with some help.

The only problem with this mystery is if you expect it to read like a Nero Wolfe. Since that's what we primarily associate with Stout, that's what we expect from him. While this novel doesn't really disappoint the reader, it's just rather slow going because you expect Wolfe and Archie to pop up at any moment. As they never do, it's something of a disappointment, but if you just tell yourself at the beginning that the novel isn't written by Stout, but someone else, it's quite enjoyable fare.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More bologna than Saucisse Minuit, June 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Red Threads (Rex Stout Library) (Mass Market Paperback)

It comes as a surprise that Rex Stout, the master of dialogue and characterization, could have written this book. Simply put, Red Threads is dull. The writer tells us too much and shows us too little. The protagonist is little more than a bundle of mannerisms, lacking the spark of reality which enlivens Stout's more famous creations, Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe.

I was disappointed, and I don't recommend this book.

2.0 out of 5 stars Meh, not very good, February 9, 2011

By 

Bookaholic Abroad - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Threads (Kindle Edition)

I knew this wasn't a Nero Wolfe book but Rex Stout's writing is so engrossing I thought I would enjoy this book. I was wrong. Poorly written, overly cliched, and deadly dull. Rex Stout does such a good job with male narrators but fails miserably with female. I forced myself to finish the book but, ugh.