
And Be a Villain
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Narrated by:
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Michael Prichard
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By:
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Rex Stout
About this listen
Madeline Fraser, radio talk show host extraordinaire, had a natural dread of dead air. So when one of her on-air guests signed off at the mike after drinking a glass of a sponsor’s beverage, it was a broadcaster’s nightmare come true.
Enter Nero Wolfe. He agrees to take the case, with his sizable fee contingent on his solving the murder. But to Wolfe’s surprise, everyone connected to the case now lies in unison about it. And as the portly detective soon discovers, the secret worth lying about only hides another worth killing for.
Introduction by Maan Meyers
“It is always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore.” (The New York Times Book Review)
A grand master of the form, Rex Stout is one of America’s greatest mystery writers, and his literary creation Nero Wolfe is one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time. Together, Stout and Wolfe have entertained - and puzzled - millions of mystery fans around the world. Now, with his perambulatory man-about-town, Archie Goodwin, the arrogant, gourmandizing, sedentary sleuth is back in the original 73 cases of crime and detection written by the inimitable master himself, Rex Stout.
Stout fellow: explore our list of Nero Wolfe mysteries, including novels and classic radio programs.©1948 Rex Stout (P)1995 Books on TapeListeners also enjoyed...
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Ever since disgraced associate Orrie Cather’s suicide, armchair detective Nero Wolfe has relished retirement in his Manhattan brownstone on West 35th Street. Two years after Cather’s death, only a visit from Maria Radovich - and the urging of Wolfe’s prize assistant, Archie Goodwin - could draw the eccentric and reclusive genius back into business. Maria’s uncle, New York Symphony Orchestra conductor Milan Stevens, formerly known as Milos Stefanovic, spent his youth alongside Wolfe as a fellow freedom fighter in the mountains of Montenegro.
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Nero Wolfe is "a gourmet who never walks when he can sit and never sits when he can lie down." Join Rex Stout's reclusive, overweight, orchid-loving super sleuth as masterfully portrayed by Sydney Greenstreet in this exciting radio series. Ever in search of a perfect meal and a cold bottle of beer, Wolfe often sends Archie Goodwin, his secretary and operative, in his stead. Archie, while trying to keep his well-known weakness for red heads in check, follows up on leads and does the leg work, setting up his brilliant boss to solve the case.
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
When someone makes a present of a fer-de-lance - the dreaded snake - to Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin knows he's close to solving two apparently unrelated murders. As for Wolfe, he's playing snake charmer in a case more deadly than a cobra and whistling a seductive tune he hopes will catch a killer with poison in his heart.
-
-
One of the best crime series of all time.
- By ShySusan on 03-27-13
By: Rex Stout
-
Murder in E Minor
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- Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ever since disgraced associate Orrie Cather’s suicide, armchair detective Nero Wolfe has relished retirement in his Manhattan brownstone on West 35th Street. Two years after Cather’s death, only a visit from Maria Radovich - and the urging of Wolfe’s prize assistant, Archie Goodwin - could draw the eccentric and reclusive genius back into business. Maria’s uncle, New York Symphony Orchestra conductor Milan Stevens, formerly known as Milos Stefanovic, spent his youth alongside Wolfe as a fellow freedom fighter in the mountains of Montenegro.
-
-
Murder in E Minor
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-
Parties for Death
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- Narrated by: Sydney Greenstreet, Wally Maher, Herb Ellis, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nero Wolfe is "a gourmet who never walks when he can sit and never sits when he can lie down." Join Rex Stout's reclusive, overweight, orchid-loving super sleuth as masterfully portrayed by Sydney Greenstreet in this exciting radio series. Ever in search of a perfect meal and a cold bottle of beer, Wolfe often sends Archie Goodwin, his secretary and operative, in his stead. Archie, while trying to keep his well-known weakness for red heads in check, follows up on leads and does the leg work, setting up his brilliant boss to solve the case.
-
-
OK Old Radio but not Rex Stout
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By: Rex Stout
-
The Adventures of Nero Wolfe, Collection 1
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- Narrated by: full cast
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nero Wolfe is a fictional detective, created in 1934 by the American mystery writer Rex Stout. Wolfe's confidential assistant Archie Goodwin narrates the cases of the overweight detective genius. In total, Stout wrote 33 novels and 39 short stories from 1934 to 1974, with most of them set in New York City. Wolfe's residence, a luxurious brownstone on West 35th Street, features prominently in the series. Many radio, television and film adaptations were made from Stout's stories.
-
-
Embarrassingly bad adaptation.
- By William J. Brodbeck on 12-16-18
-
The Case of the Velvet Claws
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- By: Erle Stanley Gardner
- Narrated by: Alexander Cendese
- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Married Eva Griffin has been caught with a prominent congressman, and is ready to pay the editor of a sleazy tabloid hush money to protect the politician. But first Perry Mason tracks down the publisher of the blackmailing tabloid and discovers a shocking secret, which eventually leads to Mason being accused of murder. This is the first Perry Mason mystery and our introduction to secretary Della Street, detective Paul Drake, and the great lawyer himself.
-
-
Enter Perry Mason
- By David S. Mathew on 04-10-17
-
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- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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Was the biggest case of his career the worst mistake he ever made? Ten years ago, DCI Jack Logan stopped the serial child-killer dubbed "Mister Whisper", earning himself a commendation, a drinking problem, and a broken marriage in the process...When another child disappears a hundred miles north in the Highlands, Jack is sent to lead the investigation and bring the boy home. But as similarities between the two cases grow, could it be that Jack caught the wrong man all those years ago?
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High hopes dashed: not just a little bit of child and animal torture
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Critic reviews
"[Prichard's] Nero Wolfe is suitably commanding." (AudioFile)
"It is always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore." (New York Times)
What listeners say about And Be a Villain
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Overall
- Stef
- 03-15-07
You can't go wrong with Rex Stout
This isn't one of the better Nero Wolfe mysteries, but even the less wonderful ones are better than most of what's out there. Michael Prichard always brings out Archie's sly deadpan sarcasm and Wolfe's misanthropic stubbornness with great skill.
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5 people found this helpful
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- 1stnlst
- 04-28-18
good listen
Good listen, but figured out murder soon. Still had some twists did not see. Plots for later book? Most likely.
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- sally
- 11-23-24
Archie and Nero Wolfe
Plot twists and turns unexpected villain. Wolfe never disappoints. Archie is dynamite as usual and it’s like going home.
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- Janet
- 05-13-22
Great Gumshoe Mystery
For my credits there is no pairing that beats Nero and Archie, except maybe Holmes and Watson. But I think Stout does a better job of creating an atmosphere and building tension. If you don't already know these stories do yourself a favor and get to know them. Pritchard is a great narrator too. I've been listening so long I still expect him to say "if the cassette is stuck remove it and slap it sharply against a flat surface". If you get it, you get it.
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- Britt
- 09-27-22
Nero Wolfe
Great mystery book. Love Nero Wolfe books and the way Archie and him solve crimes.
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- Chris T
- 02-17-19
The First of the Zeck Novels... Read All Three!
This novel introduces a master villain who motivates three superb Nero Wolfe novels. They are not to be missed for fans of this series and should absolutely be read in order, 2nd - The Second Confession, 3rd -In the Best Families.
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2 people found this helpful
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- jada c brotman
- 10-07-20
an excellent mystery, unfortunate narrator
one of the good ones, after all they are all good but some of them are more a or b grade. This is an a one. I don't like Michael Pritchard as a narrator; he doesn't have the sense of humor inherent in Archie Goodwin.
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- Aly
- 11-04-15
One of the best!
This has probably been my favorite Nero Wolfe book yet. Very enjoyable. It will keep you guessing!
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- Davis
- 01-03-19
Extreamly hard to follow and figure out.
this is impossible to follow and keep up with. too many clues and false clues. Everyone seems to be lying and devious. Hopeless to follow. The only book by Rex Stout to skip. Frustrating and a waste of MY time, but take your time and keep a score pad of who's who and what's what, it might be YOUR cup of tea.
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- larainey
- 06-16-15
Love Stout
He is just a wonderful author and the narrator is great.I will be buying more Stout.
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