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Nero Wolfe #22
The Golden Spiders
Nero Wolfe was almost as famous for his wealthy clients and extravagant fees as for his genius at detection. So why has he accepted a case for $4.30? And why have the last two people to hire him been ruthlessly murdered? Wolfe suspects the answers may lie in the story of a twelve-year-old boy who turns up at the door of his West Thirty-fifth Street Brownstone. In short order, Wolfe finds himself confronted by one of his most perplexing and pressing cases, involving a curious set of earrings shaped like spiders dipped in gold. The case is all boiling down to a strange taste of greed—and a grumpy gourmand's unappeasable appetite for truth.
206 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 26, 1953
About the author
Rex Stout
743 books981 followersRex Todhunter Stout (1886–1975) was an American crime writer, best known as the creator of the larger-than-life fictional detective Nero Wolfe, described by reviewer Will Cuppy as "that Falstaff of detectives." Wolfe's assistant Archie Goodwin recorded the cases of the detective genius from 1934 (Fer-de-Lance) to 1975 (A Family Affair).
The Nero Wolfe corpus was nominated Best Mystery Series of the Century at Bouchercon 2000, the world's largest mystery convention, and Rex Stout was nominated Best Mystery Writer of the Century.
The Nero Wolfe corpus was nominated Best Mystery Series of the Century at Bouchercon 2000, the world's largest mystery convention, and Rex Stout was nominated Best Mystery Writer of the Century.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
February 8, 2020
This novel begins promisingly. A street kid who works the corner as a windshield-cleaner sees something suspicious, comes to Wolfe for help, and is found dead the next day.
The resolution, however. is rather conventional, and the suspects not particularly interesting. As always, though, Wolfe and Archie are wonderful.
January 1, 2022
“Cramer regarded him. He took the cigar from his mouth, held it half a minute, and put it back between his teeth. ‘I would have thought,’ he said, not positively, ‘that I have seen you work all the dodges there are, but this is new. I’m damned if I get it.’” Inspector Cramer, as most well know, is Nero Wolfe’s foil. He is usually one step behind.
It takes a significant force to motivate Nero Wolfe (the immovable object) and money is often the factor but, here, it isn’t the primary one.
A neighborhood kid experiences a situation where he thinks that there is a woman in danger. He comes to Wolfe (because Archie Goodwin lets him in the door). Wolfe treats the kid respectfully and agrees that they will both check out the situation and share what they find.
In a period of less than a week, three people with whom Wolfe has found connections are dead and the police are sure that Wolfe is either very involved in the reason for their deaths or he is withholding key evidence about them. Thus, the significance of the following quotation:
“Wolfe leaned back, rested his forearms on the arms of the chair, drew in a bushel of air and audibly let it out. ‘Gentlemen,’ he said. ‘I am up to my thighs in a quagmire. Customarily, when I enlist your services, it is enough to define your specific tasks, but this time that won’t do. You must be informed of the total situation in all its intricacy, but first a word about money. Less than twelve hours after the client gave me a check for ten thousand dollars, she was murdered. Since no successor to the cliency is in view, that’s all I’ll get. If it is unavoidable I am prepared, for a personal reason, to spend the major portion, even the entire sum, on the expense of the investigation, but not more. I don’t ask you to be niggardly in your expenditures, but I must forbid any prodigality…It is as you see, hopeless. It is excessively complex, but no sources of information are available…The police will tell me nothing…Since they know everything that I know, I have nothing to bargain with.’”
This isn’t one of Stout’s fast-paced efforts but it succeeded in keeping my attention. Though kept in the dark, I was easily mollified by a unique and unexpected action sequence with bullets and fists flying.
It takes a significant force to motivate Nero Wolfe (the immovable object) and money is often the factor but, here, it isn’t the primary one.
A neighborhood kid experiences a situation where he thinks that there is a woman in danger. He comes to Wolfe (because Archie Goodwin lets him in the door). Wolfe treats the kid respectfully and agrees that they will both check out the situation and share what they find.
In a period of less than a week, three people with whom Wolfe has found connections are dead and the police are sure that Wolfe is either very involved in the reason for their deaths or he is withholding key evidence about them. Thus, the significance of the following quotation:
“Wolfe leaned back, rested his forearms on the arms of the chair, drew in a bushel of air and audibly let it out. ‘Gentlemen,’ he said. ‘I am up to my thighs in a quagmire. Customarily, when I enlist your services, it is enough to define your specific tasks, but this time that won’t do. You must be informed of the total situation in all its intricacy, but first a word about money. Less than twelve hours after the client gave me a check for ten thousand dollars, she was murdered. Since no successor to the cliency is in view, that’s all I’ll get. If it is unavoidable I am prepared, for a personal reason, to spend the major portion, even the entire sum, on the expense of the investigation, but not more. I don’t ask you to be niggardly in your expenditures, but I must forbid any prodigality…It is as you see, hopeless. It is excessively complex, but no sources of information are available…The police will tell me nothing…Since they know everything that I know, I have nothing to bargain with.’”
This isn’t one of Stout’s fast-paced efforts but it succeeded in keeping my attention. Though kept in the dark, I was easily mollified by a unique and unexpected action sequence with bullets and fists flying.
July 5, 2022
I am a sucker for the Nero Wolfe books and have read most (or maybe all) of the 40+ corpus. This is another winner as a youngster comes to see Wolfe to ask his help as he thinks he has seen a crime. Normally, since Wolfe claims he doesn't like children, he would have refused to seem him but Archie tricks him into it. The young boy offers Wolfe his savings (about $4.00) as a retainer and Wolfe is stuck. Then something tragic happens which infuriates Wolfe, although he would never admit it, and so begins a story of murder(s), blackmail, and vengeance.
This story has a little different feel than most of the Wolfe books since it tugs at the heart strings a bit and reveals that the usually non-emotional detective has a heart after all. But I always knew that he did!!!
This story has a little different feel than most of the Wolfe books since it tugs at the heart strings a bit and reveals that the usually non-emotional detective has a heart after all. But I always knew that he did!!!
January 11, 2019
Rex Stout didn't disappoint once again. Nero Wolf and his side kick Archy Goodwin solve a triple homoside which includes a child. Lots and lots of twists and turns, lots of greed and side dealing and a very enjoyable read.
I recommend this to all.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Steven
I recommend this to all.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Steven
December 29, 2020
The title of this book refers to a pair of earrings. A twelve year old boy is washing windshields on a street corner when a car stops at the light. The boy hustles to wash the windows when he notices the woman driving the car turn to him and mouth the words "Help" and "Call the police". The woman wore gold earrings shaped like spiders. There was a man in the passenger seat. The light turned green and the car took off. It had a Connecticut license.
Pete Drossos lives in the neighborhood and he knows all about Nero Wolfe. Instead of calling the police he goes to see Wolfe. He obviously does not have an appointment but since Wolfe is behaving badly (acting like a child) Archie brings Pete in to talk with Wolfe who is in the dining room eating. Wolfe is annoyed naturally but listens to Pete's story. At end he tells Archie to call the police and tell them that the car may have been involved in a crime and give them the license plate number. And that is that. Or so Wolfe believes.
The next day they get a visit from Sergeant Purley Stebbins informing them that Pete had been run over by a car and was dead. A short time later Pete's mother comes to the brownstone to tell them that Pete's last words were "They got me" and to hire Wolfe with his $4.30 in savings. Normally only the wealthy can afford Wolfe's fees but Pete had eaten at Wolfe's table only yesterday. Wolfe takes the case with no prospect of more money coming in.
Archie, Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin, and Orrie Cather play major roles in breaking the case open and this is one of the few times that I can recall where the reader gets to see them in action. Usually Wolfe has them come to his bedroom in the morning where he is eating breakfast in his yellow pajamas to send them off somewhere that even Archie doesn't know anything about. It is not until the end of the book when everyone is gathered in Wolfe's office where he will expose the murderer that we learn what they were doing. Not in this story. Here we get to see them at work and learn they are not to be fooled with.
Another fun and entertaining visit with Wolfe, Archie, and the gang. It seems that more often than not that a spat between Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin leads the way to Wolfe taking a case and having to go to work.
Pete Drossos lives in the neighborhood and he knows all about Nero Wolfe. Instead of calling the police he goes to see Wolfe. He obviously does not have an appointment but since Wolfe is behaving badly (acting like a child) Archie brings Pete in to talk with Wolfe who is in the dining room eating. Wolfe is annoyed naturally but listens to Pete's story. At end he tells Archie to call the police and tell them that the car may have been involved in a crime and give them the license plate number. And that is that. Or so Wolfe believes.
The next day they get a visit from Sergeant Purley Stebbins informing them that Pete had been run over by a car and was dead. A short time later Pete's mother comes to the brownstone to tell them that Pete's last words were "They got me" and to hire Wolfe with his $4.30 in savings. Normally only the wealthy can afford Wolfe's fees but Pete had eaten at Wolfe's table only yesterday. Wolfe takes the case with no prospect of more money coming in.
Archie, Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin, and Orrie Cather play major roles in breaking the case open and this is one of the few times that I can recall where the reader gets to see them in action. Usually Wolfe has them come to his bedroom in the morning where he is eating breakfast in his yellow pajamas to send them off somewhere that even Archie doesn't know anything about. It is not until the end of the book when everyone is gathered in Wolfe's office where he will expose the murderer that we learn what they were doing. Not in this story. Here we get to see them at work and learn they are not to be fooled with.
Another fun and entertaining visit with Wolfe, Archie, and the gang. It seems that more often than not that a spat between Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin leads the way to Wolfe taking a case and having to go to work.
February 5, 2023
Without a doubt, this is one of if not my favorite Nero Wolfe mysteries. This would've gotten five stars just for the first chapter.
March 28, 2021
Stout's prose is at its sweetest in this 1953 novel. The opening is classic, as a squabble between Wolfe and Archie gives an opportunity for a 12-year-old boy windscreen cleaner, Pete, to make his way into the brownstone. He asks Wolfe to help solve a mystery. Why did a woman in a car, wearing earrings like golden spiders, mouth a silent plea to Pete to call the police?
The case gets increasingly personal for Wolfe as several people who have asked for his help end up dead. I enjoyed most of the book and loved the witty dialogue, but could have done without the sequence where Archie and some of the other regulars start using a form of torture on a suspect. Fortunately, this isn't at all typical of the Stout books I've read so far.
The case gets increasingly personal for Wolfe as several people who have asked for his help end up dead. I enjoyed most of the book and loved the witty dialogue, but could have done without the sequence where Archie and some of the other regulars start using a form of torture on a suspect. Fortunately, this isn't at all typical of the Stout books I've read so far.
November 19, 2016
Nero Wolfe mysteries are among my favorites for light hearted yet relatively complex plots. This was a weaker entry, but well written even so. I found the characters difficult to connect with and there seemed to be less interplay between Archie and Nero than usual. The entire story seemed to have been written more formulaically than previous entries in this much loved series. Good, but well short of great.
January 23, 2023
This is another good Nero Wolfe mystery, published in 1953. The mystery itself is somewhat unusual in that Wolfe accepts a case from a 12-year-old boy for $4.30, his life savings. This leads to a bit of the usual grumbling about confiscatory Federal tax rates, down from 92% to 91% that year. The reader also has to overlook the Hollywood writing in a scene that has Archie shooting two guns out of peoples' hands, which defies belief.
The contemporary depiction of New York City around 1953 is wonderful as usual and one of the best reasons to read the series. It has three new and notable elements. One is that the mystery is kicked off by the sketchy begging ploy of approaching cars penned in by red lights, unwantedly wiping their windshields with a grimy rag, and expecting payment. This scummy racket has been a part of New York life for 70 years ever since. A second is that Wolfe employs a company that makes mass phone calls at a rate of a few $100 per thousand in solving the mystery. Apparently, telemarketing spam was already a booming business by 1953. The third is that the mystery involves illegal aliens, who Stout euphemistically refers to as “displaced persons”. The story shows that it was common knowledge that there were already many thousands of illegal aliens living in New York City in 1953, with attendant social ills and wealthy do-gooders advocating on their behalf.
I read this in one evening and it was good light entertainment, but it is not among the best of the first 22 Nero Wolfe novels, the Zeck trilogy. 3.5 stars
The contemporary depiction of New York City around 1953 is wonderful as usual and one of the best reasons to read the series. It has three new and notable elements. One is that the mystery is kicked off by the sketchy begging ploy of approaching cars penned in by red lights, unwantedly wiping their windshields with a grimy rag, and expecting payment. This scummy racket has been a part of New York life for 70 years ever since. A second is that Wolfe employs a company that makes mass phone calls at a rate of a few $100 per thousand in solving the mystery. Apparently, telemarketing spam was already a booming business by 1953. The third is that the mystery involves illegal aliens, who Stout euphemistically refers to as “displaced persons”. The story shows that it was common knowledge that there were already many thousands of illegal aliens living in New York City in 1953, with attendant social ills and wealthy do-gooders advocating on their behalf.
I read this in one evening and it was good light entertainment, but it is not among the best of the first 22 Nero Wolfe novels, the Zeck trilogy. 3.5 stars
December 14, 2021
When Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin have a spat over Wolfe’s rudeness, Archie tries to get back at Wolfe by permitting a 12 year old street kid who shows up with a “case” for Wolfe to join them at dinner, Wolfe uses the arrival to get back at Archie, making him take notes and treat the interview as a serious case. Both men are shocked a couple of days later when the boy is killed—probably by the man he came to get Wolfe’s help regarding. To make matters worse, the boy’s mother arrives and gives Wolfe the dead child’s life’s savings (a couple of dollars) because it was her son’s last wish. Angry at himself, but also (without acknowledging it) clearly feeling some responsibility toward the dead boy, Wolfe spends the money on a one in a million gambit that pulls him firmly into a fascinating case in which the major clue is a pair of bizarre spider earrings.
I love this novel because it shows a touch of humanity in Nero Wolfe that the great detective would clearly prefer that no one knows he has. It also shows him and his team of operatives at his best taking one impossibly small clue and using it to solve three murders. I didn’t figure this one out, but I certainly enjoyed watching Wolfe do so. This novel shows once again why Nero Wolfe deserves to be counted among the greatest of fictional detectives.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
I love this novel because it shows a touch of humanity in Nero Wolfe that the great detective would clearly prefer that no one knows he has. It also shows him and his team of operatives at his best taking one impossibly small clue and using it to solve three murders. I didn’t figure this one out, but I certainly enjoyed watching Wolfe do so. This novel shows once again why Nero Wolfe deserves to be counted among the greatest of fictional detectives.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
August 16, 2014
"The Golden Spiders" by Rex Stout.
Listened to on CD performed by Michael Pritchard. Nero & Archie at their best.
A young man arrives at Nero's door with a case. The case, he explains, began when he was attempting to wash the windshields of cars as they stopped for a red light. This particular case had a woman driving with a man in the passenger seat. Just as the young man glances towards the woman she moves her lips to mouth to say HELP and to call the police.
Then the light turns green and they are gone. The 2 facts the lad remembers are that the car has a Connecticut license and that the woman wore golden spider earrings.
Archie is on the hunt for a jewelry store that sold those very earrings and a trace on the license plate. Shortly thereafter, Nero & Archie are startled to learn that the lad that gave them this information has been a hit and run victim.
This was one of Nero's best and had me from the start. Highly recommended.
Listened to on CD performed by Michael Pritchard. Nero & Archie at their best.
A young man arrives at Nero's door with a case. The case, he explains, began when he was attempting to wash the windshields of cars as they stopped for a red light. This particular case had a woman driving with a man in the passenger seat. Just as the young man glances towards the woman she moves her lips to mouth to say HELP and to call the police.
Then the light turns green and they are gone. The 2 facts the lad remembers are that the car has a Connecticut license and that the woman wore golden spider earrings.
Archie is on the hunt for a jewelry store that sold those very earrings and a trace on the license plate. Shortly thereafter, Nero & Archie are startled to learn that the lad that gave them this information has been a hit and run victim.
This was one of Nero's best and had me from the start. Highly recommended.
August 16, 2019
The atmosphere in the brownstone is a bit unpleasant at the beginning of the book. Once a year, Wolfe receives about 20 starlings from an upstate farmer. Fritz seasons them with salt, brushes them with melted butter, wraps them in sage leaves, grills them and serves them with polenta. [Historically, many small birds were eaten, mostly out of necessity.]
Anyway, Fritz decided all by himself to cook them differently this year, with saffron and tarragon. Wolfe has a hissy fit and refuses to eat them at all, and orders Fritz to bring him coddled eggs and toast. So when the door bell rings, and Archie discovers a neighborhood boy at the door asking for Wolfe, Archie thinks it’s just what the childish Wolfe deserves.
The boy, Pete Drossos, tells a rather fantastic story: he had been working a busy intersection, cleaning windows of cars stopped at the traffic light for small change. He approached a car with a female driver, when she turns to look at him and says, “Help. Get a cop.” The man next to her jabbed her with something - he assumed a gun - and the light turns green. He noticed two things: she was wearing gold earrings in the shape of spiders, and the number on the Connecticut license plate. Wolfe tells Archie to call the police and give the tag number and that the vehicle may have been involved in a crime. Archie does so, and that’s that.
Wolfe is thoroughly annoyed with Archie, of course. However, the next day Sgt. Purley Stebbins visits and tells them Pete Drossos has been killed, run over by a car. Pete’s mother comes later and reports Pete’s last request was to tell Wolfe “they got me” and give his savings, $4.30, to Wolfe and hire him to find the murderer.
It’s a poignant and interesting set up, and they rest of the book is just as good. The gold spider earrings are a major clue, hence the title. 4 stars.
Anyway, Fritz decided all by himself to cook them differently this year, with saffron and tarragon. Wolfe has a hissy fit and refuses to eat them at all, and orders Fritz to bring him coddled eggs and toast. So when the door bell rings, and Archie discovers a neighborhood boy at the door asking for Wolfe, Archie thinks it’s just what the childish Wolfe deserves.
The boy, Pete Drossos, tells a rather fantastic story: he had been working a busy intersection, cleaning windows of cars stopped at the traffic light for small change. He approached a car with a female driver, when she turns to look at him and says, “Help. Get a cop.” The man next to her jabbed her with something - he assumed a gun - and the light turns green. He noticed two things: she was wearing gold earrings in the shape of spiders, and the number on the Connecticut license plate. Wolfe tells Archie to call the police and give the tag number and that the vehicle may have been involved in a crime. Archie does so, and that’s that.
Wolfe is thoroughly annoyed with Archie, of course. However, the next day Sgt. Purley Stebbins visits and tells them Pete Drossos has been killed, run over by a car. Pete’s mother comes later and reports Pete’s last request was to tell Wolfe “they got me” and give his savings, $4.30, to Wolfe and hire him to find the murderer.
It’s a poignant and interesting set up, and they rest of the book is just as good. The gold spider earrings are a major clue, hence the title. 4 stars.
January 4, 2020
Nero Wolfe is hooked into a mystery because he was in a bad mood. He was taking out his grumpiness on the other residents of the house including Archie, so when Archie got a chance to get back at Nero by bringing in a neighborhood boy with a problem he took it.
That incident lead to several murders including the neighborhood boy and his Mother pays Nero $4.30, all that the boy had saved, to solve the murder. Nero is, of course, known for running an extravagant household requiring something "north of six figures per year" to maintain but his romantic streak drives him to begin work for such a paltry sum. Fortunately for him more money was discovered over the course of the mystery.
My biggest complaint of this one is that I knew the villain almost right away. But the dialog and writing keep the book interesting even if you do solve the mystery yourself. In fact there are several lines that made me laugh out loud. One is: "I sat and tried to argue Wolfe into letting Lon have the juicy item about..." the middle omitted to avoid spoilers "...but since Wolfe wasn't there I made no progress."
That incident lead to several murders including the neighborhood boy and his Mother pays Nero $4.30, all that the boy had saved, to solve the murder. Nero is, of course, known for running an extravagant household requiring something "north of six figures per year" to maintain but his romantic streak drives him to begin work for such a paltry sum. Fortunately for him more money was discovered over the course of the mystery.
My biggest complaint of this one is that I knew the villain almost right away. But the dialog and writing keep the book interesting even if you do solve the mystery yourself. In fact there are several lines that made me laugh out loud. One is: "I sat and tried to argue Wolfe into letting Lon have the juicy item about..." the middle omitted to avoid spoilers "...but since Wolfe wasn't there I made no progress."
March 19, 2018
Me acerqué a Rex Stout por casualidad, porque estaba en mi biblioteca. Venía junto con otras joyas en una colección de Grandes Detectives que heredé.
"Las Arañas de Oro" es una novela corta y concisa, lo que no le quita que esté cargada de personajes secundarios, en eso Stout es bien inglés (a pesar de ser norteamericano). Narra uno de los millares de casos que Stout escribió del detective Nero Wolfe y su ayudante (y encargado del "trabajo sucio") Archie Goodwill, en el que el investigador se ve obligado a indagar sobre la muerte de un niño limpiaparabrisas atropellado en pleno Manhattan.
El caso se complica apenas arranca, con la muerte de una respetada, y millonaria, señora que se había presentado poco antes de su deceso en la casa de Wolfe en una visita extraña y que deja al detective obligado a investigar el embrollo.
Es una historia dinámica, que evoluciona bien, creíble. Algo simplona a ratos y, como ya dije, con muchos personajes secundarios, sin mucha profundidad.
Las novelas detectivescas han evolucionado mucho en profundización y complejización, y creo que esta es un buen ejemplo de aquello. Sin embargo, la recomiendo.
"Las Arañas de Oro" es una novela corta y concisa, lo que no le quita que esté cargada de personajes secundarios, en eso Stout es bien inglés (a pesar de ser norteamericano). Narra uno de los millares de casos que Stout escribió del detective Nero Wolfe y su ayudante (y encargado del "trabajo sucio") Archie Goodwill, en el que el investigador se ve obligado a indagar sobre la muerte de un niño limpiaparabrisas atropellado en pleno Manhattan.
El caso se complica apenas arranca, con la muerte de una respetada, y millonaria, señora que se había presentado poco antes de su deceso en la casa de Wolfe en una visita extraña y que deja al detective obligado a investigar el embrollo.
Es una historia dinámica, que evoluciona bien, creíble. Algo simplona a ratos y, como ya dije, con muchos personajes secundarios, sin mucha profundidad.
Las novelas detectivescas han evolucionado mucho en profundización y complejización, y creo que esta es un buen ejemplo de aquello. Sin embargo, la recomiendo.
May 4, 2022
Actually, this is a rather lame book. So we have Nero sitting in his house and Archie who does the work. At the end we have all suspects in a room and Nero gives us the solution. End. It is not badly written and maybe there are people who find Stout funny. I am not one of them.
So this would not deserve more than two stars. Except for a small brilliant observation at the beginning. There is this little kid who wants to hire Mr. Wolfe. They are chatting and the the kid does not understand a word and asks what robust is.
And now Wolfe has this to say: “I'll try to use words you have met before, but when I don’t, when one of them is a stranger to you, kindly do not interrupt. If you are smart enough to be a good detective, you are smart enough to guess accurately the meaning of a new word by the context – which means the other words I use with it. Also there is usually a clue. A moment ago I spoke of a healthy and hardy ego, and then, after your interruption, I spoke of a robust ego in the same connection. So obviously 'robust' means 'healthy and hardy', and if you have the stuff of a good detective in you, you should have spotted it.“
Excellent.
So this would not deserve more than two stars. Except for a small brilliant observation at the beginning. There is this little kid who wants to hire Mr. Wolfe. They are chatting and the the kid does not understand a word and asks what robust is.
And now Wolfe has this to say: “I'll try to use words you have met before, but when I don’t, when one of them is a stranger to you, kindly do not interrupt. If you are smart enough to be a good detective, you are smart enough to guess accurately the meaning of a new word by the context – which means the other words I use with it. Also there is usually a clue. A moment ago I spoke of a healthy and hardy ego, and then, after your interruption, I spoke of a robust ego in the same connection. So obviously 'robust' means 'healthy and hardy', and if you have the stuff of a good detective in you, you should have spotted it.“
Excellent.
September 13, 2023
Non mi ha convinto più di tanto e parecchie svolte mi hanno lasciato perplesso.
Un po' più ingarbugliato del solito. Il presentare alcune situazioni identiche al precedente "Palla avvelenata" che avevo letto non ha aiutato.
Un po' più ingarbugliato del solito. Il presentare alcune situazioni identiche al precedente "Palla avvelenata" che avevo letto non ha aiutato.
April 4, 2012
Twelve year old Pete Drossos, who lives in Nero Wolfe's neighborhood, saw something strange as he was trying to earn money by washing car windshields at a corner. He brought the information to the great detective. Just a couple days later the boy is run down in the street. While dying in the ambulance the boy tells his mother to take his savings to Wolfe and to ask him to solve the crime. It's only $4.30, but perhaps because the kid ate at Wolfe's table and it is thus a matter of honor, he's willing to look into it. What he and Archie Goodwin uncover is a very dirty business with prey much more vulnerable and juicer than flies, but just as stuck in one spider's web and a spider quite willing to murder to keep it all going.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPOILERS WRAPPED UP IN THE WEB
Cover Art - Excellent! The earrings are just as described.
This story was my first exposure to Nero Wolfe. It was in the Nero Wolfe Mysteries pilot episode:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210714/
With the great Maury Chaykin as Wolfe (RIP). It was a wonderful way to start. I had to go buy the book right away.
I'd like to think of this story happening in the depression. Making Pete a "newsy" kind of kid. Cap, suspenders, a hole in the knee of his short pants, argyle socks. But the date it was published was 1953, so he probably has on long jeans with the cuffs rolled up 2 times so he can grow into them. Horizontal striped tee-shirt. Hi-top sneakers. The wipe racked then as now is the same. They rush over to cars stopped at a light and start to clean the windshield. If they aren't chased off right away they usually get a little bit of money.
Saul Panzer gets to play a big part in breaking the case wide open by posing as a vulnerable new immigrant to America. We also get to see that Archie, Orrie and Fred know some very dirty tricks to get information out of wise guys. But I can't go on and spoil too much, here.
Added Note: At least twice after this, when Wolfe is called on to work under an alias, he chooses the first name of "Peter." I theorize this is a nod to the memory of Pete Drossos. If it is, then it is sweet and justifies Wolfe calling himself a romantic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPOILERS WRAPPED UP IN THE WEB
Cover Art - Excellent! The earrings are just as described.
This story was my first exposure to Nero Wolfe. It was in the Nero Wolfe Mysteries pilot episode:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210714/
With the great Maury Chaykin as Wolfe (RIP). It was a wonderful way to start. I had to go buy the book right away.
I'd like to think of this story happening in the depression. Making Pete a "newsy" kind of kid. Cap, suspenders, a hole in the knee of his short pants, argyle socks. But the date it was published was 1953, so he probably has on long jeans with the cuffs rolled up 2 times so he can grow into them. Horizontal striped tee-shirt. Hi-top sneakers. The wipe racked then as now is the same. They rush over to cars stopped at a light and start to clean the windshield. If they aren't chased off right away they usually get a little bit of money.
Saul Panzer gets to play a big part in breaking the case wide open by posing as a vulnerable new immigrant to America. We also get to see that Archie, Orrie and Fred know some very dirty tricks to get information out of wise guys. But I can't go on and spoil too much, here.
Added Note: At least twice after this, when Wolfe is called on to work under an alias, he chooses the first name of "Peter." I theorize this is a nod to the memory of Pete Drossos. If it is, then it is sweet and justifies Wolfe calling himself a romantic.
December 15, 2015
Connecticut, Y, Y, nove, quattro, tre, due
I classici del giallo hanno sempre un qualcosa in più che li rende irresistibili. Ai vertici della classifica dei più bravi c'è sicuramente REX STOUT che con il suo Nero Wolfe ha saputo far centro, inventando storie noir di altissimo livello. In I RAGNI D'ORO c'è una caterva di delitti. Sono per lo più omicidi stradali, ma si susseguono con una frequenza che il geniale Nero Wolfe non può non cercare di fermarli. All'origine di questa terribile catena c'è la donna con gli orecchini a forma di ragno. Ecco da dove arriva questo titolo di giallo tanto intrigante.
Un dodicenne che si guadagna da vivere facendo il lavavetri all’angolo fra la 35a e la Nona Avenue di nome Pete Drossos si reca precipitosamente e di buon mattino a casa di Nero Wolfe per raccontargli di aver assistito a qualcosa di insolito e sconvolgente. Forse è un rapimento. Al semaforo dove è solito appostarsi, si è fermata una Cadillac targata Connecticut, Y, Y, nove, quattro, tre, due, con a bordo un uomo con la faccia da farabutto e una donna con degli eleganti orecchini d’oro a forma di ragno. Poco prima che la macchina ripartisse, la donna gli ha sussurrato, tacitamente e a fior di labbra, qualcosa che aveva l'aria di essere una disperata richiesta d’aiuto. Poi Pete, il ragazzino, ha visto che l’uomo le premeva addosso una pistola.
Wolfe non dà credito al racconto fantasioso del dodicenne, ma, nel giro di pochi giorni, gli eventi precipitano: il ragazzo muore investito da un’automobile. La targa è sempre la stessa misteriosa sigla: Connecticut, Y, Y, nove, quattro, tre, due.
Gli indizi continuano a ricorrersi come le pedine fatte cadere dalla morte che, probabilmente, è opera di un'unica mano. Una catena di omicidi, che sembra non avere fine, è pane per i denti del corpulento genio annidato fra le mura della casa in arenaria della 35° Strada Ovest.
Come sempre, tocca a Wolfe consegnare il colpevole all’ispettore Cramer, ma REX STOUT, nel raccontarcelo, non manca di stupirci con tecniche narrative ricche di suspense e colpi di scena, ma soprattutto memorabili idee geniali.
May 19, 2017
Suspects in Nero Wolfe books aren't particularly interesting. There, I said it. But that said, who cares? Archie, Wolfe, Kramer, Fritz, Saul, Stebbins, and so on are beautifully created, and their confrontations with business people, lawyers, and each other are always readable and fun. Nothing really needs to happen to make this work; but in this particular one, so much happens (even a scene of torture) it's almost distracting. Still, Wolfe gets to hold forth, Archie gets to wisecrack, and I will definitely forget who did it in a month.
July 8, 2016
Nero Wolfe finds himself working for a twelve year old boy for the princely sum of $4.30 after the lad shows up on his doorstep with an interesting case. The case centers around a mysterious woman, spider shaped golden earrings, and a mysterious car. This is a great vintage detective story.
October 17, 2023
This book is a little frenetic, but there's an interesting plot, though he used the same twist in another book, so those who've read the canon will probably see it coming. A case that Wolfe gets into initially for a retainer of a little over $4.
Reread: holds up well.
Reread: holds up well.
May 8, 2021
Ho adorato l'intelligenza e l'ironia dei dialoghi, insieme ai momenti d'azione. Ma il finale mi è sembrato un po' semplicistico. O forse l'autore ha un'enorme capacità di sintesi e io avevo aspettative superiori al necessario. Tre stelle sono ingiuste. Quattro sono oneste.
May 11, 2019
I needed a relief from Aaron Elkins and the rain forest. New York City is better in this weather.
Avenging the murder of a 9-year old boy, immigration issues. Who knew he did social issues?
Avenging the murder of a 9-year old boy, immigration issues. Who knew he did social issues?
February 7, 2024
The Golden Spiders explores the dynamic of the private investigator and the detective involved in a publicized case. To a lesser degree it also expands to high-level police officials running for public office and even a relatively new FBI looming, ready to take the reins. The clear advantage in this case goes to the private investigator. When the case begins there are few clues to follow with little hope that they'll bear fruit. As events unfold, the trail manages to grow colder rather than opening up. As expected, the police and Nero Wolfe both have cards on the table but keep their own hands close to the vest, and bicker about withholding information from each other.
Although the PIs must stay within the law in order to keep their license and stay out of prison, they still enjoy the ability to use shady methods to rekindle the cold trail. One of those methods is Archie posing to sell Wolfe's trade secrets. It's made clear that while it isn't a blackmail scheme, it's definitely a shady ruse. Another comes later with physical torture of a couple of racketeers after a well-written rescue scene. These are the means by which Wolfe holds the winning hand, the police having only corroborating information. Wolfe sums it up for Inspector Cramer:
Also included: Archie in a car-tailing scene. It's not the most exciting example, but a nice touch from Rex Stout. The result is that Archie uncovers a secondary crime that ultimately ties back to the murder investigation. Wolfe has a wealth of contacts beyond the irreplacable Archie Goodwin: he has a team of experienced assistants and, through Archie, a contact in the Press who needs regular feeding of breaking events to maintain the relationship.
The Golden Spiders has plenty of humor to make it a fast, enjoyable read that never really sags too much. Archie's dry but accurate observation of Wolfe:
A cagey exchange between Wolfe and Inspector Cramer:
Archie's surly relationship with police Lieutenant Rowcliff:
If you think you're not a mystery fan, maybe you haven't found the right style yet? I thought I wasn't until I finally realized they're not all Holmes or Poirot; while both are excellent, they’re only a sample of what's available
Although the PIs must stay within the law in order to keep their license and stay out of prison, they still enjoy the ability to use shady methods to rekindle the cold trail. One of those methods is Archie posing to sell Wolfe's trade secrets. It's made clear that while it isn't a blackmail scheme, it's definitely a shady ruse. Another comes later with physical torture of a couple of racketeers after a well-written rescue scene. These are the means by which Wolfe holds the winning hand, the police having only corroborating information. Wolfe sums it up for Inspector Cramer:
By now you have tens of thousands of words of reports and statements, and I admit it's possible that buried somewhere in them is a fact or a phrase I might think cogent, but even if you cart it all up here I don't intend to wade through it.
Also included: Archie in a car-tailing scene. It's not the most exciting example, but a nice touch from Rex Stout. The result is that Archie uncovers a secondary crime that ultimately ties back to the murder investigation. Wolfe has a wealth of contacts beyond the irreplacable Archie Goodwin: he has a team of experienced assistants and, through Archie, a contact in the Press who needs regular feeding of breaking events to maintain the relationship.
The Golden Spiders has plenty of humor to make it a fast, enjoyable read that never really sags too much. Archie's dry but accurate observation of Wolfe:
Nero Wolfe is investigating the murder of Mrs. Fromm with his accustomed vigor, skill, and laziness. He will not rest until he gets the bastard or until bedtime, whichever comes first.
A cagey exchange between Wolfe and Inspector Cramer:
"Yeah. I'll try to frame this right. Except for newspaper or radio items connected with his death, had or have you ever seen or heard of him?"
"Not under that name."
"Damn it, under any name?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"Have you any reason to suppose or suspect that the man found dead in that alley was someone you had ever seen or heard of in any connection whatever?"
"That's more like it," Wolfe said approvingly. "That should settle it. The answer is no. May I ask one? Have you any reason to suppose or suspect that the answer should be yes?"
Archie's surly relationship with police Lieutenant Rowcliff:
If there were twenty of us, including Rowcliff, starving on an island, and we were balloting to elect the one we would carve up for a barbecue, I wouldn't vote for Rowcliff because I know I couldn't keep him down; and compared to his opinion of me, mine of him is sympathetic.
If you think you're not a mystery fan, maybe you haven't found the right style yet? I thought I wasn't until I finally realized they're not all Holmes or Poirot; while both are excellent, they’re only a sample of what's available
November 23, 2020
One of My Favorite Nero Wolfe Mysteries
In Rex Stout’s “The Golden Spiders,” a petty snit over dinner preparations lead brilliant, high-priced detective Nero Wolfe and his irreverent legman Archie Goodwin to admitting a twelve-year-old boy for a consultation on a case involving a mysterious woman wearing gold spider earrings.
Before long, a $4.30 retainer and two brutal deaths that hit close to home for Wolfe and Goodwin involve them in one of their darkest, most personal cases, involving undocumented immigrants, extortion, corruption and murder. Both are pushed outside their comfort zones, as they resort to extreme tactics to solve the case.
Stout creates a riveting page-turner with familiar individuals in new territory, and unique characters that jump off the page; even the murder victims are far more than mere plot devices. Also, I’m sold on any Nero Wolfe mystery that features his other operatives Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin and Orrie Cather. (I even found out “Orrie” is short for “Orvald.”)
Although I’ve seen dramatizations of this novel, especially the A&E movie adaptation, it’s still one of my favorite Stout novels ever. Five stars.
In Rex Stout’s “The Golden Spiders,” a petty snit over dinner preparations lead brilliant, high-priced detective Nero Wolfe and his irreverent legman Archie Goodwin to admitting a twelve-year-old boy for a consultation on a case involving a mysterious woman wearing gold spider earrings.
Before long, a $4.30 retainer and two brutal deaths that hit close to home for Wolfe and Goodwin involve them in one of their darkest, most personal cases, involving undocumented immigrants, extortion, corruption and murder. Both are pushed outside their comfort zones, as they resort to extreme tactics to solve the case.
Stout creates a riveting page-turner with familiar individuals in new territory, and unique characters that jump off the page; even the murder victims are far more than mere plot devices. Also, I’m sold on any Nero Wolfe mystery that features his other operatives Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin and Orrie Cather. (I even found out “Orrie” is short for “Orvald.”)
Although I’ve seen dramatizations of this novel, especially the A&E movie adaptation, it’s still one of my favorite Stout novels ever. Five stars.
May 23, 2021
Been trying to read all of the Nero Wolfe this summer and it is interesting/amusing/occasionally disappointing to see how the tone and characters sometimes shift around. Archie is a bit nihilist in this one.
October 11, 2017
I love the characters in these books but find the language is a little...odd to me and it can be distracting and take longer than it should to read. Interesting plot on this one.
March 2, 2018
Funny.
January 27, 2019
Another solid tale of mystery! I 💘 this series!
July 18, 2024
fixe 👍 o final podia ter sido um bocadinho mais satisfying, mas foi fixe. nero wolfe e archie goodwin são ganda dupla
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