In the Best Families

By: Rex Stout

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

The aging millionairess has a problem: where is her young playboy husband getting all his money? To help find the answer, Archie infiltrates a party at her palatial estate. But her late-night murder ruins the festive mood...and a letter bomb from a powerful crime boss makes Nero Wolfe do the unthinkable - run for his life. Suddenly Archie finds himself on his own, trying to find a killer without the help of his old mentor. For to all appearances, Wolfe has vanished. The career of the world’s most famous detective has ended in cowardice and disgrace...or has it?

Introduction by Patricia Sprinkle

“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: listen to all of our Nero Wolfe mysteries, including classic radio programs!©1950 Rex Stout (P)1995 Books on Tape Inc.

Critic reviews

"It's always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore." (The New York Times)
"What's not to like about a Nero Wolfe mystery? The mysteries are short, cleverly plotted, well paced, and, if you're an audiobook listener, wonderfully read by Michael Prichard....Prichard has read nearly 20 books in Stout's series and has mastered Wolfe's deep, meditative voice and Archie's spry, chipper voice, as well as those of a host of other characters we recognize from one recording to the next." (AudioFile)

One of Rex Stout's Best

In this novel, Nero Wolfe meets his nemesis for the third time and must take extreme measures to survive and defeat him.

Michael Pritchard does an excellent job as a narrator. I highly recommend this title.

Wonderful Listening Experience

The Story itself was wonderful and gave a more Three Dimensional feel to Archie Goodwin.
Using the story vehicle as Nero Wolfe's Moriarty it was one of the best developed stories and closes an Arc. I have not been listening to the stories in any correct order but must go back and listen to them again, in order. It will be as enjoyable the second time i am sure.
As Always the narration by Michael Prichard was wonderful it is hard to find better.

The technical glitches are still evident and endemic in this series, maybe the transcription from Tape to downloadable audio i do not know. things like Volume and Equalization of voice, pitch changes and the like. This is the main reason a 5 star for overall is withheld.

Pick this one

My favorite Nero Wolfe and I've read them all. Best plotting and more emotional interplay

Love all Nero wolfe Stories!

There are so many stories about Archie and Nero. I wonder why Audible doesn't get them?
Please try.

Excellent nail biter

I was really worried about my heroes but as usual, good triumphed over evil. This might be one of Reed's best woven plots!

Penultimate Nero Wolfe

If you are not already a Nero Wolfe fan then “In the Best Families” is probably not the best place to begin because it will lose some of its shine if you don’t already have a place in your heart for Nero and Archie. If you have already read some of Rex Stout’s famous series than nowhere does it blaze more brightly than in “In the Best Families.” This is a complex mystery with plenty of twists in both the A and B plot lines. Archie, Nero, Fritz, Marco and even the rarely mentioned Theodore are all pushed well outside their comfort zones. If you only ever plan to read two books by Stout, “Some Buried Caesar” and “In the Best Families” will combine to convince you that two books in this series are not enough.

The end of the Zeck cycle

An outstanding reading of an outstanding Stout, but one should absolutely not attempt to enjoy this novel without the benefit of at least several of the ones that come before, especially And Be a Villain (available on Audible) and The Second Confession (which sadly is not on the service for reasons barring understanding). In The Best Families is a perfect example of what only series literature can accomplish in the best hands, and Stout is a sadly overlooked master of both prose and form.

Good One!!

Love this story, and reader is great! A very different turn of events allowing quite a twisted tale. Nero moves! If you know the stories you will get a kick out of that.

Another one of the best.

I notice that there are many “one of the best”s and I agree. Each novel is a cut above, and so far - as I work thru the collection on audible - the competition for the best is very stiff. I listened to this out of sequence but doubt if it lessened the pleasure significantly. On to the next one!

Rex Stout at his best.

Once again Nero Wolfe rises above the ordinary to eliminate his nemesis, Mr. Zeck. This volume being the culmination of 3 novels detailing what Motivated Wolfe to leave the Brownstone, leave New York, loose over 100 pounds then return to NYC to take Zeck on- a face to face ending that is unique among all of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe stories.