Parties for Death

Nero Wolfe

By: Rex Stout

Narrated by: Sydney Greenstreet, Wally Maher, Herb Ellis, Larry Dobkin, Gerald Mohr, Harry Bartell

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 (played by Wally Maher, Herb Ellis, Larry Dobkin, Gerald Mohr, and Harry Bartell), 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. Learn the logic of this armchair detective extraordinaire as he presides over 18 digitally remastered cases of treasure maps and love triangles, carelessness and con artists, bad business and bad medicine.

Episodes Include: "Stamped for Murder" 10-20-50, "The Case of the Dear Dead Lady" 11-03-50, "The Case of the Careless Cleaner" 11-17-50, "The Case of the Beautiful Archer" 11-24-50, "The Case of the Brave Rabbit" (a.k.a. "The Case of the Friendly Rabbit") 12-01-50, "The Case of the Slaughtered Santas" 12-22-50, "The Case of the Calculated Risk" 01-19-51, "The Case of the Phantom Fingers" 01-26-51, "The Case of the Vanishing Shells" 02-02-51, "The Party for Death" 02-16-51, "The Case of the Malevolent Medic" 02-23-51, "The Case of the Hasty Will" 03-02-51, "The Case of the Final Page" 03-23-51, "The Case of the Tell-Tale Ribbon" 03-30-51, "A Slight Case of Perjury" 04-06-51, "The Case of the Lost Heir" 04-20-51, "The Case of the Room" 304 04-27-51, "Screen Guild Theatre: The Mask of Demetrios" 04-16-45.

Public Domain (P)2011 RSPT LLC

MIGHT NOT BE REX STOUT, BUT

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If they were into old radio mysteries, definately

Any additional comments?

these aren't bookable - they are half hour radio programs. If you want absolute Rex Stout, definitely get the books. They are available and Michael Prichart (sorry about the spelling) is a wonderful reader. I also have those in my CD bookcase, Just got done with "Over My Dead Body". One of the great shames is that we will never have any more by Stout. I have him on CD - Kindle - paperback - cassette tape. Wonderful

Nero with a twist

You have the standard Nero Wolfe and Archie dynamic in several short stories. The fact that the actor playing Archie changes a lot is a bit distracting, but they all do a great job at being the Archie from the books. Sydney Greenstreet is a very good Nero and the laugh is priceless. A wide variety of stories that showcase the variety of talents that the two detectives have.

Bottom line: Lots of fun to listen to.

OK Old Radio but not Rex Stout

These stories are short radio plays *based on* Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe characters and themes. If you really like old time radio plays, you might like these as well. If you are looking for great Nero Wolfe stories, I recommend looking elsewhere. These stories are not written by Rex Stout and lack everything I look for in a Nero Wolfe story. They are too short, the characters lack the depth, subtlety and wit of the originals, Nero Wolfe’s solutions are too simplistic, and the stories lack the twist, turns and surprises of the original. The characters lack the lovable family experience of real Nero Wolfe stories. I really love the Nero Wolfe books narrated by Michael Prichard, and the narration in these radio programs is nowhere close. The sound quality is also that of old radio, which is nostalgic, but I find slightly grating. I like some old radio programs (particularly Orson Wells) but these were not worth the listen. These stories just made me want real Stout with Prichard’s narration.

Pretty good

Good compilation-the only reason it isn't five stars is that the writers did not do Archie justice! He is a very good detective in the books and has a steady lady friend.

What a treat

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you are a member of the radio generation, this series represents the VERY BEST of that generation. I read all of the Nero Wolfe series, and as a child I listened to Sydney Greenstreet. Once again, I was transported through that aesthetic distance to the never-never land of the imagination.
If you are not a member of the radio generation, try it. You might be shocked. You may find Greenstreet's renderings strange and/or wonderful. Who knows?

Horrible narrator voice. Could only listen for about two seconds. Piercing and high and annoying.

Horrible narrator voice. Could only listen for about 2 seconds. It was piercingly high and annoying. I will not purchase any other books narrated by reader.