Trouble at the Brownstone

A Nero Wolfe Mystery, Book 16

By: Robert Goldsborough

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Archie Goodwin goes undercover on the waterfront in a new mystery by the author who “does a masterly job with the Wolfe legacy” (Booklist).

Archie Goodwin is not overly fond of Theodore Horstmann, who takes care of the orchids on the rooftop of Nero Wolfe’s West 35th Street brownstone. But as loyal assistant to the legendary private detective, Archie will put his animosity aside when the surly orchid-keeper stumbles through the front door beaten within an inch of his life.

While the gardener lies in a coma, Nero sends Archie to poke around his apartment near the river. The place is neatly kept, if not quite as elegant as the brownstone, but across the street on 10th Avenue, Archie quickly discovers the longshoremen’s watering hole in whose back room Horstmann has been playing a lot of bridge lately. The smoky tavern is packed with tough dockworkers and recent European immigrants, and Archie does his best to blend in, filling the victim’s empty seat in his running card game, as he attempts to learn what sort of shady business might have led to attempted murder. But when one of his new bridge partners is killed, Archie finds himself caught up in something much bigger than a bar fight....

©2021 Robert Goldsborough (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Errors in recording not fixed

Good story (one of the better ones in my view) but the editing completely missed a note from the narrator to the editor right before chapter 20 asking for something to be done. I have had this happen in several books. Come on Audible! These are not cheap and it should not be too much to ask that they be finished products.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

A solid Nero Wolf story with subtle differences. The narration was excellent. I am grateful that Mr. Goldsborough has given new life to this wonderful series.

Our Last Goldsborough

We’ve read several of these authorized prequels snd sequels but even my dear wife, who spends more time on 35th Street than here at home, says enough. The question is not whether Goldsborough equals Stout. It’s whether this and other entries are entertaining in their own right, rather than lazy recyclings of Nero Wolfe tropes. I think the latter. Also the narrator does not adopt the brilliantly minimalist approach of Michael Pritchard. He instead treats us to the Noo Yawk argot of Saul, Cramer, Lon and the rest as performed by a road company of Guys and Dolls. I actually gave up three-quarters of the way through. Don’t tell me how it ends.
P.S. As an example of a writer who does justice to the original by retaining his own voice, try Rhett Butler’s People by the fine novelist Donald McCaig.

My first Audible Reading

Disappointed in the interpretation by the reader. The most egregious parts were the poorly read female parts, resembling an inexperienced drag queen miming a vaudeville actress.
Lily never ‘simpered’ in the Wolfe novels.

His most successful readings were of a male Irish voice, with a convincing, light brogue.

I have adored reading every single Wolfe story over many years. This will be the last time to agonize through one filtered through Audible.

As always: good story, great narration

Love Ganser’s narrations! I couldn’t imagine anyone else as Archie Goodwin. I’ll keep on listening to the ones I haven’t yet heard.

Lots of repetition

Goldsborough is running out of ideas it seems. 2nd book in a row where the concluding showdown is held at the police station, and portrayed as if that had never happened before! Except for all the repetition, however, not a bad story.

Archie is the best

There are very few characters in fiction I enjoy more than Archie Godwin. Nero and Archie team up to uncover the two who attacked orchid man Theodore Horstmund. This includes plenty of Nero Wolfe extra players - Saul Panzer, Lon Cohen, Del Boscom, Fred Durkin, and Inspector Kramer--- who has a strange interplay with Wolfe - almost allied forces too to bottom. You will enjoy this iteration.

Different writing style

Could definitely tell a difference between this and a Rex Stoudt written story. a bit to much Archie and not enough Nero

Not a bad story but some of the dialogue is poor

The story line maintains the Wolfe/Goodwin relationship. The story itself is not bad but the ending
is easily seen. The story is a bit slow paced seemingly covering the same ground over and over. The
bad part of the Audible book is the dialogue - especially between Archie and Lon Coen. They sound
like kids in the playground rather than having the sophisticated banter that the two have in other readings.

I am a very big fan of Goldsborough's other Wolfe books but this is not his best work - but is is OK for us
Wolfe/Archie fans.

TAR

chapter 21

Easy to figure out mystery.
BUT chapter 21 (I think that is correct, may have been 22) reader gives a note to "proofreader" for a correction in the recording. Obviously left in by mistake.
I thought that was a cool "look behind the curtain".