
In the Best Families
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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
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.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Fer-de-Lance
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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.
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One of the best crime series of all time.
- By ShySusan on 03-27-13
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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.
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Embarrassingly bad adaptation.
- By William J. Brodbeck on 12-16-18
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Murder in E Minor
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- By: Robert Goldsborough
- Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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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.
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Murder in E Minor
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Parties for Death
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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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OK Old Radio but not Rex Stout
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Agatha Christie's first two Poirot novels, narrated with a general-American accent. The Mysterious Affair at Styles: Someone has poisoned wealthy Emily Inglethorp. But who? And how? Everyone suspects Emily's young husband, Alfred...and Alfred seems to be actually trying to get arrested and charged.... The Murder on the Links: Poirot comes to France in response to a desperate plea for help to find his client already murdered - stabbed in the back and lying in an open grave. Brusque, arrogant Inspector Giraud thinks he knows who did it.
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Love Agatha Christie
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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.
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Enter Perry Mason
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Fer-de-Lance
- By: Rex Stout
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
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
-
The Adventures of Nero Wolfe, Collection 1
- By: Black Eye Entertainment
- 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
-
Murder in E Minor
- A Nero Wolfe Mystery
- By: Robert Goldsborough
- 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
- By Danny Harr on 08-31-22
-
Parties for Death
- Nero Wolfe
- By: Rex Stout
- 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
- By Michael on 05-24-14
By: Rex Stout
-
The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Murder on the Links
- Agatha Christie's First Two Hercule Poirot Novels
- By: Agatha Christie
- Narrated by: Justin Longbourn
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Agatha Christie's first two Poirot novels, narrated with a general-American accent. The Mysterious Affair at Styles: Someone has poisoned wealthy Emily Inglethorp. But who? And how? Everyone suspects Emily's young husband, Alfred...and Alfred seems to be actually trying to get arrested and charged.... The Murder on the Links: Poirot comes to France in response to a desperate plea for help to find his client already murdered - stabbed in the back and lying in an open grave. Brusque, arrogant Inspector Giraud thinks he knows who did it.
-
-
Love Agatha Christie
- By Anonymous User on 03-29-25
By: Agatha Christie
-
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- By: Erle Stanley Gardner
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Overall
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Enter Perry Mason
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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)
What listeners say about In the Best Families
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- Kindle Customer
- 06-20-20
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.
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- G. Griggs
- 05-07-13
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.
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- Genevieve Fernandez
- 02-12-22
Pick this one
My favorite Nero Wolfe and I've read them all. Best plotting and more emotional interplay
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- Pat T.
- 01-18-23
Love all Nero wolfe Stories!
There are so many stories about Archie and Nero. I wonder why Audible doesn't get them?
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- Rebekah52
- 06-10-15
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!
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- Pamela
- 09-21-20
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.
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- Greg
- 01-11-22
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.
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- Marily
- 10-24-15
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.
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- peter
- 09-09-23
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!
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- S. Taylor
- 06-27-15
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.
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