Preview
  • Might As Well Be Dead

  • By: Rex Stout
  • Narrated by: Michael Prichard
  • Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (457 ratings)

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Might As Well Be Dead

By: Rex Stout
Narrated by: Michael Prichard
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Publisher's summary

“It is always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore.” (The New York Times Book Review)

Eleven years ago, wealthy Nebraska businessman James Herold gave his only son, Paul, a very raw deal. Now he wants Nero Wolfe to track Paul down so that he can make amends. But what if the young man doesn’t want to be found...and what if he’s the same PH who’s currently on trial for cold-blooded murder?

It’s a case that will draw the great detective and his dedicated sidekick into a sticky web of deceit, one that will tax their resources to the utmost, and even cost them one of their own.

Stout fellow: listen to all of our Nero Wolfe mysteries, including classic radio programs!
©1956 Rex Stout (P)1996 Books on Tape Inc.
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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 Might As Well Be Dead

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love Rex stout

The voice fit nicely with my imagination and the story line as always is creative. I thoroughly enjoy the narrative and sense of humor Mr Stout employees in his stories

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Nero Wolfe solves a case a jury thinks it has.

Twists and turns and bodies everywhere, this mystery is a tangled knot that only a genius can untangle. Superb naration as usual for Prichard.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of the funniest & most gruesome

First, no spoilers:
This entry in one of the greatest detective series of all time is one that makes me laugh out loud as much, if not more than almost any of the others. It's a great one and a typically great performance by Michael Prichard.

Now for some spoilers:

This one is also one of the grimmest entries. The murderer is practically a serial killer. Four people are murdered, and while the descriptions and details are mild by today's standards, in terms of the series and the standards of the time in which it was published (1956, same age as me), it's pretty gruesome.

Which somehow makes the humor even funnier by contrast. Truly comic relief. Both Wolfe and Archie get in some zingers, both at each others' expense and others' as well (Inspector Cramer, for one).

Highly recommended

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Classic Nero Wolfe

Loved the story, The Narration as always was wonderful and no real technical glitches to speak of... I was so very please with this Audio Book, and of course the whole Nero Wolfe Series, i have most of these and hope they will make more of them, the Pre-WWII Stories please please, addicted.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Marvelous!

I can’t get the blasted thing to give 5stars over all!! Nero and Archie are my walking and driving companions. My quality was excellent and the story, as always was tops!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding...as always

Another is a long line of fantastic "Who Done Its" by my favorite mystery writer. Nero, Archie, and the gang score again!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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The BEST So Far

What a wonderful, complex plot, with twists and revelations of clues as we went along instead of just a flood of information at the end. A pleasure to listen to. I look forward to more of the same.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

One of the best by Rex Stout, and Michael Prichard is the perfect reader. Thanks !

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great writing!

This is probably the best of the Nero Wolfe stories. It is more complex than some, and the dialogue is excellent between the characters. Another great book featuring many of the same characters is “The Red Box” also by Rex Stout. In both of these books, there is action, intrigue and solutions to somewhat impossible odds!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great!

Good story.. Want to hear it again. A cleverly plotted and plausible example of Nero Wolfe s mastery.

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