Reviews

Curtains for Three by Rex Stout, Judith Kelman

cubefan3x3's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This Nero Wolfe installment had three stories which each took up about one third of the book. It was interesting to see the passage of time through the series. There were wars and technologies that had come to pass in this 1948 installment that I hadn't seen in the last book I read in this series (The Red Box, 1937).

Both of these quotes I enjoyed have taken on some additional meaning 75 years later:

Client: Sure the real facts
Nero Wolfe: There is no other kind. I guarantee not to deliver any unreal facts.

&

Archie Goodwin: Make it he or she. As Mr. Wolfe says, the language could use another pronoun

jdcorley's review

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Two of the best Wolfe stories of all time, followed by a B-.  In particular, the synergy between Archie and Wolfe is on target, their arguments all leading somewhere.

alice_horoshev's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

Brilliant 

zeroiv's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

hotsake's review against another edition

4.0

Three short but extremely fun mysteries. The third story is just plain but the other two are mostly enjoyable because of the interplay between the regular cast of characters.

jbleyle63's review against another edition

4.0

Readers can be thankful that one of Rex Stout’s many gifts was his mastery of the novella form which provided more opportunities to spend time with Nero, Archie, and the familiar supporting cast. This volume features three fine examples of this shorter form. “Disguise for Murder“ is particularly memorable as a potential client is found strangled in Wolfe’s office leading to one of the more colorful clashes between frenemies Inspector Cramer and Nero Wolfe.

sergei_ter_tumasov's review against another edition

4.0

Вне зависимости от того, понравилась ли мне детективная составляющая, я всегда получаю огромное удовольствие от чтения книг о Ниро Вулфе и Арчи Гудвине!!!! Юмор [a:Rex Stout|41112|Rex Stout|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1201136975p2/41112.jpg] просто превосходен!!!!!!!!

bel017's review against another edition

I guessed the first murderer, should have (but failed to) guess the second one, and there was no way I would have guessed the last one.

pattydsf's review

3.0

It has been about a year since I listened to Archie Goodwin tell a tale of Nero Wolfe. The library owned the books on cassette tapes and their are just fewer of them available at this time.

This book had three stories, at least one relatively new. Wolfe doesn't change and that is part of why I like him. In an unpredictable world, you can be guaranteed that Wolfe will catch the murderer with Archie Goodwin's help.

Nothing too heavy in these books and that is what I want when I listen to them. I can hear them with half an ear and pay attention to my driving. I am sorry that I don't have many left to listen to.

I recommend the Nero Wolfe mysteries to folks who prefer their murders off stage; to readers who are curious about the books behind the TV series and to those who may have missed them when they first came out.