A review by jdcorley
The Second Confession by Rex Stout, William G. Tapply

adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

4.0

One of the better "Zeck novels", in which Wolfe faces off against someone who, like him, is devoted to grammar, but is EVIL (a fantastic concept for a Wolfe recurring villain).  The plot becomes tangled up in the anti-communism of the era, which, although Archie and Wolfe both share it, for reasons obvious to anyone who has read even one of these novels, is treated more like an environmental hazard than a motivating consideration. In fact, the high ranking communists are presented rather as sympathetic as men - a couple of guys who can't really catch a break in midcentury America, and who have to have their defenses up 24-7.  Combine that with some of the most charming Archie-and-a-girl interactions in the whole series and you have a winner.