AND BE A VILLAIN

A murder before a studio audience on a radio broadcast means a high-profile case and a $20,000 paycheck, both important to Nero Wolfe, who needs to boost his bank account quickly to pay for his luxurious living. Reading in Archie Goodwin’s first-person voice, Michael Prichard gives the narration a touch of noir tone but keeps the emphasis on Rex Stout’s witty dialogue as the wise-guy sidekick. His Nero Wolfe is suitably commanding as he belittles and deceives to get the truth from a gallery of dishonest suspects. Fans also will want to hear IN THE BEST FAMILIES, which resolves the battle with crime boss Arnold Zeck that is set up here. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]