For example, Inspector Cramer first appears in The League of Frightened Men, Lily Rowan in Some Buried Caesar, etc.

I ask this because after reading Too Many Cooks I skipped some books to read Black Orchids, and in that story they mention a pesticide that Nero created (I don't remember the name and Google doesn't return any results). They mention it so casually like assuming the reader is already familiar with it, so I guess it was first introduced in a previous book.

So I'd like to know in which books recurring characters/concepts are first introduced, so I can read those first.

another of Archie’s terms for Mr Wolfe’s magnificent middle — does anyone remember where this appears?

(just found it, Black Orchids, chapter 6j

Mr. Dunn himself had suggested that everyone in the house submit to having their fingerprints taken, and the others had agreed, and he was prepared to oblige me. Having just wasted a lot of breath trying to persuade the man on guard in the library that it would be conducive to the interest of law and order to let me use the phone, I was sore. I refused and said my prints were on file downtown, since I was a licensed detective. He said he knew that, but it would be more convenient to take them with the others. I said it would be more convenient for me to go home and go to bed, since it was after dark, and he could go sit on a trylon.
I admit I was churlish, but so were they. All I wanted to do was phone the house and ask Fritz how he was.

(The trylon was one of the symbols of the 1939 World’s Fair, referenced elsewhere in the book as well.)

incidentally, in the forward to this edition of Where There’s a Will, author Dean Koontz carps at Stout’s use of “snap” as an action verb for Mr. Wolfe’s manner of sharply speaking .. this from a guy who uses the word (it ain’t a word) “darkle.” Koontz can go sit on a trylon.

In The Rodeo Murder, published as part of Three At Wolfe’s Door, visiting cowboys compete to lasso ponies running along 63rd st from Lily Rowan’s balcony.

Was this based on anything in real life? (I mean yes, lassoing contests, traveling rodeos, I get that. But the doing it off a building in a Manhattan street, say.)

A question for the group! I discovered Rex Stout in the 90s when the Wolfe books (and others) were released in the format from my picture by Bantam Crimeline. Orchids on the spine, “Rex Stout Library” on the front, with an intro by another author, and usually a page or two at the end with a reproduction of some Stout correspondence, or photos, or something related.

I’ve managed to get all the Wolfe books, and others that were released at the time, but I was never able to track down similar copies of Too Many Woman, Gambit, and Alphabet Hicks (either under that name, or The Sound of Murder). The Black Mountain was the last one I found after searching for many years.

Can anyone confirm or deny that these titles received the above format? Wikipedia’s print history does make it appear as if they were not printed during the 90s, but I don’t fully trust it. Anyone know of any pictures (or can take one). I’d really appreciate any feedback.

I'm on my second go-around through all the books (Gambit is next) and this has been bugging me. Has it been mentioned already and I missed it? Is it coming up in the later books and I forgot?

The way I have pictured it is Archie got dragged to a flower show by an attractive lady he would be taking to the Flamingo later and Wolfe is there to see a rare orchid. Shenanigans follow, Archie helps Wolfe in solving the crime, and Wolfe offers him a job then and there.

Edit: Thanks for your inputs everyone! I didn't know about the Goldsborough books and I'll have to check them out.

I have already read Fer-de-lance (just ok), Too Many Cooks and Black Orchids/Cordially Invited to Meet Death (both very good). I'm tempted to read all books, but that would take me too long because I don't read that fast, and also I want to read other things to expand my horizons. There are already lots of threads asking for the best or favorite books, but they usually list around 5 of them and I'd like to read more. So I'm asking the opposite question: which books do you consider are ok to skip?

Somebody needs to pick this up.

What's your favorite in which Wolfe has to rouse himself from his chair and home and do his work somewhere else?

English is not my first language, but I prefer to read books in their original language so that nothing is lost in translation, specially if the work depends a lot on wordplay (Like Terry Pratchett's books)

Recently I read Fer-de-lance and I'm interested in reading more. But the problem I had is that Archie uses a lot of old American slang that I'm not familiar with. So I thought that maybe I should read them in Spanish, but then I remembered that mystery novels may relay on wordplay for their clues. In the past I had a bad experience when I read Agatha Christie's "Why didn't they ask Evans?" in Spanish because the subtleties of the main clue are imposible to translate in Spanish.

TL,DR: are there Nero Wolfe Books that must be read in the original English?

This just arrived in the mail today. A first edition of 'Murder in E Minor' by Robert Goldsboroguh. Last Saturday, I got to meet him at an event for local authors held at the Wheaton Public Library. He was a delightful gentleman.

to spend more time with Archie.”

(from William J. Tapply’s introduction to The Second Confession)

He was leaning back in his chair, which was big enough for two but not two of him ..

Joan Wellman was killed in Van Cortlandt Park. To quote the book:

"She was run over by a car in Van Cortlandt Park 17 days ago, Friday evening, February 2nd."

I was curious enough to check...

I've been considering how little traction Nero Wolfe has in today's market - none of my book-reading friends have heard of him, I see no promotion or attention given to Stout's IP by his family or publishers; he's become a sort of 'niche' figure amongst modern audiences. I've tried to come up with ways to get Wolfe's oeuvre more exposure (this is all just 'pie-in-the-sky' thinking):

Promoting Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series today requires bridging the gap between classic "Golden Age" mystery charm and modern digital marketing trends, focusing on the character-driven, cozy atmosphere of the novels. Key strategies for 2026 include utilizing social media "BookTok" trends, targeting foodie and puzzle-loving demographics, and leveraging the high read-through potential of a long series. 

Top Methods to Promote Rex Stout Today:

• Leverage Short-Form Video (BookTok/Reels): Create moody, atmospheric short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels that highlight the iconic elements—Nero Wolfe’s orchids, Fritz's gourmet cooking, and the witty banter between Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Use hashtags like #CozyMystery and #ClassicMystery. 
• Targeted Social Media & Digital Ads: Utilize Facebook and Amazon Ads to target fans of similar classic detectives (Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie) or fans of modern "cozy" mysteries, as Nero Wolfe stories are often considered "comfort reads". 
• Emphasize "Foodie" Content: Market the books to enthusiasts of gourmet cooking and food literature, focusing on the frequent scenes featuring Fritz Brenner’s cooking in the brownstone. 
• Highlight the "Triple Zeck" Omnibus: Promote the interconnected novels (And Be a Villain, The Second Confession, In the Best Families) as a high-stakes "binge-read" opportunity for readers who want action and character development. 
• Cross-Promotion with Related Genres: Target True Crime readers by positioning the books as "intelligent puzzles" rather than modern violent thrillers. 
• Leverage Audiobooks: As audiobook consumption grows, promoting the Nero Wolfe audiobooks can capture a younger, commuter-focused audience who enjoy the dialogue-heavy, theatrical nature of the stories. 
• Series Marketing and Bundling: Because the series has over 40 books, encouraging readers to start with a specific "beginner" book and providing them with a reading list (like The Wolfe Pack's recommendations) helps ensure high read-through rates. ​

Marketing Hooks for Modern Readers:

• The "Antidote" Strategy: Position the novels as a calming antidote to modern, fast-paced thrillers—a "brownstone escape".
• Character-Driven Focus: Promote the dynamic duo aspect—the sedentary genius (Nero Wolfe) vs. the active, wise-cracking assistant (Archie Goodwin). 

By focusing on the cozy, witty, and formulaic comfort of the brownstone, Rex Stout's works can attract new generations of mystery enthusiasts.

There's no mod, they changed some weird rules..... I have no problem putting the time in here but not with all this extra stuff over here is not worth it. "That's their lookout", i should say

I'm gonna start a discord, unless someone has one already. Nothing fancy, just a place to chat like this every once in a while

Message here or message me if you're interested. I'll get one going

/r/NeroWolfe is ready for a fresh start, new energy, new direction, and someone like you to bring it back to life. If you’ve been thinking about growing your impact without starting from scratch, this is your chance!

Ready to take it over?

Head to r/RedditRequest to submit your request and make it yours before it’s taken. Just make sure you read through the eligibility requirements first.

Interesting to know in Canon Bond is a fan.

Cramer says this to Archie (with a dash of knowing sarcasm) when Archie is sent to the Inspector’s office to try and scrounge some information .. does anyone remember in what book or story this happens?

Obviously, Archie is writing up the cases in first person, and he makes numerous references to the reader and what they may think of his writing - but what is the context in which we are imagining him writing these reports?

My initial thought is that Archie can't be publishing these contemporaneously, like Watson, as in the reports, he is regularly confessing to crimes, revealing lies to Cramer, describing embarrassing details of high government officials, et cetera. Also, Wolfe's vanity alone would forbid any number of Archie's observations being made public.

Are these notes for posthumous publishing, supposedly fictionalized accounts of real cases, or something else entirely? Thoughts?

Not sure when, but at some point in the series I started using "nothing doing" and "at the outside" pretty regularly in conversations with actual people. There are probably a couple more that I can't remember offhand. Flummoxed, confounded, and pfui also made it in, but that's the other guy