Family Affair (Stout)

     Rex Stout. Family Affair (1975) An acquaintance arrives at Wolfe’s brownstone late at night, seeking shelter and advice. He lights a “cigar” and is killed. Wolfe is furious, of course. The search for the murderer leads to an earlier murder, and causes a third. In the end, one of Wolfe’s operatives is the culprit. He takes The Only Way Out (tm.)
     As usual, well plotted, well written, with a minimum of the Rex Stout tricks. One reads these confections for the same reason one buys the same chocolate bar: one knows exactly what one is getting. I do wish Stout developed the characters more, especially since he hints at ongoing relationships (highly idealised in the case of Archie Goodwin and Lily Rowan.) Later writers tell not only a series of murder mysteries but also an extended novel of relationships and character. However, this book is very good of its limited kind, ie, a cut above most mysteries. *** (2001)