And Be a Villain

A radio guest dies from poison during a live broadcast of a popular show, leading detective Nero Wolfe to investigate when the show's sponsors seek his expertise. Wolfe must navigate the complex world of radio broadcasting and advertising while tracking down a killer who managed to strike in front of a live audience. This novel marks the first appearance of Arnold Zeck, a formidable crime syndicate leader who becomes Wolfe's nemesis throughout a trilogy of books. The investigation puts Wolfe on a collision course with Zeck's criminal empire, setting up a battle of wits between two calculating minds. The title comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet, referencing the facade of normalcy that can mask evil intentions. The novel explores themes of public perception versus private reality, and how criminal enterprises can operate beneath seemingly legitimate business ventures.

Readers praise this as one of Rex Stout's more complex Nero Wolfe mysteries, with an intricate plot involving a radio show murder. Many note the strong supporting characters and the glimpse into 1940s radio broadcasting. What readers liked: - Sharp dialogue between Wolfe and Archie - Historical details about radio production - Multiple surprising plot twists - Strong presence of Inspector Cramer What readers disliked: - Large cast of characters can be hard to track - Some find the pacing slow in the middle sections - Resolution feels rushed to some readers - Less Wolfe-Archie interaction than other books Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (180+ ratings) Several reviewers mention this as an ideal entry point for new Wolfe readers. One Goodreads reviewer noted: "The radio show setting adds a fresh dimension to the usual Wolfe formula." Multiple Amazon reviews praise the clever misdirection in the plot.

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The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen A detective and his father solve the murder of a theater patron through methodical investigation and logical deduction in 1920s New York.

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⚫ The novel's villainous mastermind, Arnold Zeck, was inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Professor Moriarty, and appears in a trilogy of Nero Wolfe books known as the "Zeck Trilogy." ⚫ The radio show death in the novel involves a poisoned bottle of Javelin, a fictional soft drink, demonstrating Stout's innovative approach to murder weapons in an era when most mystery writers relied on more conventional methods. ⚫ Rex Stout wrote the Nero Wolfe series for over four decades (1934-1975), producing 33 novels and 39 novellas, while maintaining remarkable consistency in his characters' personalities and habits. ⚫ The book's title "And Be a Villain" comes from Hamlet's famous soliloquy: "One may smile, and smile, and be a villain," reflecting the theme of deception behind pleasant facades. ⚫ During the period when this book was written (1948), radio broadcasting was experiencing its golden age in America, with over 82% of Americans owning radios, making the novel's setting particularly relevant to contemporary readers.