Too Many Women

Too Many Women is the 12th Nero Wolfe mystery novel by Rex Stout, published in 1947. The story centers on the investigation of a suspicious hit-and-run death at a large New York engineering corporation. Nero Wolfe sends his assistant Archie Goodwin undercover as a personnel consultant at Naylor-Kerr Corporation to investigate claims that employee Waldo Moore was murdered. The investigation takes place in the stock department, where 500 women work as secretaries and assistants. The case involves a web of romantic entanglements, workplace relationships, and corporate politics. Multiple suspects emerge as Archie navigates through the company's complex social dynamics and pursues leads about Moore's death. The novel explores themes of gender dynamics in post-war corporate America and the changing role of women in the workplace, while maintaining the distinctive investigative style that characterizes the Nero Wolfe series.

Reader reviews position Too Many Women as a mid-tier Nero Wolfe mystery. Fans note its interesting glimpse into post-war office culture and enjoy seeing Archie Goodwin navigate a workplace full of female employees. Readers appreciated: - The office politics and workplace dynamics - Multiple scenes of Archie's interactions with different women - The period details of late 1940s corporate America - Light, humorous tone compared to other Wolfe novels Common criticisms: - Plot moves slower than typical Wolfe stories - Less involvement from Nero Wolfe himself - Resolution feels rushed - Some dated attitudes toward women in the workplace Ratings: Goodreads: 3.95/5 (1,124 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (156 reviews) Several reviewers noted it works better as a character study than a mystery. One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "More about office dynamics and Archie's charm than actual detective work, but entertaining nonetheless."

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🔍 Published in 1947, "Too Many Women" was one of the first mystery novels to explore corporate culture and workplace dynamics in post-World War II America. 📚 The novel reflects the changing workforce landscape as women filled traditionally male roles during and after WWII, with its portrayal of 500 female employees in a corporate setting. 🕵️ This was the 12th book in Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series, which eventually grew to 33 novels and 39 novellas published between 1934 and 1975. 🏢 The book's setting in a large engineering corporation was inspired by Stout's own business experience - he had founded a successful school banking system before becoming a writer. 💬 The title "Too Many Women" was considered controversial even in its time, though the story itself presents a relatively progressive view of women in the workplace for its era.