The Rubber Band: A Nero Wolfe Mystery (Mystery Masters) (ISBN 1572705272)

Framing the question:
The book dates from 1936 and Archie Goodwin's speech remains perky, snappy to the modern reader. A sum of money is missing. An officer of the corporation was holding the money for what seems to be the purpose of bribery. It is removed from his desk. The head of the concern calls upon Nero Wolfe and Archie, seeking a solution to the mystery. The loss occurred between three and five thirty on a specific day. Five people could have entered Mr. Muir's office, Mr. Perry, the man who brought the case to Nero Wolfe, Clara Fox, a cable secretary, an office boy, another vice-president, Muir's stenographer. Clara Fox, the cable clerk, is the likely suspect. She had worked for the firm for three years. The Rubber Band refers to a group of people formed years ago in Silver City, Nevada. Both collections of people, the Rubber Band and the Seaboard Co., have Clara Fox among them. Nero Wolfe determines that he will represent Clara Fox. Since the situation is dangerous, Clara Fox is persuaded to stay at the Wolfe place. She is compelled to wear Archie's silk pajamas to bed. It seemed that she was being set up to take a fall in the case and Wolfe wanted to know why. When she is about to be arrested for larceny, Wolfe tells the Seaboard Co. that if the matter is not quashed he will go after them for false arrest. In the Rubber Band affair a debt is the cause of pursuing Lord Clivers. Amusingly Wolfe says to him that debt is the envious past clutching the throat of the present. In classic fashion Nero Wolfe unwinds the complicated mystery in the presence of the police, the culprit, and interested parties. Great!

always a pleasure:
I love the Rex Stout, Nero Wolfe mysteries. Michael Prichard, the reader of the Wolfe mysteries on tape (cd) does a great job bringing the books to life. I love listening to these when I am in the kitchen cooking the evening meal. The Rubber Band proved to be a great kitchen companion. If you like mysteries and have never read or listened to a Nero Wolfe mystery, you are missing a great treat.