Plot It Yourself (A Nero Wolfe Mystery Book 32) Kindle Edition

Good story, nice to see Dol Bonner, but the text was not prepared with care. Recommended with minor reservation. Still most enjoyable.

Smart and suspenseful. “Plot It Yourself” is Rex Stout at the top of his game, and it is made even better by his experience and knowledge of many organizations of professional writers, such as his long-time presidency of the Author’s Guild. L.G. Offord said, “For writers or anyone who wants to know what goes on in the literary world, this is wonderful stuff….” Some of my favorite passages were when Wolfe was discussing the art of writing. For example, a swindler questions whether Wolfe can prove that she plagiarized simply by his analysis of her style. He replies, “Yes. If you include all the elements of style—vocabularly, syntax, paragraphing. Yes.” This book has the usual amusing repartee, clever plot, and insights into good food, plus the bonus of Stout’s insights into the literary world. One of my favorites. My Kindle edition did misspell Orrie Cather’s name.

This book could have been titled "A Natural Born Murderer" for the ease with which the villian cloaks themselves throughout the book and Wolfe himself finds the one "crack"as Archie puts it, in the defense of his skill. A riveting true mystery only revealed in the last few paragraphs. A Stout masterpiece.

I read "Plot it Yourself" around the time it was first published in the late '50s. I've never forgotten how Wolfe discovered the initial breakthrough. The word, aver, has really stuck with me over time. I was an English major at the time and knew I wouldn't have seen the connections. Ok, so Rex Stout made the connections. Rediscovering a favorite book is the best of all literary worlds.

I've read over 30 books by Rex Stout and this may be my favorite. Complex characters and innovative plot lines. Just fun. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Archie is so terribly sexist that it has become harder and harder for me to forgive but it's a bit lighter in this book and the story is great. I read it in 2 sittings and didn't lose interest for a moment. Nero uses every tool at his disposal to solve this one! fun read.

Nero Wolfe is my favorite mystery series. I read them over and over, and even though I have the paperbacks I have started re-buying them in Kindle. This was written at the height of the series and has all the elements that make this series so likable: Wiseacre Archie Goodwin, the lazy genius Nero Wolfe, Fritz the much put upon chef, cigar chomping apoplectic Inspector Cramer, the brownstone so beloved by Wolfe fans, and a cast of annoyingly engaging characters. This starts as an investigation into a series of lawsuits alleging plagiarism and quickly escalates into a series of murders. One of the best of a great series that has held its ground for over 80 years and I hope still attracts new fans. A must read series for mystery lovers.

First of all, Orrie Cather's last name is consistently given as Gather; and later in the book, Archie recounts the attempt Bua made (to kill Wolfe with a knife) as having taken place in an old border fort in ALABAMA! For crying out loud. This is the first Wolfe book I've found with serious typos. I hope it's also the last.

I absolutely adore Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin and the whole bunch, and this one had been missing from my set. No pressure, then, as I expectantly settled down to read. It completely delivered, Rex Stout was reliably consistent from book one but some are just a little better than others and this was a solid nine, Rex Stout poking a little fun at other writers as he sets his Wolfe on the trail to discover an opportunistic plagiarist. Well, Archie really. Archie does the running about, Wolfe does the thinking.If you are new to the books, this isn't the best starter, but it is pretty good. You'll love or hate them, but they're fascinating even as a social commentary, he was writing in real time, with attention to detail, and as we move further and further from those decades the nicely evoked background takes on a fascination of its own.And if you ARE new to the books - you lucky, lucky person. Mine are beginning to fall apart with re-reading but nothing beats the thrill of reading one for the first time. They are very, very clever.

If you've got something that works then stick with it. Somehow Stout managed to find a formula that, far from becoming formulaic, actually remained fresh every time the same ingredients were mixed together. And they're all here: the interaction between Wolfe and Goodwin, between those two and Cramer/Stebbins, the hired help, the leaving of the Brownstone by the man who never leaves the Brownstone etc etc. Marvellous stuff.

This is the first Nero and Archie book I have read for some years and the first first-time reading for decades. As always, visiting the old brownstone on West 35th was pure pleasure. I look forward to collecting more titles on Kindle - though hopefully they will be properly proof-read and Orrie will have his surname printed correctly and not spell-checked to Gather throughout.

Another treat for fans of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Can you imagine a case that would make Mr Wolfe forgo beer and meat until he has nailed the murderer? I suggest you don't even try - just buy this book!

I think this is the best Nero Wolf mystery I have read yet and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes crime stories with a twist. Excellent, thrilling, couldn't put it down until I finished.