THE WHITE MOUNTAIN
A Nero Wolfe Mystery
By Robert Goldsborough
Mysterious Press.Com
171 pgs
At the outset, let us confess that we have been staunch fans of this series ever since writer Goldsborough gifted the mystery-loving world by resurrecting one of its most endearing characters, Nero Wolfe. “The White Mountain” is his eighteenth entry into the world created by the late Rex Stout and perhaps one of the most charming. Any devoted Wolfe buff knows half the joy of his mysteries, aside from his brilliantly solving convoluted puzzles, is the colorful supporting cast inhabiting that Manhattan brownstone with him. One of these is Master Chef Fritz Brenner. We’d argue, primarily due to his girth, that Nero Wolfe could easily be considered a “foodie.”
Therein lies the heart of this tale. Fritz informs Wolfe that his cousin back in Switzerland has disappeared, and he is worried about his fate. After inquiries are made, including hiring a British private investigator to go to Geneva and look into the matter, these efforts prove fruitless. Fritz then declares he wishes to go and personally look for his lost relative. Wolfe acquiesces, provided Fritz maintains regular telephone contact once there. Brenner agrees and off he goes. After a few such check-ins, the talented chef, like his kin, then mysteriously vanishes.
In the entire Stout canon, the fat detective had only ever left the country once, and that was to solve the murder of a friend in “The Black Mountain.” Now, once again faced with a problem he cannot remedy from behind his desk, Nero Wolfe accepts the reality that he must venture out into the world. The entire adventure from this point on is a testament to Wolfe’s inherent loyalty to that small circle of friends he cherishes as family. Watching how poor Archie must deal with his boss’ phobias and foibles to navigate a foreign setting and take on another convoluted mystery was a joy to this reader.
Goldsborough’s affection for Wolfe is obvious on every page of this book. He deftly explores that depth of character, allowing us to see a side of Wolfe generally kept hidden. He’s never been more human than in “The White Mountain.”
