Bitter End and The Last Drive
Bitter End and The Last Drive by Rex Stout is a collection that showcases two intriguing stories featuring early detective characters. Published by Lulu.com on June 14, 2018, this second edition comprises 110 pages and is presented in English. The first novella, Bitter End, introduces readers to the complex dynamics within a specialty food manufacturer, where Nero Wolfe becomes involved after a poisoned product prompts an investigation. The Last Drive features Canby Rankin, a detective whose story was serialized in Golfers Magazine, and serves as a precursor to Stout’s more famous characters.
Readers will find a blend of mystery and detective fiction in these narratives, which delve into themes of family and business relationships. The stories highlight the evolution of detective fiction, with Wolfe’s investigation in Bitter End and Rankin’s case in The Last Drive reflecting the genre’s development. This edition offers a glimpse into the early works of Rex Stout, providing context for the characters that would later become iconic in the mystery genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
Bitter End, the first novella length adventure featuring Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, appeared in the November 1940 issue of The American Magazine. The story, which is dark and complex, explores the family, business and personal relationships of the owners and employees of a specialty food manufacturer. Wolfe has a personal encounter with one of their products that has been poisoned and feels compelled to investigate Before there was Nero Wolfe there were others, detectives such a Canby Rankin, Dol Bonner, and Tecumseh who paved the road for the most famous of Stout’s detectives. The Last Drive features Canby Rankin, the “Southerner who had turned detective,” in a story serialized in Golfers Magazine. The story can be viewed as a precursor of Fer-de-Lance, the first Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin novel-length mystery, in the sense that the device used here is almost identical to the murder weapon at the center of Fer-de-Lance.
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