Fade to Black

By Robert Goldsborough

Wolfe investigates a sticky matter of Cola Wars espionage.

For the men of Madison Avenue, the battle between soft drink giants Cherr-o-key and AmeriCherry seems heaven-sent. For years now, the firm of Mills/Lake/Ryman has fought to help Cherr-o-key become the nation's favorite fizzy cherry soda, but each time they come up with a new slogan, mascot, or jingle, AmeriCherry has beaten them to it. There is a mole inside the agency, and only Nero Wolfe can ferret him out.

Although he is as round as a cherry, Wolfe has no taste for soft drinks. But the question of industrial espionage is too sweet for him to resist, and so with assistant Archie Goodwin at his side, he sets out to end this vicious corporate feud. Only when the first adman dies, however, does he realize that a marketing war can be just as dangerous as the real thing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Head of Zeus
• Release date: Jun 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781784084882

Robert Goldsborough

Robert Goldsborough is an American author best known for continuing Rex Stout’s famous Nero Wolfe series. Born in Chicago, he attended Northwestern University and upon graduation went to work for the Associated Press, beginning a lifelong career in journalism that would include long periods at the Chicago Tribune and Advertising Age. While at the Tribune, Goldsborough began writing mysteries in the voice of Rex Stout, the creator of iconic sleuths Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Goldsborough’s first novel starring Wolfe, Murder in E Minor (1986), was met with acclaim from both critics and devoted fans, winning a Nero Award from the Wolfe Pack. Archie Goes Home is the fifteenth book in the series.  

Reviews for Fade to Black

[rosalita_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nero Wolfe and his legman Archie Goodwin are drawn into a fictionalized "cola wars" battle, as one maker of cherry soda accuses another of stealing its advertising campaign ideas. The plot thickens when one of the admen turns up dead. I always enjoy spending time with Archie but Goldsborough isn't Rex Stout, the genius who birthed these characters, and his dialogue is always just a bit off and grating to my ears. Still, it's better than nothing. And considering the last Stout novel was published in 1975, it's mildly amusing to read about how life in the brownstone is altered (or not, as the case may be) by modern technology. Not really recommended for anyone except extreme Wolfe/Archie fans who have read all the originals and need more, even if it's lesser.

[bobnitefan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened to this book during a week of cycling and it is well-suited for this activity. Plot is strait forward and it is easy to keep the characters sorted out.