Murder in E Minor

By Robert Goldsborough

Two years after Wolfe's retirement, his past returns with deadly intent.

It wasn't Nero Wolfe's idea for Orrie Cather to kill himself, but the great detective gave his blessing to his longtime associate's plan. Cather had killed three people, and it was only fair to pay the price. Though Wolfe reacted to Cather's death with his characteristic calmness, prize assistant Archie Goodwin could see the rotund genius of West Thirty-Fifth Street was shaken to his well-fed core. Wolfe decided his sleuthing days were finished.

The detective's retirement lasts until the day Maria Radovich walks through his townhouse door. She is the daughter of Milos Stefanovic, New York Symphony conductor and long-ago compatriot of Wolfe's. Like Wolfe, Stefanovic spent his youth as a freedom fighter in the mountains of Montenegro. The conductor has been receiving death threats, and Wolfe agrees to come out of retirement to help his old friend. But before he can attack the case, Stefanovic is murdered, and for the first time in years, Wolfe and Goodwin must go to war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Head of Zeus
• Release date: Jun 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781784084943

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 Murder in E Minor

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Somehow not satisfying.

[book58lover · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Never having read a Nero Wolfe novel before, this was different from the cozies that I normally read. And I couldn't figure it out, which is always a plus.

[newsieq · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin have not taken on a case for two years – but that’s about to change. A young woman, Maria Radovich, seeks out their help for her uncle, Milan Stevens, conductor of the New York Symphony. It seems that he has received threatening notes, which he has dismissed. The reason our intrepid hero considers taking the case at all is because Stevens (formerly Milos Stefanovic) saved Wolfe’s life back in their homeland of Montenegro decades earlier. But before the old friends can be reunited, Stevens is dead and Maria’s fiancé is soon arrested for the murder. Maria doesn’t believe for a second that Gerald Milner is the murderer and eventually Wolfe and Goodwin come to believe her.

[druidgirl_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another splendid Nero Wolfe Mystery. The niece of an old friend of Nero's comes to ask him to try to find out who has been sending her uncle threatening notes, Her uncle is the conductor of the New York Symphony and very stubborn and won't go go to see Nero so Archie accompanies the niece Maria home to try to get her uncle to see Nero, after telling Archie to wait in the lobby she then goes into the apartment and goes into her uncle office and finds him dead.This was a well written book and of course the characters were great, I felt as though I was watching a Nero Wolfe movie.

[leischen_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'll confess I don't read Nero Wolfe novels to solve the mystery. I read them to enter the world of Nero and Archie. Goldsborough's continuation of Rex Stout's brilliant series is a passable recreation. All of the regulars are here: Fritz, inspector Cramer, Stebbins, Rowcliffe, Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin and Lily Rowan. wolfe's eccentricities are intact. Archie's reaction to them are spot on. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to mystery and Stout fans. My only caution is to read Stout's last novel A FAMILY AFFAIR before you read this one. Goldsborough spoils the ending of it early on.