The Doorbell Rang

In this feature-length episode from A&E's new Nero Wolfe series, the world of the rotund New York City detective is faithfully recreated, from the red leather chair of honor in Wolfe's office to the cigar-chomping--but not smoking--Inspector Cramer. A later entry in the Rex Stout-penned canon, The Doorbell Rang affords viewers the opportunity of meeting most of Stout's recurring characters, as Wolfe calls in Saul Panzer, Orrie Cather and Fred Durkin to augment the full-time help, Archie Goodwin and chef/butler Fritz Brenner (in fact, the only notable character missing is gardener Theodore Horstmann, but maybe Wolfe's orchids were in particularly dire straits during this adventure). When a rich lady distributing a scandal-mongering exposé of the Bureau understandably runs afoul of J. Edgar Hoover, she turns to Wolfe, who knows he can't easily outmaneuver Hoover's minions, but nevertheless takes the case--not because of moral concerns or pity for his client's plight, but because she offers him incredible money. The resulting yarn, complex and riddled with coincidence and deduction, will be welcomed by all armchair detectives who enjoy spending time in the timeless world of Nero Wolfe and friends. Highly recommended. (M. Tribby)