Three Men Out
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| Author | Rex Stout |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Nero Wolfe |
| Genre(s) | Detective fiction |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Released | March 26, 1954 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 181 pp. |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-553-24547-3 |
| Preceded by | The Golden Spiders |
| Followed by | The Black Mountain |
Three Men Out is a collection of Nero Wolfe novellas by Rex Stout, published by the Viking Press in 1954. The book is comprised of three stories that first appeared in The American Magazine:
- "Invitation to Murder" (August 1953, as "Will to Murder")
- "The Zero Clue" (December 1953, as "Scared to Death")
- "This Won't Kill You" (September 1952, as "This Will Kill You")
[edit] Invitation to Murder
A client hires Archie to assess the matrimonial intentions of his wealthy invalid brother-in-law. When Archie finds the client dead, he tricks Wolfe into leaving the brownstone and identifying the killer before the police are called in.
[edit] The Zero Clue
Leo Heller, a probability expert who has parlayed his math skills into celebrity, tries to consult Wolfe after he calculates that one of his clients has committed a serious crime. Wolfe refuses the case, but Archie — "who is subordinate only when it suits his temperament and convenience," Wolfe later complains — agrees to explore on his own.
[edit] This Won't Kill You
Nero Wolfe honors a guest's request by taking him to a World Series game at the Polo Grounds. After the Giants are trounced by the Red Sox, members of the team are found to have been drugged — and a body is discovered in the locker room. Wolfe solves the crime without leaving the ball park.
