I have read Nero Wolf's books several times. This book is the 41th book in the series. It is the Second favorite book of all times. The other is Helen MacInnes' REST AND BE THANKFUL.A woman sent 10,000 books about the FBI to many leaders as governors and police offacials. The FBI is now harassing her, family, friends and empolyees. She wants Wolf to stop the harassment. She offers him $100,000 retainer and all expenses plus he can name his own fee in any amount he wishes. How Wolf goes about it

Nero Wolfe tangles with the FBI in 1965’s The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout. Mrs. Rachel Bruner, a wealthy socialite widow, comes to Wolfe to hire him because she is being harassed by the FBI. She read the book The FBI Nobody Knows, about the abuses of J. Edgsr Hoover, and being scandalized, she decided to spread the word about the problem by purchasing 10,000 copies of the book to send to all the important and influential people she could think of. Now she is being harassed, with people tailing he...

“I’m not surprised at Wolfe. With his ego, there’s no one and nothing he wouldn’t take on if you paid him. But, I’m surprised at you. You know damn well the FBI can’t be bucked. Not even by the White House. And you’re hopping around pecking at people’s scabs. You’re asking for it and you’ll get it. You’re off your hinges.”I put both Rex Stout and Erle Stanley Gardner in the “golden age” of detective fiction. I have recently decided to revisit both. I chose The Doorbell Rang because it relates to...

I wasn't familiar with Rex Stout before this book. It is quite a fun detective novel set and written in the 1960's. The plot was rather complex and I have to admit I had a hard time following it at times. I also have to admit I didn't understand much of the lingo and expressions used in the book, but it was fun being absorbed to them.

At the suggestion of my friend, Patty, this is my first Nero Wolfe book. I enjoyed all the characters as well as stepping back about 50 years. Nero Wolfe is quite the eccentric but Archie Goodwin is the star of the stories. Will definitely be picking up a few more of these in the future.

Rex Stout was born in Noblesville, IN and grew up in Kansas. Though never active himself, he was raised by Quaker parents. He was a brilliant child - he read by the time he was four and won a state spelling Bee when he was 13. He must have been somewhat influenced by his families' Quaker activism: He served on the original board of the American Civil Liberties Union and helped start the magazine The New Masses. At the time of the Depression, he was an enthusiastic supporter of the New Deal. Duri...

After a second read through I still love this book. Reading them in order Stout is clearly at the top of his game with the last book and this one. The mystery is subtle and complicated, the murderer a surprise unless you catch the clues just right. And the glimpse into a tumultuous time in American history is fascinating. **********Original review follows******************OK, can I just admit something? This is just between you and me right? I really really really like old time detective stories...

A swift, crisp, clean read - entertainment with minimal effort. Deftly written.The book is told in the first person by Archie Goodwin, who is the right-hand man of the main character, Nero Wolfe, a brilliant, rather rotund, eccentric gourmand who raises orchids, certainly one of the most memorable private investigators in crime fiction, ranking with other notables such as Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.In this one, Mr. Wolfe tackles J. Edgar Hoover's FBI, as well as solve a related murder, two s...

Bettie's Books

My copy of The Doorbell Rang came with an introduction that informed me that the book came about because Rex Stout was offended by what the FBI had become under Hoover and had read a book titled The FBI Nobody Knows. While I knew The FBI Nobody Knows featured prominently in The Doorbell Rang, I had assumed it was a fake book, created by Stout for the purposes of his story. Finding it was not only deepened my appreciation for Stout's storytelling. Yes, his personal politics were on display in the...

This is the 41st, and one of the later books, in the Nero Wolfe series. This particular story takes place in 1965 and is more contemporary (to me) than other stories. I am used to stories that take place in the 1940's during a time period when I have no memory. Here we have a story about the FBI when J. Edgar Hoover was in charge and struck fear into everyone. Even the White House.A wealthy socialite widow, Mrs. Rachel Bruner, hires Wolfe because she is being harassed by the FBI. She read a book...

The plot of this book can be summarized in just two following pictures. It is just this guy:going against these: Oops sorry, wrong picture. I mean against these:If you are to take a bet, who do you think would win in the open confrontation? Do you even have any doubts at all?Cast your mind back in time and recall FBI of J. Edgar Hoover era - an almighty spooky organization uncontrollable even by the White House, but with carefully maintained image of relentless justice keepers. There was a (fict...

It might be #41 in the series but it was just as good as any of the others. Nero and Archie take on the FBI. This was my 26th audio book, narrated by the amazing Michael Pritchard. I am so grateful that he chose to narrate these great stories.

A pair of detectives--one cantankerous genius and one amiable nose-to-the-grindstone type--investigate the possible involvement of J. Edgar Hoover's FBI in a murder, because who doesn't love stirring up a wasps' nest for a hundred grand?Nero Wolfe books are always smooth, competent, and fun: feet up and relax murder mysteries. The mystery is never all that mysterious (called this one ahead of time), yet you never feel disappointed when you get it before the big reveal. Someday, Imma read all of

This is likely the best-known of all of Rex Stout's books. There is just something appealing about a citizen going up against an established institution. While I have nothing against the F.B.I, and feel that the country would quite possibly go to hell in a handbasket without them, they, like any other institution, need their checks and balances. Old J. Edgar was given far too much power and way too little checks. While the incident that sets off the plot was fictional, I have little doubt that i...

Wolfe and Goodwin v. The FBI and its head. Wolfe did a lot of work for the government, and knew that j. Edgar Hoover was the biggest threat to democracy at the time. He couldn't attack him directly, so this is it. Excellent use of story-telling.

When I am reading a military history book, I always have a second, lighter book to read before I retire for the night. I picked the right one with this late entry in the Nero Wolfe series.I have read almost all of the 40+ Wolfe books over the years and consider this one of the top three in the series. The author, Rex Stout, is not known for his strong stories but rather for his character interactions. But the plot of this book is clever, rather complicated, and down right entertaining.Wolfe take...

I can’t believe I’ve never read any Rex Stout before today. This book reminded me of the hard boiled detective novels but with more character and more of a tongue in cheek attitude. It was great fun and the mystery was completely satisfying.

"The Doorbell Rang" by Rex Stout is a Nero Wolfe mystery novel.The book is considered a controversial book in some circles in that it painted the FBI. in a very unflattering light. Rex Stout was never one to shy away from controversy and was familiar with the recent book by investigative journalist Fred J. Cook, "THE FBI NOBODY KNOWS". Cook's book published in 1964 was highly critical of J. Edgar Hoover and how he used the FBI for political purposes. Stout also had a low opinion of Hoover. From

2020 reread/relisten: Last time I listened to this audiobook, it was my first experience of the Nero Wolfe series in audio. As you can see from my review below, I had some problems with Michael Pritchard's narration. Now that I have listened to many of the books in this series, I am comfortable with Pritchard as Archie Goodwin so I am restoring this to its full 5*---------------------------4.5 * for this audiobook edition. Michael Pritchard did a decent job narrating but his voice just didn't ma...