- Case
- Man Alive
- Year Published
- 1947
- Case Introduction
- June 9-10 1947. Cynthia Nieder asks Wolfe to find her supposedly dead Uncle Paul, whom she says has returned to New York after reportedly killing himself by jumping naked into a geyser in Yellowstone Park.
- Notes
- Resolution
-
Paul played dead to avoid being murdered by Jean Daumery, who had murdered Helen Daumery after finding out about their affair. Jean faked his death in turn to smoke out Paul, who he then murdered.
Characters in the case:
Drives Saul and Archie to Daumery & Nieder. Archie says that they often use him.
Character descriptionTaxi driver, old friend of Archie and Saul.
Reserved notes for this case
Fritz prepared Chicken Livers and Rice Cakes during this case.
Archie says that Fritz knows how to drive but pretends that he doesn't, and has no license.
Character descriptionMaster chef in Wolfe's kitchen, has a small apartment in the basement. (In "Fer-De-Lance," his apartment is across from the plant room, not in the basement.) Swiss; native French speaker, served in WWI. Uninterested in murder, except whether a client is in the offing; gets anxious about household finance when Wolfe isn't working. Doesn't like to talk while cooking. Changes to his old slippers at 9 pm because of "things left on his feet by the war to remember it by". Implied he was a member of the Swiss Alpine Patrol during WWI.
Reserved notes for this case
After Paul Nieder is found dead (hit on the head and stabbed repeatedly in the face) Cramer barges into the brownstone and interrupts Wolfe at lunch. He demands to know what Cynthia Nieder hired him to do. Wolfe, outraged, replies, "If you were not an officer of the law, Mr. Goodwin would knock you unconscious and drag you out."
Described by Archie as "a man about Wolfe's age, heavy-set, muscular, red-faced, and obviously aggressive."
Character descriptionInspector with NYPD, Homicide. Has tolerate / hate relationship with Wolfe. He respects Wolfe, but is greatly irritated by his eccentricities. Habitually chews (but rarely lights) cigars. Notably, Cramer lights a cigar in Wolfe's office during "Instead of Evidence" in which the murder weapon is an exploding cigar! First name is given as Fergus one time, but generally accepted as Lionel. Had a son in the Army Air Corps during WWII. Archie has called Mrs. Cramer on the phone more than once to reach the Inspector at home. Archie's favorite alias for him is "the man about the chair" or "any name with a double "d", e.g., Mr. Judd".
At no time is Inspector Cramer ever referred to in the books as "Lionel T." Cramer; his first name is given as "Fergus" in "Where There's a Will." There is a lone later reference to him as L.T.C. (The Silent Speaker), but never Lionel. Stout's biographer, John McAleer, asked Stout to explain the "Fergus"/"L.T.C" discrepancy; Stout replied: "No significance. Laziness. I didn't bother to check on whether he already had a first name. Of course, all discrepancies in the Nero Wolfe stories are Archie Goodwin's fault." (from "Royal Decree; Conversations with Rex Stout)
He is featured in a book by Stout called Red Threads, first published 1939, tracking down a killer with a young fashion designer. There is no reference to Nero Wolfe.
Reserved notes for this case
Character descriptionNephew of Mr. Jean Daumery. Employed by Daumery & Nieder since his graduation from college. Noted for having a decisive, aggressive temperament.
Reserved notes for this caseAssists uncle Jean Daumery fake his drowning death in Florida.
According to Cynthia Neider, her death in a riding accident broke Paul Neider's heart, and provided the motive for his apparent suicide. Cynthia implies that they were having an affair, and shows obvious dislike for Helen.
Character descriptionWife of Jean Daumery.
Reserved notes for this caseMurdered by Jean Daumery, who had found out about the affair.
Reported drowned in Florida (fell from a fishing boat).
Character descriptionCo-founder and business head of Daumery & Nieder clothing firm, founded in the late 1920s. Acts as the organizer, manager, and salesman.
Reserved notes for this caseKilled wife Helen because she was in love with Paul Nieder.
Killed Paul Nieder upon his return to New York.
Flushed out by Wolfe via a fabricated letter from Paul Nieder outlining Daumery's malfeasances.
Executor of Paul Nieder's will, who was a personal friend.
Character descriptionLawyer involved with Daumery Nieder clothing firm.
Reserved notes for this caseHelps Wolfe compose a provocative letter to flush out Jean Daumery.
The only resident of the brownstone who drives, so he's happy that Wolfe has just bought a new Cadillac sedan, since it is effectively his new car. He contemplates acquiring a harem after attending one of the client's fashion shows and checking out the models.
Character descriptionNero Wolfe's tough and witty assistant.
Reserved notes for this case
Hires Wolfe to find Paul Neider after seeing him (she thinks) in the audience at one of the firm's shows.
Character descriptionTalented, young clothes designer for Daumery and Nieder. Initially a model for the firm while learning about design; refused to attend college.
Reserved notes for this case
Presumed to have committed suicide a year before the story opens, by jumping naked into a geyser at Yellowstone National Park. Apparently seen by niece Cynthia recently in the audience at a fashion show.
Character descriptionCo-founder and chief designer of Daumery and Nieder clothing company.
Reserved notes for this caseFaked his death to trick Jean Daumery whom he felt would try to kill him. Returned to New York incognito and is killed by Jean Daumery.
After the suicide of Paul Neider, does most of the designing for Daumery & Nieder.
Character description"Imitater and adapter" in the Daumery Nieder clothing firm.
Squeaky voice.
Greasy.
Reserved notes for this case
Accompanies Cramer for the finale in Wolfe's office.
Character descriptionInitially an employee in N.Y. D.A.'s office. Later Cramer's man.
Detective (sergeant). Unfriendly.
Reserved notes for this case
Outraged at Cramer for barging in on a lunch. According to Archie, Wolfe's feeling is that "the main objection to atom bombs is that they may interrupt people eating."
Character descriptionMaster detective. Genius. Estimated weight: 1/7 ton. Carries a large platinum watch in his vest pocket. Sends a check every month to his mother in Budapest ("Fer-de-lance, ch. 13)..
Reserved notes for this caseWith the help of lawyer Henry Demarest, Wolfe composes a fabricated letter from Paul Nieder to Cynthia Nieder in an effort to confront Jean Daumery with surmises that he murdered his wife and Paul Nieder.
Testifies at the trial of Jean Daumery.
Meals in the case:
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Orchids in the case:
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Quotations in the case:
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