- Case
- The Black Mountain
- Year Published
- 1954
- Case Introduction
- 11 - 19 March, 1954. Marko Vukcic is murdered in front of his house on East 54th Street. Wolfe finds that Marko was involved in raising money for a Yugoslavian rebel group. Wolfe and Archie travel to Montenegro, site of the Black Mountain, to trap the killer.
- Notes
- Resolution
-
Peter Zov killed Marko under orders from Gespe Stritar, who was an enemy of the Spirit of the Mountain rebel group, which Marko and Carla were supporting. Wolfe and Archie rescue Peter from being tortured by the Albanians and tricked him into coming back with them to New York to be tried by arranging for him to kill "Nero Wolfe." Wolfe and Archie were using fake identies at the time.
Characters in the case:
Questioned by Insp. Cramer in the Marko Vukcic death.
Character descriptionRusterman waiter.
Reserved notes for this case
Questioned by Insp. Cramer in the Marko Vukcic murder.
Character descriptionRusterman doorman.
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Questioned by Insp. Cramer in the Marko Vukcic murder.
Character descriptionRusterman waiter.
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Assisted Wolfe and Archie when they were arrested and jailed in Bari, Italy.
Character descriptionAmerican consul in Bari, Italy.
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Friend created by Wolfe to throw off suspicion of Titograd Titoist's.
Character descriptionOld 'friend' of Tone Stara aka Nero Wolfe, from Podgorica aka Titograd.
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Operator of the 39 foot boat 'Cispadana' across the Adriatic between Italy and Montenegro. Took Wolfe and Archie on this 90 mile trip.
Character descriptionAdriatic boatman
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Loaned his car for Wolfe's trip from Rijeka to Titograd.
Character descriptionRijeka car owner.
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Student at the University and political zealot. Driver for Wolfe's trip from Rijeka to Titograd
Character descriptionRijeka Titoist.
Reserved notes for this caseInsisted that Wolfe report to the police as soon as they arrived in Titograd--tailed Wolfe and Archie throughout the city and then to Danilo Vukcic's house. When Danilo found out, he ordered Jube killed and the killer delivered Jube's finger to Danilo while he was eating dinner with Wolfe.
Provided accommodations for Wolfe and Archie in Bari, Italy.
Character descriptionJailer in Bari, Italy.
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Wolfe called Bodin in Paris, France looking for an information source in Italy. Bodin like Hitchcock in London, reccommended Paolo Telesio.
Character descriptionParis detective
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Fritz prepared braised wild turkey with celery sauce, corn fritters and pineapple and cheese for dinner. Operated Rusterman's restaurant while Wolfe and Archie were in Montenegro.
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.
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Owned and operated a travel agency. Died of a heart attack in 1950.
Character descriptionHusband to Carla Lovchen
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Albanian communist who tortured Peter Zov in an old Roman fort on the Albanian border. He was shot and killed by Archie when he attempted to put a knife in Wolfe.
Character descriptionAlbanian communist.
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hjy$
Character descriptionWife to Millard Bynoe, who is 20 years her senior; daughter of an Episcopalian bishop.
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Thought he was being gyped again.
Character descriptionConsolidated Products
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Employed by Wolfe to find Carla Britten nee Carla Lovchen, Wolfe's adopted daughter.
Character descriptionSecond in line behind Saul Panzer when Nero and Archie need extra manpower.
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Distinguished looking college boy, dressed for a wedding or a funeral. Assisted Wolfe in leaving Italy.
Character descriptionAmerican Embassy in Rome.
Reserved notes for this case
Led the police investigation into Marko Vukcic's murder.
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
When Fritz Brenner said 'Starving the live will not profit the dead.' Wolfe mistakenly attributed it to Montaigne.
Character descriptionFrench essayist.
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Allowed Wolfe to confirm identification of Marko Vukcic.
Character descriptionMorgue Desk Sergeant.
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Archie gave Marko Vukcic her phone number (at Marko's request) after taking her to dinner at Rusterman's, and gave up on her at that point.
Character descriptionSecretary to Emmett Phelps at Corrigan, Phelps, Kustin & Briggs law firm. Fine temples.
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'A chunky signor in a green suit with a red carnation in his lapel'. He arranged for Wolfe's flight from Rome to Bari, Italy.
Character descriptionAgent in Rome, Italy
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Employed by Wolfe to find Carla Britten nee Carla Lovchen, Wolfe's adopted daughter.
Character descriptionHired hand used by Wolfe and Archie when extra manpower is needed. Not the best, but can tail better than anybody but Saul. The favorite "irregular" after Saul - Fritz: "I'm glad it's Orrie instead of Saul or Fred"; Archie: "Such a chore for Saul or Fred of course, but I didn't like doing it for Orrie."; Mr Wolfe: "He doesn't have the dignity of a man who has found his place and occupies it, as you have, Fred."
Bald, burly, 5'10, 190 lbs; moves like a bear. Married with four children. Archie: "You can trust him to hell and back."
Reserved notes for this case
Archie mentioned that she once offered to rent the South Room at the brownstone for $50 a day (see Prisoner's Base).
Character descriptionAttractive heiress of the Softdown, Inc. fortune. Noted for completely rearranging her life every 2 years.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned (not the guy working on Marko's body, because Archie didn't know him). Tried to sell Archie the idea that a morgue smells just like a hospital, which Archie didn't and doesn't buy.
Character descriptionAssistant Medical Examiner - New York City
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Wolfe said he followed the doctrine 'Man's sole responsibility is to his ego'.
Character descriptionSpanish General.
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Wolfe offered a toast to the memory of this 19th century patriot.
Character descriptionItalian patriot
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Accompanied Wolfe to Montenegro.
Character descriptionNero Wolfe's tough and witty assistant.
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Archie's alias when leaving Italy for America.
Character descriptionaka Archie Goodwin.
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Wolfe's alias when leaving Italy for America.
Character descriptionaka Nero Wolfe.
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Wolfe called him in London looking for an information source in Italy. Hitchcock reccommended Paolo Telesio.
Character descriptionDetective in London.
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Described as an 'ineradicable stink'.
Character descriptionInfamous leader of Nazi Germany.
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Helped Fritz Brenner get Wolfe and Archie's luggage out to the curb in front of the brownstone when they left for Montenegro.
Character descriptionOlder man. Wolfe's orchid nurse. Lives in small cubbyhole on the roof with the plants. First mentioned in ch. 3 of "Fer-de-lance" - Archie sometimes hears him shouting at Wolfe in the mornings.
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Clerk to Gospe Stritar in Titograd.
Character descriptionTitoist government clerk.
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Staked out the old Roman fort in Albania with binoculars.
Character descriptionMontenegro spy.
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Aide to Gospo Stritar in Titograd.
Character descriptionTitoist government aide.
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Adopted daughter of Nero Wolfe. Also from Montenegro and strong supporter with Marko Vukcic of the rebel group, The Spirit of the Mountain.
Character descriptionFencing instructor at the studio of Nikola Miltan.
Hails from Zagreb.
Her accent spooks Wolfe.
Reserved notes for this caseTravels to Montenegro and Albania to find out who killed Marko. She infiltrates an Albanian Fort and finds out that Peter Zov killed Marko from the drunken soldiers. The soldiers murder her to cover up for their loose lips.
When Wolfe told a cop 'My name is Nero Wolfe' the cop replied 'and I'm General MacArthur'.
Character descriptionAmerican General.
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Quoted by Wolfe as saying 'Men and women must be subjected to despotic power'.
Character descriptionRussian politician.
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Waiter at Rusterman's Restaurant. Archie describes him as 'a wiry compact little guy with quick black eyes and gray hair'.
Character descriptionWaiter
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe said the McCarthy like Franco followed the doctrine 'Man's sole responsigility is to his ego'.
Character descriptionNickname, "Tailgunner Joe." U.S. Senator. Notorious for setting off anti-Communist witchhunts in the 1950s.
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Maker of Stan Kosor's binoculars.
Character descriptionBinocular maker.
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Employed by Wolfe to find Carla Britten nee Carla Lovchen, Wolfe's adopted daughter.
Character descriptionTop hired hand Nero and Archie look to for manpower. Hosts regular Thursday night poker game at eight pm at his apartment in Brooklyn. Rust-colored hair, 5'7, 145 lbs, big nose and flat ears.
In the "Rubber Band" (ch. 6) Archie tells us that Panzer has a photographic memory when it comes to faces.
Reserved notes for this case
Had authority to sign Wolfe's checks while Wolfe was in Montenegro.
Character descriptionWolfe's lawyer -- the only lawyer Wolfe ever sent orchids to. A bachelor who plays bridge on winter Sundays. (Appears as "Henry" Parker in The Squirt & the Monkey and The Golden Spiders.)
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Leader of the 'Spirit Of The Mountain' political group.
Character descriptionRebel
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Drove Danilo Vukcic, Wolfe and Archie to see Josip Pasic.
Character descriptionMontenegrin driver.
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Peter Zov's alias in America.
Character descriptionaka Peter Zov.
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She introduced Archie to goat's milk.
mentioned a few times.
Character descriptionAttractive blonde. Daughter of millionaire sewer man James Rowan, owns the Bar JR ranch in Montana.
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He was on duty at the site of Marko Vukcic's murder when Wolfe and Archie arrived.
Character descriptionLieutenant in NYPD. Has antagonistic relationship with Archie and Wolfe.
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Visited Wolfe at the Brownstone demanding to see Carla Britten nee Lovchen. Left disappointed after searching the South Room and finding nothing.
Character descriptionFBI agent.
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Described as 'vermin brood.'
Character descriptionRussian political leader
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Alias used by Archie Goodwin while in Montenegro.
Character descriptionaka Archie Goodwin
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Alias used by Nero Wolfe while in Montenegro.
Character descriptionaka Nero Wolfe
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Telephoned Archie and informed him of the death of Marko Vukcic.
Character descriptionInitially an employee in N.Y. D.A.'s office. Later Cramer's man.
Detective (sergeant). Unfriendly.
Reserved notes for this case
Released Wolfe and Archie even though they did not have papers. He felt it would be interesting to see what they were up to.
Character descriptionTitograd Titoist
Reserved notes for this caseOrdered Peter Zov to kill Marko Vukcic. Enemy of the Spirit of the Mountain rebel group.
Richard Courtney's superior at the American embassy in Rome, Italy.
Character descriptionSecretary at the American Embassy in Rome, Italy.
Reserved notes for this case
'Coarse, thick hair, mostly gray, dark, tough skin, quick black eyes, a wide mouth'. Reccommended by Hitchcock in London and Bodin in Paris. Through his sources found that Carla Britton had been killed. Assisted Wolfe and Archie getting into Montenegro.
Character descriptionItalian detective
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Called the Black Mountain 'Tsernagora'.
Character descriptionPoet
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Aide to Gospo Stritar in Titograd.
Character descriptionTitoist government aide.
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Wolfe and Archie slept in his haystack.
Character descriptionMontenegrin farmer
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Playing on Vishinsky's abundant veto record at the UN, Archie said 'Even Vishinsky wouldn't veto Fritz's cottage cheese with fresh pineapple soaked in white wine'.
Character descriptionRussian Minister to the United Nations.
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Toasted by Wolfe.
Character descriptionCroat poet and playwright.
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Lived with his wife and two children in Titograd, Montenegro
Character descriptionMarko Vukcic's nephew.
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Danilo and Meta's five year old son.
Character descriptionSon to Danilo Vukcic
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Shot to death in the street outside his home on the south side of East 54th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues. His restaurant 'Rusterman's' was located on the north side of 58th Street off Lexington Ave.
Character description"He was one of only two men whom Wolfe will call by their first names, apart from employees," Archie relates as he introduces Marko in "Too Many Cooks." A boyhood friend from Montenegro, Marko is welcome to address Wolfe by his first name, and he dines monthly at Wolfe's house. One of the Fifteen Masters, Marko is the great chef of Rusterman's restaurant in New York -- one of the few places Wolfe will dine away from home.
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Archie says she made the best bread he ever tasted.
Character descriptionWife to Danilo Vukcic.
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Danilo and Meta's three year old daughter.
Character descriptionDaughter to Danilo Vukcic.
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When Wolfe boarded the airplane for Europe, a passenger commented 'My God, they soak me thirty dollars for overweight baggage, and look at him!'
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 caseJust after getting off the ship in New York, Wolfe is shot in the leg by Zov after a reporter recognizes Wolfe and cries out his name.
Was in Stritar's office when he qas questioning Wolfe in Titograd. Double agent working for Gespe Stritar and the Albanians.
Character descriptionTitoist
Reserved notes for this caseGespe Stritar ordered Peter Zov to kill Marko Vukcic because he was helping the Spirit of the Mountain rebel group. Wolfe discovered him in the Albanian Fort being tortured by the Albanian army. Archie and Wolfe rescued him to bring him back to New York to be tried for Marko's murder. Zov acccompanied Wolfe and Archie back to New York ostensibly to kill "Nero Wolfe." When a reporter recognizes Wolfe disembarking the ship and shouts out his name, Zov shoots him in the leg, but then is overwhelmed by witnesses.
Meals in the case:
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Orchids in the case:
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Quotations in the case:
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