- Case
- Invitation to Murder
- Year Published
- 1954
- Case Introduction
- Latter half of 1952. Herman Lewent needs his inheritance. When his father died he left everything to Herman's sister with a request that she 'consider Herman's needs' - which she did with monthly payments. Last year she died from poisoning and her husband, Theodore Huck, inherited her estate. Huck continued the payments as requested by his wife's will, but now was becoming romantically involved with his houskeeper or his nurse or his secretary and the possibility of marriage is threatening Herman's financial future. Wolfe agrees to work ten minutes on the problem for one thousand dollars, takes Herman's money and sends Archie to do the work.
- Notes
- Resolution
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The Tiffany's visit produced identical jewelled watches for all 3 ladies.
Characters in the case:
Answers the phone when Archie calls during dinner.
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
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
Railroaded into taking this job because if he keeps his weekend date instead, he'll have to lay off Wolfe for awhile about not taking work.
Character descriptionNero Wolfe's tough and witty assistant.
Reserved notes for this case
Nee Beryl Lewent, Herman Lewent's sister, Theodore Huck's deceased wife. Died of ptomaine poisoning one year before case opened.
Character descriptionHerman Lewent's sister.
Reserved notes for this case
Wheelchair bound - arteries gone bad - can't walk. Lives in granite house on 69th Street between Fifth and Madison Aves.
Character descriptionHusband to Beryl Lewent.
Reserved notes for this case
He's dependent on Huck's goodwill, and anxious to find out which if any of the ladies Huck plans to marry. When Wolfe refuses that job, he settles for checking out which one could have poisoned his sister. Murdered via blunt instrument.
Character descriptionPlayboy, age 56, of New York and Paris. Aging rake, keeps mistresses. Small, thin, grey-eyed, getting old.
Reserved notes for this case
Character descriptionAssistant district attorney in New York City.
Reserved notes for this case
One of 3 women, other than the cook and maids, who lives in Huck's house.
Character descriptionNurse. Brown-eyed brunette, speaks with a coo.
Reserved notes for this case
Herman Lewent's mistress in Paris. He says she tried to poison him.
Character descriptionHerman Lewent's mistress.
Reserved notes for this case
One of 3 women, other than the cook and maids, who live in Huck's house.
Character descriptionTheodore Huck's widowed live-in housekeeper. Blue-eyed brunette.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned.
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
One of 3 women, other than the cook and maids, who lives in Huck's house.
Character descriptionHuck secretary. Fair-haired, gray-green eyes, young.
Reserved notes for this case
Archie's weekend with Lily is cancelled when Wolfe sends Archie to investigate Huck.
Character descriptionAttractive blonde. Daughter of millionaire sewer man James Rowan, owns the Bar JR ranch in Montana.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned.
Character descriptionLieutenant in NYPD. Has antagonistic relationship with Archie and Wolfe.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned.
Character descriptionInitially an employee in N.Y. D.A.'s office. Later Cramer's man.
Detective (sergeant). Unfriendly.
Reserved notes for this case
Creates audio/visual artwork that moves people to tears. Confident, handsome and outgoing.
Character descriptionHuck live-in nephew
Reserved notes for this case
Takes the job for $1000 - 10 minutes of his time, 10 hours of Archie's.
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 case
Meals in the case:
(no meals are currently in the NWD for this story)
Orchids in the case:
(no orchids are currently in the NWD for this story)
Quotations in the case:
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