| This novel is another chapter in the Nero Wolfe series. Wolfe and
Goodwin are on their way to an Orchid contest. On the way,they blow out a tire and crash into a tree. They are uninjured and cross a field to look for some help with their car. As they cross the field,they are charged by a bull. They escape unscathed. Wolfe and Archie get a lift to the house, where lives Thomas Pratt, the owner of a large chain of fast-food restaurants. Pratt plans to barbeque a champion Guernsey, the very bull that threatened Wolfe and Archie, a few days later. The idea is to get publicity for Pratt's restaurants by serving beef from a bull that has been purchased for the then-fantastic price of $45,000. The plan has outraged the members of the Guernsey league, who are in town for the exposition. Clyde Osgood, son of a despised neighbor, shows up and offers to bet Pratt $10,000 that Pratt will not barbeque the bull. Pratt accepts the bet. Wolfe offers Archie's services in exchange for a comfortable stay at Pratt's house. Archie will help guard the bull from possible theft. During his watch that night, Archie discovers Clyde's body, gored to death in the pasture. The bull is using its horns to push at the corpse. Everyone involved assumes that the bull killed Clyde, but Wolfe thinks not. Wolfe believes it to be a case of murder. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 20 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 70 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 0 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Race Unusual characteristics: Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting United States Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment |
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