TRIPLE ZECK by Rex Stout - On My Horizon.

I love omnibus collections. They are so handy, best of all they take up less shelf space. I have several collections by some of my favorite authors including a bunch by Agatha Christie.

Though the type within is sometimes a bit smaller than normal, I have reading glasses that make up the difference. The only problem is sometimes they're hard to hold open while you eat.

You guys know how much I love to read Nero Wolfe during meals.

Well, while searching through my collection of Wolfe paperbacks and one omnibus, I noticed I didn't have the three novels which make up the Zeck saga. (Though, of course, I've read them in the past.)

AND BE A VILLAIN

THE SECOND CONFESSION

IN THE BEST OF FAMILIES

How to describe the odious and powerful Mr. Zeck? Well, as Wolfe tells Archie, warns Archie - Zeck is a man never to be trifled with. He is a man whom Archie must never interfere with or investigate of have anything to do with. Wolfe says Zeck is the most dangerous man he has ever come up against. If Wolfe were to involve himself in a case which even peripherally had anything to do with Zeck, he, [Wolfe] might have to leave the brownstone and go into hiding.

Archie doesn't believe him, but it turns out to be true.

It also turns out that the greenhouse on the roof of the brownstone is vulnerable to machine gun fire.

Worse yet, it also turns out that Wolfe might have to go on a diet!

Zeck is 'the napoleon of crime'. He is Wolfe's Moriarity. His nemesis. His arch enemy.

So, long story short, I found a used copy of TRIPLE ZECK. Don't know what I'm going to do when I run out of Wolfe books to reread. It's become a habit.

I'm turning manic, I know.

Note: illustration by Emilia Dziubak.