Story Information:
Alternate Version of: Murder is No Joke
First Composed: 1957
First Published: 1985
From Collection: Death Times Three
Location: New York City
Wolfe's Brownstone: Click to View Floorplan
Victim #1: Bianca Voss (in her NYC office)
Murderer: Emmy Thorne
Motive: She prevented Thorne from marrying Alec Gallant
Weapon: Marble paperweight to head; strangled with scarf
Client: Nero Wolfe;
Flora Gallant offers $300
Fee: Keeps his self-esteem
Victim #2: Sarah Yare (in her NYC apartment)
Murderer: Emmy Thorne
Motive: Cover up her previous murder
Weapon: Cyanide in whiskey
Client: None
Fee: None Story Synopsis:
Earlier version of "Murder is No Joke." Archie Goodwin and
Nero Wolfe enter the world
of high fashion, getting caught up in a murder investigation that only Wolfe can resolve. Wolfe is tricked into
leaving his home to grill a bevy of models, and Archie is to blame.