GAMBIT

Chess fan — or not — this pinpoints the epitome of Nero Wolfe's operative techniques, more than adequately described by Archie Goodwin (who gets fired to change the tune). To get a client, charged with- and almost admitting to — murder, out of jail, Wolfe checkmates all those involved in a one-man-against-12 chess match, sits tight on another killing, and really corners the police. Tidy.