In this ingenious whodunit, a perfume company offers a million dollars for correctly identifying certain women in history who used cosmetics. When the advertising genius behind the campaign is murdered and the answers stolen, Nero Wolfe is called in to find both. Archie Goodwin tries bravely to keep Wolfe away from the irritating women involved and focused on the case. But with puzzling phone calls and conflicting instructions from the ad company, it's anybody's guess when - or even if - Wolfe will find the killer.
If you don't know the Wolfe books, you are missing a treat. The stories are told by Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's "leg man" and confidential assistant. In this one Wolfe has to find a way to protect the integrity of the contest and sponsor and to do that he needs to solve a murder. He deals with a variety of unusual characters giving rise to much humor and a light, fun story from the height of Stout's prowess. A must-read for all.
