The Nero Wolfe mysteries, at least the majority, are always really fun to read, and The Silent Speaker is no different with the same characters, who any longtime reader has grown to love.

One of the really interesting elements of these books is how they change to reflect current events in the US. This one from 1946 reflects the effects of lingering government price controls and the hostility to them of business leaders. I found that part a bit confusing, as I didn't realize that price controls would have extended beyond the end of the war. However, the main issues (that two groups hate each other) were totally clear.

The characters in the Nero Wolfe books all have really distinct personalities, but I have to say that, while the main characters feel like old friends after a few books, this book doesn't tell you much about their backstories. In part, that is because the backstory was gone over in other books or will be revealed later. However, you definitely know who they are and what they are like. The same is quickly true for the secondary characters.

The plot has a couple of interesting tidbits for long-time readers, but at the same time, it isn't really a departure from the the others in the series. Still, I was surprised at some moments and enjoyed the whole thing.

While I'm rereading this series, I'm not actually sure if I've read this one before. The books set in the years around WW2 are different enough that I feel like I would remember. Of course, I'll finish rereading the series and probably reread them again at some point.

Should you read these books? If you like old school mysteries, then yes. While there is sexism in that many women are secretaries, I feel like these books acknowledge that women are more than a plump bosom, long legs, and the internal structure that allows them to produce offspring. While this is book 11, you can certainly get away with starting later in the series, although you'll want to go back and read the earlier books at some point.