When Theodore Horstmann, the man who takes care of Wolfe’s orchids, is beaten so badly he’s put into a coma, Wolfe decides that honor demands he find the assailants. When murder quickly follows, Wolfe and Archie realize they have a much more serious problem than a robbery gone wrong.
This novel appears to go “back in time” to be set shortly after the end of World War II, rather than continuing Wolfe and Archie’s adventures in the “present day” of the storyline. It’s fast moving with a serious threat to Wolfe’s people and an unusual degree of cooperation with Inspector Cramer.