Archie discovers Nero has a daughter who is entangled in a murder at a fencing studio.

Nero Wolfe is stunned when Archie Goodwin reveals evidence of his impending engagement. However, Archie is no less shocked when accompanying his so-called fiancée to a Christmas party by the murder of their host.

Wolfe's desire for an orchid minder to help while Theodore is away, sends him out of the brownstone and to the wilds of Westchester County to find Andy Kriscki. Unfortunately, he also finds a murdered girl in Krisicki's greenhouse and must prove Andy's innocence.

When a garden club invades the brownstone to admire Wolfe's orchids, a murderer is there as well. A young woman who asks Archie for help to is found dead in Wolfe's office and Wolfe must solve the case to get his office unsealed by the police.

A necktie carelessly left on Wolfe's desk, by Wolfe, is the weapon of choice for a murderer who kills a woman in Wolfe's office.

Priscilla Eades tries to convince Wolfe to let her hide out in his house until after her twenty-fifth birthday. When Wolfe refuses, she leaves and is murdered.

Priscilla Eades tries to convince Wolfe to let her hide out in his house until after her twenty-fifth birthday. When Wolfe refuses, she leaves and is murdered.

A last minute invitation to a dinner for unwed mothers, lands Archie in the middle of a murder. Or is it a suicide?

A last minute invitation to a dinner for unwed mothers, lands Archie in the middle of a murder. Or is it a suicide?

Rachel Bruner wants Wolfe to stop the FBI from spying on her. In order to do that, Wolfe needs to solve a murder that's flummoxed the NYPD for two months, as well.

What starts with Archie trying to teach Wolfe a lesson, ends in three murders and a plot to fleece unknowing immigrants.