The Curious Case of Literary Confusion: Guest Post by Andrew McAleer

As a curator of Rex Stout’s authorized biographer John McAleer’s library, I don’t always know when an interesting anecdote relating to Stout and/or Nero Wolfe might sneak up, so I make it my practice to stay on high alert. 

By way of example: 

In the early 1990s, my job placed me in close proximity to Dunham’s Used Bookshop located in Bedford, Massachusetts. I was attending law school at the time and got hooked on the Mr. Tutt legal mysteries by Arthur Train. Proprietors Mr. and Mrs. Dunham appeared the quintessential antiquarian bookshop owners. Mister, an octogenarian à la Rudy Vallée. Misses a Joan Hickson (circa Miss Marple.) 

Dunham’s Tutt supply seemed inexhaustible and I eagerly scooped up volume after volume; a collection I still cherish today. Recently, while bestowing order to my Tutt treasure, I found myself reminiscing about my Dunham days—and my father, whom had introduced me to Dunham’s in the early 1970s. The shop became one of his frequent and more successful Rex Stout hunting grounds. I can’t recall a time when he didn’t exit the shop with his arms chock-full of Rex’s literary works. Apparently, this wasn’t initially the case. Some years later, my father shared with me an amusing Dunham anecdote. 

Shortly after my father was authorized to write Rex’s biography, he went to Dunham’s and asked Mrs. Dunham if they had any Stout books. 

 “Oh plenty,” she said without hesitation.  

“Wonderful!” he replied, unable to contain his excitement. “I’ll take whatever you have in stock.” 

While waiting for Mrs. Dunham to complete his order the future Edgar Award winner patted himself on the back for his discovery and quick coup. His perceived victory was short-lived. Alas, Mrs. Dunham returned with a stack of Stout books as promised, however, they were books authored by the pioneering, world-famous gardener—Rex’s older, yet equally robust and ingenious sister—Ruth Stout! 

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Andrew McAleer is the author of the Henry von Stray British classic mystery adventures; characters created by Edgar winner John McAleer. The latest von Stray mystery, “The Singular Case of the Bandaged Bobby” appears in Mystery Magazine (September 2024). The von Stray collection, A Casebook of Crime is forthcoming January 2025 (Level Best Books). Follow on Instagram: @mcaleermysteries