Podcast Summary: Nero Wolfe – The Hasty Will

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Date: February 10, 2026 (original broadcast 03/02/1951)
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Lead characters: Nero Wolfe (Sydney Greenstreet), Archie Goodwin (Harry Bartell)

Episode Overview

In this engaging and twisting detective tale, Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin are drawn into the mystery of John Blake—a prominent businessman who arrives at Wolfe’s office with a hastily prepared will, a confidential letter, and a request for discretion. When Blake suddenly disappears and evidence suggests suicide or foul play, Wolfe is tasked with solving a case involving estranged family, embezzlement, a forged identity, and a hidden fortune. The episode features classic banter, clever deductions, and a false trail that keeps listeners guessing until the final reveal.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Progression

The Mysterious Will and Letter (00:50 – 06:19)

• John Blake visits Wolfe, saying he’s not seeking legal services but needs a disinterested party for a delicate matter.
• Blake presents a new will, leaving everything to his daughter Anita, and a sealed letter for his estranged brother Hillary.
• Wolfe and Archie find the situation suspicious, but with their finances low, Archie remarks:

  “At a thousand dollars, considering our bank balance, I’ll help him poison his great grandmother.” (01:44, Archie Goodwin)

Disappearance and Initial Investigation (06:42 – 13:01)

• Blake vanishes the day after the visit; his daughter Anita is distressed.
• Archie’s legwork uncovers family tensions: Hillary (twin brother) recently returned from Australia; he and John had been at odds for 25 years over the same woman, Marcia.
• Contradictory theories are floated: suicide, kidnapping, or murder.
• Archie delivers the grim conclusion:

  “I think he’s dead.” (09:41, Archie Goodwin)

• Evidence surfaces: John’s hat/coat, a copy of the will at the docks—suggesting suicide.

Family Confrontations and Doubts (13:04 – 20:00)

• Letters indicate deep-rooted guilt (“jealousy and bitterness... have kept us apart”) and suggest John’s emotional distress.

  “I had to pretend because I lied to Marcia... I’ve decided to close my book and write Finis.” (13:04, reading of John's letter)

• Identification of the body is inconclusive, with Archie and police unable to be sure, despite Anita’s certainty.
• Wilbur Martin, Anita’s fiancé, aggressively theorizes that Hillary murdered John to steal money, drawing attention to the bitter family rivalry.

Wolfe’s Deduction and Forensic Inquiry (20:00 – 24:00)

• Handwriting analysis brings ambiguity: specimens from John and Hillary share traits. Wilbur provides old Hillary letters, but experts note the 1948 “Hillary” letters are suspiciously similar to John’s hand.
• Wolfe grows wary of everyone’s motives, instructs Archie to investigate John’s company, the Plymouth Building and Loan.

The Real Reason – Embezzlement and the Hidden Bonds (22:20 – 26:38)

• News breaks that John Blake embezzled company funds.
• Wilbur accuses “Hillary” (actually John under a new identity) of murder and theft, convinced the hidden money is in play.
• The centerpiece: Wolfe reveals the painting of Marcia holds “thousands of dollars in negotiable bonds” pasted to its back.

  “There’s the reason for the whole thing.” (25:02, Nero Wolfe)

• Wolfe’s final deduction: John forged 1948 letters as Hillary (who had died ten years prior), killed off his own identity, and posed as his twin to escape justice.

The Climactic Reveal and Resolution (24:02 – 28:09)

• Inspector Kramer supports Wolfe’s conclusion:

  “You’re under arrest, Mr. Blake. Not for murder, because there’s been no murder. You’re under arrest on a charge of embezzlement.” (25:57, Sergeant Hanlon)

• Anita is also arrested as an accomplice.
• Archie reflects on the impressive, if ultimately flawed, scheme:

  “What a fantastic plan.” (26:43, Archie Goodwin)

Epilogue—Wolfe’s Reflections (27:04 – End)

• Wolfe critiques Blake’s “cleverness,” noting he failed to destroy old handwriting samples.
• Archie wryly observes Wilbur wasn’t as dull as he thought.
• Banter resumes; Archie pretends to threaten resignation for comedic effect, but Wolfe has the last word:

  “You were talking about resigning. Are you still in that frame of mind?” (27:49, Nero Wolfe)

Notable Quotes

• Archie Goodwin:
  “I’ll help him poison his great grandmother.” (01:44)
• Nero Wolfe (exasperated with Archie’s focus on money):
  “Nothing but business all the time.” (01:41)
• John Blake’s Letter:
  “I had to pretend because I lied to Marcia... I’ve decided to close my book and write Finis.” (13:04)
• Nero Wolfe (on the painting):
  “There’s the reason for the whole thing.” (25:02)
• Sergeant Hanlon:
  “You’re under arrest, Mr. Blake. Not for murder… on a charge of embezzlement.” (25:57)
• Archie Goodwin (summing up):
  “What a fantastic plan.” (26:43)

Key Timestamps

• 00:50 – John Blake brings the will to Wolfe.
• 06:42 – Blake disappears; Archie starts deeper investigation.
• 09:42 – Archie states his belief John Blake is dead.
• 13:04 – John’s emotional letter to Hillary is revealed.
• 17:11 – Identification attempt at the morgue.
• 20:00 – Wilbur provides old letters for handwriting checks.
• 22:30 – News of embezzlement surfaces.
• 25:02 – Wolfe reveals the bonds hidden in the portrait.
• 25:57 – Blake is arrested for embezzlement, not murder.
• 27:04 – Wolfe and Archie recap; loose ends tied.

Tone and Style

The episode blends suspenseful, hard-boiled detective storytelling with witty, dry banter—particularly between the methodical Wolfe and wisecracking Archie. The supporting characters (Wilbur, Anita, John/Hillary) provide melodrama and red herrings, while evidence and deduction steadily build to the intricate, surprising solution.

Conclusion

Nero Wolfe: The Hasty Will delivers classic radio detective drama at its finest: a tangle of shifting identities, family secrets, and financial intrigue, all unraveled by Wolfe’s unflappable logic and Archie’s energetic legwork. The interplay of mistaken identities and overlooked clues keeps listeners engaged until the very last reveal.