Podcast Summary: Choice Classic Radio Detectives — Nero Wolfe: "The Killer Cards" (01/12/1951)
Episode Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Stars: Sydney Greenstreet as Nero Wolfe, Gerald Moore as Archie Goodwin

Episode Overview

This episode features Nero Wolfe in "The Killer Cards," a classic tale of mystery, murder, and high-stakes poker. When Archie Goodwin is drawn into a dangerous game, Wolfe is forced out of his beloved home to solve a murder with multiple suspects and tangled motives. The story is packed with witty exchanges, suspenseful showdowns, and Wolfe’s unorthodox but brilliant methods.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Wolfe’s Reluctance and Archie’s Abduction

• Wolfe is approached by Mr. Denby with a peculiar request: umpire a high-stakes card game with the club's ownership as the prize. Wolfe dismisses it outright.

  • [00:49] Wolfe (D): “The answer is no. I know nothing of card games, nor do I wish to learn.”

• The card game proceeds without Wolfe. Archie is later abducted at gunpoint on Denby’s orders and brought to the Denby home to provide leverage to force Wolfe to attend.

  • [06:47] Denby (F): “You will survive the ride. It's what comes afterwards that might kill you.”

2. The Murder at the Card Table

• Four joint owners of the Candy Club—Denby, Locasto, Piper, and Gene—play a single poker hand to determine sole ownership.
• Midway through, the lights go out. Piper is shot and killed.
  • [08:37] Denby (F): “That, Mr. Goodwin, is blood. Lifeblood.”
• Wolfe, motivated by Archie’s predicament and a handsome fee, arrives to take the case.

3. Wolfe’s Initial Investigation

• Wolfe reconstructs the scene with all suspects present, analyzing the card game setup and physical evidence.
  • [12:09] Wolfe (D): “Will you all sit at the table in the same position you were at the time of the shooting?”
• Focus quickly shifts to circumstantial evidence, including the murder weapon and mysterious oil spots by the gun.
  • [13:44] Locasto (H): “Nobody touched it.”

4. Quick Solution and a Scapegoat

• Wolfe points to Locasto as the killer, based primarily on the angle of the bullet and his seating position. Locasto pulls a gun, is shot, and turned over to police.
  • [14:04] Wolfe (D): “If I were you, I would turn Mr. LeCastro over to the police. You are a liar.”

5. Wolfe Reveals the Truth to Archie

• Back home, Wolfe tells Archie he knows Locasto is innocent; he only needed a scapegoat for safety and time.
  • [15:56] Wolfe (D): “The trouble is, you see, Lucasto did not murder Piper.”

6. Attempted Hit on Gene and Aftermath

• Archie takes Gene, one of the suspects, out for a drink; a drive-by shooting targets her.
  • [18:03] Gene (G): “I want another drink. And when Gene wants another drink—”
  • [18:08] Archie (C), ducking for cover: “Gene, get down.”
• They consult Wolfe, who reveals he expected Gene to be attacked, suspecting deeper intrigue.

7. Full Cast Confrontation and the Real Killer

• Denby arrives. Wolfe orchestrates a confrontation.
• Chuck, Denby’s henchman, bursts in with a gun, believing he’s been double-crossed after Wolfe manipulates him.
• Wolfe’s deduction: Denby schemed to win the club, arranging for Chuck to shoot Piper during the blackout. The “locked door” and seating provided alibis, but oil spots from the thrown gun gave away the real firing position.
  • [25:03] Locasto (H, reappearing): “No, I'm not crazy. I do not escape... The fat one, he phones the police to tell them how I'm innocent.”

8. Resolution

• The plot resolves as Chuck is shot during a stand-off, Denby and Gene are exposed, and Locasto is cleared.
• Wolfe explains the significance of the oil spots and thanks Archie for his help, as Archie considers a date with Gene—despite Wolfe’s tongue-in-cheek warnings.
  • [27:29] Wolfe (D): “In order to be able to warn you that a ghoul and his money are soon parted. Good night.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:08] Archie (C): “Well, it seems he expects one of the players to be dead.”
• [10:08] Gene (G): “Then you must be very, very good, Archie.”
• [13:44] Wolfe (D): “Interesting. If you look closely, you would observe two oil spots staining the rug between the revolver and the lady's chair…”
• [15:56] Wolfe (D): “The trouble is, you see, Lucasto did not murder Piper.”
• [18:08] Archie (C): “Gene, get down!”
• [19:04] Archie (C): “She’s one of your fans. She thinks you'd make a lovely corpse.”
• [22:20] Wolfe (D): “This is, of course, the murderer of Mr. Piper. No comments. Archie, the door, if you please.”
• [25:17] Wolfe (D): “That announcement helped heighten the tension our murderers were under.”
• [26:35] Wolfe (D): “They showed more than that. Where were those spots in relation to the gun? Think back, Archie… The gun must have been thrown from the door, bounced twice, staining the rug before reaching its final destination.”

Important Timestamps

• [00:49] Nero Wolfe refuses the card game job
• [06:47] Denby abducts Archie
• [08:37] Card game; murder revealed
• [12:09] Wolfe interrogates suspects at the scene
• [14:04] Locasto accused and shot
• [15:56] Wolfe confesses to Archie that Locasto is innocent
• [18:08] Attempted murder of Gene at bar
• [20:38] Denby’s confession about the whisper
• [22:20] Final confrontation, Chuck bursts in
• [25:17] Locasto vindicated; Wolfe’s psychological trap explained
• [26:35] The oil spots and final deduction

Character Roles & Relationships

• Nero Wolfe (D): The brilliant, homebound detective, skeptical and blunt.
• Archie Goodwin (C): Wolfe’s witty, streetwise assistant and narrator.
• Stephen Denby (F): Club co-owner, manipulative, orchestrator of the murder.
• Locasto (H): Wrongfully accused, emotional, later vindicated.
• Gene (G): Female co-owner, flirtatious, both suspect and target.
• Piper (I): The victim.
• Chuck (E): Denby’s enforcer and triggerman, easily manipulated.

Tone & Style

The episode maintains the sharp, sarcastic banter of classic Nero Wolfe stories, balancing dramatic suspense with moments of dry humor and tongue-in-cheek exchanges, especially between Wolfe and Archie.

Conclusion

"The Killer Cards" is a tightly plotted whodunit showcasing Wolfe’s psychological tactics, Archie’s wisecracks, and the genre's flair for dramatic, dialogue-driven revelation. A quintessential "locked room" mystery with layers of deception, it satisfies with both procedural prowess and entertaining character interplay. Perfect for fans of old-time radio detective drama and Rex Stout’s original stories.