Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout review

This Nero Wolfe book was first published in book form in 1939.  In this book, Nero is actually out of the brownstone he calls home and in a car traveling though a rural area when there is a minor accident.  On their way across a field to get help, they are confronted by a large bull--named Caesar.

Archie makes his way across the field to get help, while Nero manages to scramble up a large rock in the middle of the field, where he remains until rescued in a car by the niece of Thomas Pratt, owner of the nearby house.  Pratt is also the owner of a chain of restaurants, and plans to barbecue Caesar and serve him at his restaurants, which gets the local Guernsey League wound up, as Caesar is a prime bull, and they think he should be used to improve the bloodline of future cattle.

When the adult son of a neighbor is found dead in Caesar's field, it is first assumed Caesar had gored him to death, but it turns out to be murder.  Wolfe is asked to solve the murder, and manages to solve not only that murder, but another murder, and uncovers a  fraud that led to the murders.

This is also the book where Lily Rowan is first introduced and becomes Archie's friend.

I enjoyed this book, although not as much as others I've read in this series, although I'm not sure why.  Perhaps it is because Wolfe is in the country, and not in his accustomed place in his office.  Still, it is an interesting story, although a little dated, as the fraud couldn't have been perpetrated  in that way in today's world.

This is part of my 2014 Vintage Mystery BINGO Challenge--Golden--O--involving food/cooks.        This is also part of my Read It Again Sam Challenge.