The Moth that Ate Peanuts by Alice Porter

Thanks to Tami Gingrich/Farmanddairy.com

Title: The Moth that Ate Peanuts

Author: Alice Porter

Publisher: not known 

Source book: Plot it Yourself by Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe #32)

In this complicated plot about authors suspected of plagiarism, Nero Wolfe has been called in to investigate a number of complaints about authors stealing plots from other authors. Nero Wolfe admits he bungles the investigation and unfortunately there are three murders.

Because this is a book about authors and publishers and plagiarism, there are a naturally quite a lot of fictional books to be discovered. We have The Moth that Ate Peanuts, a children’s book by unknown author Alice Porter who has accused Ellen Sturdevandt of stealing her work. Alice has apparently also written two short stories called Opportunity Knocks* and There is Only Love*. Then there’s Hold Fast to All I Give You by Richard Echols, Why the Gods Laugh by Phillip Harvey and What’s Mine is Yours* and Barrage at Dawn by Simon Jacobs.

We also have A Barrel of Love, a play by Mortimer Oshin, On Earth but Not in Heaven* a short story by Jane Ogilvy and Sacred or Profane by Marjorie Lippin. And also Knock at My Door by Amy Wynn and The Color of Passion by Ellen Sturdevandt.

I rather like the idea of The Moth that Ate Peanuts. It could be a fun picture book. Although, so many children these days are mortally allergic to peanuts perhaps it wouldn’t be an ideal subject for a children’s book. But remember, Plot it Yourself was written in 1959, long before everyone was allergic to everything.

That is a lot of fictional works for just one Nero Wolfe novel. Honestly, I really do feel that most of these fictional titles sound seriously old fashioned and dated, but… 1959… The year I was born.

All those marked with an asterisk* are plagiarised.

I haven’t read a Nero Wolfe book for a very long time. They always seemed to include a lot of food.

Thanks to Michael Crowley/Moment/Getty Images/The Spruce