Detectives of note: Nero Wolfe

Of the many pulp detectives, a favorite for shear breadth is Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe - his girth is matched only by his brain. An eccentric in the first degree, this wealthy connoisseur of beer, food, orchids, and mystery commanded his mysteries like a general from his bunker. The legs of the operation, Archie Goodwin, is a crass, yet smooth investigator drawn to beautiful women and reviled by Inspector Cramer.

Take a tour of "The Wolfe Pack" site ... and it is certainly worth the effort to find and watch the two season TV series produced by and starring Timothy Hutton (now airing on the Biography Channel and available on DVD).