As any herpetologist will tell you, the fer-de-lance is among the most
dreaded snakes known to man.When someone makes a present of one to Nero
Wolfe, Archie Goodwin knows he's getting dreadully close to solving the
devilishly clever murders of an immigrant and a college president.As for
Wolfe, he's playing snake charmer in a case with more twists than an
anaconda -- whistling a seductive tune he hopes will catch a killer
who's still got poison in his heart."