Rex Stout is best known as the creator of the series of works about Nero Wolfe, but in this collection the famous detective gives way to other heroes. Private detective Theodolinda Bonner receives an assignment from the president of an industrial corporation: to find information discrediting a follower of a religious sect, who is extracting money from the wife of an industrialist, and more recently he is also planning to become his son-in-law. Dol barely gets started when he finds his employer dead, strangled with wire. But to avoid cutting himself, the criminal needed thick gloves... (“Hand in Glove”) Delia Brand was arrested on suspicion of murder. It’s not surprising, because she has a motive, and besides, she directly stated that she intended to shoot the man. However, only a few know that Delia did not mean the one who was found dead next to her purse and revolver. When it is confirmed that the purse and weapon were stolen, Delia is released and begins her own investigation ("Mountain Cat"). Inspector Cramer is forced to interrupt his well-deserved vacation: a major stock exchange player, Val Carew, is killed at the tomb of his Indian wife. Clutched in the victim's fist is a piece of red wool thread - a special yarn from which Indians wove blankets several centuries ago ("Red Threads"). Alphabet Hicks is a disbarred lawyer. Now he drives a taxi and sometimes takes on investigations. Judith Dundee turns to him: her husband accuses her of revealing his business secrets to a competitor, and the woman wants to prove her innocence. However, a case of industrial espionage turns into a case of murder (“Alphabet Hicks”). The psychological novel “Almost Equal to God” stands out. From the first pages it is known who planned the murder, but what led to this and whether there is enough courage to carry out the plan is unclear until the very end...