This would have been a neat mystery, actually.

[gryphonrhi]

A Rex Stout Nero Wolfe book that never was -- it was actually an in-house publishing joke, but the artist didn't know they were joking. Here's the full story and the proposed cover for Stiff Upper Lipstick. For those who don't feel like opening a new tab, here's the summary:

"Archie Goodwin has a field-day -- and Nero finds his misogyny slipping

Comments

[adina_atl]

I'd read it! (I'm tempted to write it.) I think it could turn out rather dark, however--male sales managers, glamorous (read "easy" in certain minds) cosmetics demonstrators, and serious power imbalances. Throw in a boyfriend or husband of one of the demonstrators, out of work and resentful that the woman in his life is more financially successful than he is. The hardest part is figuring out how or why Nero's misogyny would slip--a gaggle of glamorous females sounds like his definition of hell. Ooh, a hard-headed (and only a little hard-hearted) demonstrator says "To use your own word, Mr. Wolfe, pfui. We sell sex; the girl who buys the image herself is a fool."

I'm afraid that "labial" usually brings to mind the *other* lips, though, thank you very much.

[gryphonrhi]

Yeah, that was my reaction to labial, also. I don't know, I'd want the villain to be one of the women, myself, but not because she's been passed over for manager; because her work on the lipstick formulations was stolen. And I have no idea how to let the misogyny slip either! ::wicked grin:: Unless he had to invite the women to dinner?

But yeah, I'd read it!

[adina_atl]

Hmm. I like that idea!

A collection of suspects:

You have your Miss A, a demonstrator who spends most of her time in the labs, whose formulation for a new, redder red that doesn't bleed all over and leave lipstick marks has been stolen. Reference to kiss mark on the dead men's brows.

Miss B and her ex-fiance Mr. B, here named as a pair despite not sharing a surname. Mr. B works as a sales representative at a rival company. Miss B dumped him after he insisted that she come to work for his company--at a lower salary.

Miss C, soon revealed to be Mrs C, who concealed her marriage because glamorous cosmetics demonstrators are presumed? required? to be single. Mr C, her husband, who is out of work and resents his wife having/being able to support them

[gryphonrhi]

::snickering:: Great set of suspects! :amused:: Man, I wish he had written this! (So does Archie.)