Rex Stout, generally known as the creator of Nero Wolfe, wrote plenty of other stuff. He tried his hand at both literature and pulp fiction before settling on the alter ego of Archie Goodwin. Reading the non-Wolfe work only serves to highlight the perfect synthesis of style and medium in the Wolfe stories and also to note what a great influence Jane Austen (yes, Jane Austen) had on Stout's writing. 
 Published in 1934, this is a political thriller in which the US president disappears - just when war is looming. It was moderately successful when first published (anonymously) and quickly turned into a successful film. The twist is sadly quite obvious from the first, although I think the subject matter is still topical as are the divided opinions. The book suffers somewhat from the large cast of men in suits (politicians, senators, Secret Service) and it takes some time to match the names to the motives. Where it excels is in the people: the megalomaniacal Lincoln Lee, the delivery boy Val Orcutt and the dialogue between Secret Service man Chick Moffat and the unknowing Alma. This is one to read again on a rainy day.