Mcdonald, Gregory

Average customer rating:

Turns Noir on Its Head
Great Dialogue and a Great Protaganist Mean a Great Book
Equal with the movie, as different as it is similar
Still the cream of a very fine crop!
The Sam Spade of the '80s

Fletch
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Confess, Fletch
Fletch Won
Fletch's Fortune
Fletch, Too
Fletch and the Widow Bradley

ASIN: 0375713549
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Book Description

Fletch

He’s an investigative reporter whose methods are a little unorthodox. Currently he’s living on the beach with the strung-out trying to find to the source of the drugs they live for.

Fletch

He’s taking more than a little flack from his editor. She doesn’t appreciate his style. Or the expense account items he’s racking up. Or his definition of the word deadline. Or the divorce lawyers who keep showing up at the office.

Fletch

So when multimillionaire Alan Stanwyk offers Fletch the job of a lifetime, which could be worth a fortune, he’s intrigued and decides to do a little investigation. What he discovers is that the proposition is anything but what it seems.

Customer Reviews:

Turns Noir on Its Head.......2007-04-28

All of the other reviews are spot on-- this is a page-turner, very funny, especially great dialogue, etc.

One more thing that should be mentioned-- fans of noir fiction will appreciate the stylistic tweak McDonald gives the genre. Whereas the typical noir milieu is dark, dreary and brooding, McDonald sets "Fletch" on a bright, sunny beach.

To the extent that noir is defined by setting and mood more than anything else, this has a substantial effect. Whereas the typical noir setting is something of a metaphor for all that is evil or twisted lurking beneath the surface, in "Fletch," all of the evil is lurking in plain sight (yet is no less mysterious). The hot, sunny beach setting also recalls "The Stranger" by Camus, another book that famously played on the noir genre.

"Fletch" is so entertaining that it is easy to miss the skill with which McDonald adds to and reimagines many of the noir cliches.

Great Dialogue and a Great Protaganist Mean a Great Book.......2005-06-26

I've seen the Chevy Chase movie, although it's been years. I remember it having some good one-liners, etc., although it was not a "great" film. Still, bargain bins are great things, and this book was too good a bargain to pass up.

I. M. Fletcher, "Fletch" to his friends, is a reporter chasing a drug story on the beaches of California. Here, he is approached by Alan Stanwyck, wealthy businessman, about doing a favor. It seems Stanwyck is dying of cancer, and wants Fletch to kill him at the end of the week. Fletch, intrigued, agrees. He naturally investigates Stanwyck while juggling the drug story, dealing with an editor he has no respect for (rightfully so), and dodging his ex-wives' (yes, wives plural) lawyers.

Let's face it, the real draw here is the dialogue. Kevin Smith is among many people who have said they learned how to write great dialogue from Gregory McDonald. And it's not hard to see why, as McDonald has a gift it. He simply lets his characters talk. There are no adjectives, adverbs, "he said," "she said" in his pages of speaking. He simply chooses his words (or his characters do), and everything is left to the reader to "see" and "hear"--tone, body language, etc. And it keeps the reader turning the page, hoping not to get caught in the crossfire as Fletch trades barbs with whatever "lesser" being he is forced to deal with as he pursues both stories.

Which isn't to say the plot is lacking. It's quite gripping. Actually the two disparate plot-lines are gripping, as Fletch moves in and out of his investigations, using solid detective work and a great deal of duplicity to get answers. Unlike the film, the two stories Fletch chases don't come together in any meaningful way, but the chase is in and of itself fun. Indeed, even if you have seen the film, you will be surprised at how different the many details of the book differ from the film. They are almost two different stories.

And in many ways, the Fletch of the book is very different from the character of the film. As I read the book, I was never quite sure if I liked Fletch as a person. He refuses to pay alimony (never quite clear if it was because he couldn't or simply wouldn't), he has a relationship with a 15-year-old girl who is a drug-addict that doesn't seem terribly healthy, he hates his editor, and he demonstrates just generally misanthropic tendencies, with little obvious reason. But, somehow, he won me over, and so I was rooting for the guy to finally overcome all the obstacles in his life, the most important obstacle being the entire human race.

While I am not in a huge hurry to read the next book in the series, I do think I will eventually. Fletch is an interesting character, and I am very curious about the course of his career.

Equal with the movie, as different as it is similar.......2005-04-23

I've always wanted to get my hands on the Fletch books, but here in the UK they are quite difficult to come by. The recent American printings are not available in stores over here so image how cool it was when I got all of them for Xmas. Who cares if they are older printings?

Chevy Chase is one of my favorite actors (though he does seem to have vanished off the face of the earth recently save for campaigning heavily and controversially with Senator John Kerry in the recent elections) and I love the Fletch movies. Many people use the unoriginal expression that 'the book is always better than the movie' but, as my review title says, they usually end up being as good as each other.

The book is slightly harder in tone and Fletch's sarcasm frequently comes across as arrogance. I understand the movie had to keep things a bit lighter in order to be a PG but the whole drug smuggling and corrupt cops plot is just as serious her as in the movie. Stuff like Fletch's drug-addicted 15-year-old girlfriend, her death and a fair amount of swearing are the only differences the books has in tone. Where is seems a bit bland in comparison to the movie is that it's fairly static. Also, the final confrontation with Alan Stanwyk has a touch more nobility and Fletch's attitude towards him less apathetic.

In Fletch the movie Chevy Chase travels all over the place, impersonating people, using crazy aliases, breaking and entering etc. But in the book most of the aliases and investigation is done through phone calls at his office or from his apartment. It lacks excitement in this respect.

All your favorite characters are still in here such as Fletch's perpetually angry boss Frank and the sleazy Lawyer Gillette (Arnold T. Pants Esq.). Definitely a book to read for fans of the movie or anyone who enjoys crime fiction. And how natural does it seem to imagine Chevy Chase as Fletch regardless of the tone or situation?

Still the cream of a very fine crop!.......2003-05-30

I read Fletch more years ago than I care to admit. And I've read all the others (heck, it could be a parlor game just trying to put all these books in chronological order...McDonald wrote them in the most convoluted order!!). They are all excellent, but Fletch set the mold.

Fletch is an investigative reporter with an attitude. Assigned to cover drug dealing on the local beaches, and also hired by a rich man to murder him, Fletch has a lot on his plate. Naturally, he doesn't intend to kill the guy, but he certainly wants to figure out WHY the man wants to be killed.

This Fletch book best combines the elements of Fletch's biting, sarcastic humor with a REALISTIC mystery. It's far-fetched, true, but still feels grounded in everyday life. Later Fletch books presented more outrageous mysteries and off-the-wall solutions. They are entertaining, but when you're dealing with mysteries surrounding presidential contenders or people who've undergone sex changes, you see that the "silliness" quotient is upped.

But, the main reason to read Fletch is to enjoy the dialogue. Much like the incomparable Ed McBain (Evan Hunter), McDonald can go on for pages with absolutely nothing BUT dialogue. No "said Mr. Jones" or "He laughed." You pick up all the mood, intonation and knowledge of who is speaking simply through the incredibly skillful use of the dialogue. And how often, really, do you laugh outloud when reading novel. You will in this one. I really recommend this book (and all the other Fletch books...Flynn is a little harder to get into.)

(A word about the movie...Chevy Chase is NOT the Fletch of these books. I found the movie to be an enjoyable vehicle for Chevy Chase [better than most of his dreck, actually], and even though the movie follows the skeleton of the book's plot, it's tone is NOT the same. Enjoy the movie on its own terms...it's not that bad...but don't let it influence your decision to read the book. If you like the movie, you'll love the book. If you hated the movie, you probably will still like the book.)

The Sam Spade of the '80s.......2003-04-23

I recently read that Fletch, the movie, was a terrible adaptation of Fletch, the book. Well I liked the movie, so naturally I got curious about how much better the book could be.

The book turned out to be very close to the movie. It's really more like a screenplay than a novel: mostly action and dialogue, it lays down the facts and lets you do your own musing about what's going on. Like a good screenplay, you can really see the story coming to life in your head.

Fletch, the character, is the typical wandering man. A drudge-reporter, twice divorced, dodging alimoney, sliding from romance to romance, hardly earning enough to get by but good at what he does, Fletch is a modern noir hero. He's always going undercover, pretending to be other people, perhaps because he's searching for who he is.

For the lonely searcher, or for the average reader, Fletch is good entertainment in book or movie form.

Average customer rating:

Fletch's first case

Good Weekend Read

Nothing Special

Win With Fletch Won

One more winner in the Fletch series

Fletch Won
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Fletch, Too

Fletch

Confess, Fletch

Fletch and the Widow Bradley

Fletch's Fortune

ASIN: 0375713522
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Book Description

Fletch Won

As a fledgling reporter, Fletch is doing more flailing than anything else. That and floating around from department to department trying to figure where he fits in. His managing editor’s got him pegged for the society pages, but the kind of society Fletch gets involved with is anything but polite.

Fletch Won

His first big interview, a millionaire lawyer with a crooked streak and an itch to give away some of his ill-gotten gains, ends up dead in the News-Tribune’s parking lot before Fletch can ask question number one. So Fletch ends up going after the murderer instead, and ends up learning a thing or two about crime and punishment.

Fletch Won

At the same time, he’s supposed to be covering (or maybe uncovering) a health spa that caters to all its clients needs, and gets hired as a very personal trainer. Never mind that he’s supposed to be getting married at the end of the week; Fletch has a few other engagements to take care of first.

Customer Reviews:

Fletch's first case.......2005-09-12

Gregory MacDonald sure wrote the Fletch books in a confusing order. Despite this being about the 8th Fletch book, chronologically it's the first.

In this story Fletch has only been working at the News-Tribune for a few months and is getting less and less respect from Frank each day as his sarcasm and pranks are riling everybody up. Frank shifts Fletch from one section of the newspaper to the next, never knowing where he's going to cause the least trouble. Some local lawyer wants an interview to announce that he's giving 5 million dollars to a museum and Fletch is to run the (small) story. Trouble is, the lawyer, one Donald Habeck, is killed in the News-Tribune parking lot almost that very second.

Frank pulls Fletch of the story right away gives it to a big bully who's been with the paper for years. Fletch is now left with investigating some whorehouse and that he does. But he's not giving up on the Habeck story as the circumstances seem mighty suspicious, especially when he finds out that the firm Habeck worked for is probably the most crooked law firm on the planet.

It's fast-paced and full of witty, and sometimes odd, dialogue and neat little gimmicks and ironies. Fletch's detective work and level-headedness provide a sense of balance in relation to all the wierd and eccentric characters around him. And the crooked cops and authorities seem right out of a James Ellroy book. I did find a few anachronisms though. If this is set before the first Fletch book then surely there wouldn't be carphones and computers in every office. At least not a computer thats not as big as the office itself. It's a tiny little complaint though.

A good read and an involving mystery. Fletch is the best unsung hero of crime fiction.

Good Weekend Read.......2004-04-16

I enjoyed this book pretty well. I've seen the Fletch movies and I'm a huge fan of both, but I've never read the Fletch books. I thought I'd start with this one. The author seemed to begin to delve into some other storylines and then stopped. We were intorduced to characters that were unimportant to the story. I think maybe he was trying to use up page space or something. Anyway, the book was entertaining at best. I gave it 4 stars because I don't think the author meant it to be anything other than entertaining!

Nothing Special.......2004-03-31

I bought this book because I love the movie Fletch, and I heard that Kevin Smith plans on making this book into a new Fletch film.

My problem with this book is that it is all dialouge. This is more of a screenplay than a novel. The writing is very boring, completely undescriptive.

The story is at times amuzing and may make a funny movie, but it is not a good novel. My advice would be wait for the movie.

Win With Fletch Won.......2003-08-14

I hate reading non-fiction books, but I loved Fletch Won. As a fan of the Chevy Chase flicks and a fan of Kevin Smith (who will write and direct the movie version of this book), I took a chance on Fletch One to see what the fuss was about the Fletch books. If you are looking for a great mystery, look elsewhere. If you are looking for an entertaining book that is hilarious and an easy read, pick this book up. I can't wait to put my hands on the other Fletch books.

One more winner in the Fletch series.......2001-10-04

I don't like it when reviewers reveal plot points, so I won't. Suffice to say, if you like other Fletch books, you will like Fletch Won. If you haven't read any Fletch books, you might want to start with Fletch, which was adapted into a funny movie starring Chevy Chase.

Average customer rating:

Fletch rules!

Fletch's Moxie
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Fletch and the Man Who
Fletch's Fortune
Fletch and the Widow Bradley
Carioca Fletch
Son of Fletch

ASIN: 0375713565
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Book Description

In Fletch’s Moxie, the prolific Gregory Mcdonald tests his incomparable investigative journalist once again with a caper that is as perfectly plotted as Fletch is brilliant.

It seems just about everyone in Hollywood had a reason to want Steve Peterman dead. But how someone managed to put a knife in his back on a live broadcast without being seen is anyone’s guess. Unfortunately for Fletch, his girlfriend, Moxie Mooney, a huge star at the box office, is also the number one suspect. With the police asking way too many questions, Fletch whisks Moxie and her drunken father, O.L., off to Key West for a little privacy. But before he can even check out the beach, the rest of the suspects decide to check in. Now, in a house full of Hollywood’s elite, Fletch is increasingly amazed at how ruthless the movie business can be.

Customer Reviews:

Fletch rules!.......2000-06-19

He has done it again. Another adventure with Fletch moves you from your reading sofa to a whole different world. Forgetting the time, forgetting the space and only hoping that the next page wont be the last. I truly recommend this book to anyone who likes the fantasies of Fletch.

Average customer rating:

Very Good Book
Another Fletch winner
Fletch and Flynn come together
Superb Comedy-Mystery
One of the best Fletch books ever!!!!!!!

Confess, Fletch
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Fletch
Fletch's Fortune
Fletch Won
Fletch and the Widow Bradley
Fletch, Too

ASIN: 0375713484
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Book Description

Confess, Fletch

The flight from Rome had been pleasant enough, even if the business he was on wasn’t exactly. His Italian fianc?e’s father had been kidnapped and presumably murdered, and Fletch is on the trail of a stolen art collection that is her only patrimony. But when he arrives in his apartment to find a dead body, things start to get complicated.

Confess, Fletch

Inspector Flynn found him a little glib for someone who seemed to be the only likely suspect in a pretty clear case of homicide. He wasn’t exactly uncooperative, but it wasn’t like he was entirely forthcoming either. And Flynn wasn’t entirely convinced that the nineteenth-century Western artist Edgar Arthur Tharp really occupied most of Fletch’s thoughts.

Confess, Fletch

With the police on his tail and a few other things to do beside prove his own innocence, Fletch makes himself at home in Boston, renting a van, painting it black, and breaking into a private art gallery. That is when he’s not “entertaining” his future mother-in-law
and visiting with the good Inspector Flynn and his family.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Book.......2003-04-27

Well, I'm glad I read this book after giving up on "Carioca Fletch" (hint: stay away from that book). This is a very good book that grabs your attention and keeps it all the way through. The one thing I didn't like about the book (and it might just be a function of the genre and not a fault specific to the book) is that the "solution" to the mystery is not one that you really have any stake in finding. Essentially, you're hit with more information at the very end of the book which gives you a surprise ending. That aside, it's still a very good, fun book that's well worth reading.

Another Fletch winner.......2001-10-04

I don't like it when reviewers reveal plot points, so I won't. Suffice to say, if you like other Fletch books, you will like Confess, Fletch. If you haven't read any Fletch boosk, you might want to start with Fletch, which was adapted into a funny movie starring Chevy Chase.

Fletch and Flynn come together.......2000-08-09

McDonald brings the heros of his two great detective series, Irwin M. Fletcher and Francis Xavier Flynn together for their only joint appearance on the printed page. The result is a quite satisfying story in which someone attempts to fram Fletch for murder. Fans of either series will love this fine entry into both of them.

Superb Comedy-Mystery.......1999-02-16

Irwin Maurice Fletcher (Fletch) arrives in Boston, and finds himself the prime suspect of a murder of a woman he has never met. Enter Inspector Francis Xavier Flynn, the ONLY inspector of the Boston Police Department. Against his every wish to bring Fletch in for arrest, he bumbles about in his own way until the real killer is caught.

This book is extremely entertaining, with lots of one-liners by the dry Flynn to keep one laughing. Fletch is also at his best, mixing a murder investigation with an art-theft investigation of his own.

Quite an enticement to read other Fletch books, as well as the three resulting books about Flynn (way too few in my opinion).

One of the best Fletch books ever!!!!!!!.......1998-07-11

This is one of the fastest moving and most interesting of the Fletch novels. I have read it 10 times now at least and love it more each time!

Average customer rating:

'You are the weirdest person I ever met.'
Good dialogue - No mystery
Obvious Solution and Miserable Ending

Fletch and the Widow Bradley
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Fletch's Fortune
Carioca Fletch
Fletch, Too
Fletch and the Man Who
Fletch Won

ASIN: 0375713514
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Book Description

Fletch and the Widow Bradley

When Fletch finds a wallet with $10,000 in cash inside, he doesn’t realize it’s the last piece of good luck he’s going to see for a while. Because when he calls in to the News-Tribune, he discovers a story he’s written is causing quite a sensation, and not the good kind. He might just be out of a job permanently.

Fletch and the Widow Bradley

If Tom Bradley, the chairman of Wagnall-Phipps and one of Fletch’s principal sources, and not incidentally, the source of his paper’s embarrassment, is dead, who’s been signing his name to company documents, and why doesn’t the company treasurer seem to know? If he’s alive, how come his widow, Enid, has Tom’s ashes on the mantel?

Fletch and the Widow Bradley

Fletch may have more questions than answers on his hands, but he knows he’s a pretty good reporter, and if he’s going to get his reputation back, not to mention his job, he’s going to have to get to the bottom of more than one mystery.

Customer Reviews:

'You are the weirdest person I ever met.'.......2007-04-03

Unlikely hero Fletch has been fired from the News Tribune and made a laughing stock by his peers for apparently quoting a man who is long-dead. Disgraced and with his reputation in ruin, Fletch won't give up the story and looks deeper into the shady goings-on at a small company by the name of Wagnall-Phips. At the same time he is also desperately trying to find a man by the name of James St. E Crandall and give him back his missing wallet, which just so happens to contain 25 Thousand Dollar Bills.

This was one of my favorite Fletch books so far. It just never gets boring. 'Mystery' is definitely my favorite genre and Fletch is turning into one of my favorite fictional characters. His method of investigation and puzzle-solving is genius and he most definitely deserves a pay-rise. Someone write to his boss Frank. I also find his morals and ethics rather noble and although you always spend the entire book with him you still never really know what's going on inside or what makes him tick.

It's been a long time since Gregory McDonald gaves us a new Fletch book. I've only read 4 myself, but he's such a fertile, versatile character he really could go on forever.

The book is not without its funny moments. Most of them from Fletch's deadpan mannerisms or unfortunate ironic situations. The poor guy never gets the respect, or woman, he deserves.

Reminds me of someone I know.

Good dialogue - No mystery.......2004-06-01

I figured out the ending by page 52. But does anyone really read Fletch books for the mystery? It has the typical great dialogue Gregory Mcdonald is known for. But this one is a tiny book at only 158 pages. An escapist fun read to make the weekend go by quicker. Not much else.

Obvious Solution and Miserable Ending.......2003-04-27

A terrible book. By page 94 (one third of the way through the book), the solution to the main mystery was obvious. This level of obviousness grew continuously throughout the remainder of the book until it was just plain embarassing. I spent two thirds of the book scratching my head, trying to figure out why Fletch, who is supposed to be brilliant, can't figure things out. There's no answer to this. Also, the ending tied to the secondary mystery is horrible. Unfortunately, there's not much I can say about it without giving it away. It's just all-around terrible and depressing. Stay away from this book.

Average customer rating:

The 'Man Who' is pleasing, if scant
Fletch for President
Enjoyable Escape
Best Fletch book
Sometimes Unemployment is Better...

Fletch and the Man Who
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Fletch's Moxie
Fletch and the Widow Bradley
Fletch, Too
Carioca Fletch
Fletch's Fortune

ASIN: 0375713492
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Book Description

“A girl jumped off the motel’s roof. Five minutes ago.”

"Give it to me straight. Does the girl have anything to do with us? I mean, with the campaign? The presidential candidate?"

"It's your job, Fletch, to make damned sure she didn't."

FLETCH and the Man Who
When Fletch arrives as the new press representative for Governor Caxton Wheeler’s presidential campaign, he isn’t sure which mystery to solve first: what his new job actually is or why the campaign has been leaving dead women in its tracks.

FLETCH and the Man Who
He finds himself on the other side of the press, a human shield deflecting the questions he is asking himself. Are the murders just coincidence, or is a cold-hearted killer looking for a job in the White House?

FLETCH and the Man Who
When the campaign shifts into high gear, Fletch’s skills are working overtime in a desperate bid of his own to find the killer and to make sure the governor doesn’t lose any more votes.

Customer Reviews:

The 'Man Who' is pleasing, if scant.......2006-05-10

If you've ever worked for a presidential campaign- particularly one in a Northeast state like New Hampshire- you'll feel the winter wind wipping at your back and the freezing snow on your feet when you read 'Fletch and the Man Who', a crisp, spot-on mystery that swirls around a presidential campaign.

Like watching 'The Royal Tenenbaums', 'Man Who' feels intentionally timeless to me- like the plot could've unfolded at any point from 1950 through the late 90's. Without relying on dated references or lame attempts at social criticism, Gregory McDonald instead places his brilliantly smarmy private eye, Fletch, in the limelight as he works to solve the murder of a girl whose body was discovered fallen out the window of the presidential candidate's hotel suite.

'The Man Who' whisks along and finishes with an exciting burst, but while the details are enjoyable, the supporting characters are uncharacteristically weak and the plot fairly straightforward, especially for McDonald.

If you're looking for a complex mystery, check out something else. But if you like your commentary subtle, your details rich, and your one-liners fast, check out 'The Man Who'. If you read it on a summer afteroon, you'll still feel the chill of the February wind.

Fletch for President.......2000-08-09

In this installment, Fletch goes to work for an American Presidential candidate after a murder in his campaign hotel. Along the way we get a lot of unique Fletch insights into the political process. This book would have made a much better sequel for the original Fletch movie than the idiotic "Fletch Saved." Overall, an excellent entry in the Fletch saga.

Enjoyable Escape.......2000-04-02

I have read two Fletch books (Fletch (the one on which the movie was based) and this one), and found both to be entertaining comic mysteries. I can't speak for the artistic quality and subtle nuances, but I can say, "Read it, you'll like it!" An easy read from start to finish

Best Fletch book.......2000-03-12

If you are a fan of the Fletch book series (not necessarily the movie versions), this is the best Fletch book in that series. In it, a number of characters that appear in other books are written where you finally get an idea of their backgrounds, relationship to Fletch and true character. The books "Son of Fletch" and "Fletch Reflected" are best understood by reading this book first. Apart from character histories, this book provides insight into the political process of the campaign/primary trail. As with some of the better Fletch books, the twist of the ending will have you immediately re-reading the book to look for the subtleties and nuances missed the first time around when you were simply enjoying the storyline. I highly recommend this book!

Sometimes Unemployment is Better..........1999-11-09

There's a danger to the "big money deal" for any writer, and Gregory McDonald, author of the inimitable "Fletch" series of adventure/comedy/mysteries, is no exception. Witness the (if only temporary) decline of Ian Fleming's James Bond, when morphed into the pablem of late-70s cinema; the blood-and-punk-rock, comic book treatment of all things vampiric since the shady, haunting genius of Bram Stoker's allegory-tinged "Dracula;" and, now, Fletch. Following the moderately successful film based on the first novel in the series, fans of the literature were hopeful: imagine the possibilities of a star-studded cast, big-money backing, and good ol' Chevy Chase (face it, kids, he was BORN for this role) in a film adaptation of "Fletch's Fortune," "Confess, Fletch," or, indeed, ANY of the books in the series...that is, until 1986's "Fletch and the Man Who." Yes, it's a comedy/mystery, as expected, filled with quirky, narcisistic characters, lots of American locales, a dead-on portrayal of the American Political Press, and the ever-curious investigative reporter (this time working as--what! --a Presidential candidate's press secretary). So, what's missing, here? Readers of this installment in McDonald's otherwise perfect body of witty, oftentimes thought-provoking "little" mysteries will find an imposter hiding beneath the skin of that always tanned, seemingly aloof proponent of self-sufficiency. It's as if the author is stating, for the record, that perhaps Richard Dreyfuss would be more suitable for the title part. Decidedly, Fletch just isn't acting himself, and who can blame him? In "Fletch and the Man Who," our hero has literally taken a job position out of tired old obligation, and it's difficult to argue that our Gregory McDonald hasn't done the same, at least as recently as '86. What's interesting to note is that, though social commentary has since proven a successful arena for McDonald's nonchalant treatment, in "Son of Fletch," "Fletch's Moxie," and even previously in the "Flynn" spinoffs, it's obvious that "Fletch and the Man Who" is a failed attempt at putting common sense behind the driver's wheel of American politics. A disastrous idea for motorers...but, for movie rights, this reviewer bets that McDonald, though he's certainly forgiven for sake of later volumes that DO entertain and enlighten, just couldn't see his thesis for all those dollar signs. Luckily, the studios forgot to call back, until better "current" work was available for scripting. Nowadays, there's a new cluehound on the beat--and with "Son of Fletch" and "Fletch Reflected," well, let's just hope Chevy has a strong raport with the big movie studios of the 21st century; it'll take YEARS to "catch up" with British Agent 007, but, excluding "Fletch and the Man Who," this is a horse that can really run. That is, as long as the author's mortgage payments remain comfortably taken care of.

Average customer rating:

My favorite of the series
Mildly curious
Too much National Geographic, not enough mystery
Fletch meets his dad

Fletch, Too
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Fletch Won
Fletch and the Widow Bradley
Carioca Fletch
Fletch and the Man Who
Fletch

ASIN: 0375713530
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Book Description

Fletch, Too

After a few delays and without the benefit of a rehearsal, it looks like Fletch is finally getting hitched. It’s a small affair, just a few friends, the bride’s parents, the groom’s mother, and, just maybe, his father. Except Fletch’s father is supposed to be dead.

Fletch, Too

But somebody delivered the letter, signed Fletch (senior) and containing an invitation (and a pair of plane tickets) to visit the old man in Nairobi for the honeymoon. Never mind Fletch and his bride were planning a ski trip to Colorado.

Fletch, Too

No sooner does the couple land in Africa (togged out for skiing!), then the search for Fletch’s father begins. There’s a murder at the airport, reports of the old man’s incarceration, and the hospitality (and evasiveness) offered by pop’s best friend, who flies them across the continent, just a step or two behind (or maybe ahead of) the old rascal.

Customer Reviews:

My favorite of the series.......2006-04-09

I see from the other reviews that I am in the minority here. Personally this is my favorite. True, it isn't this huge unbelievable mystery. It's a more personal story. This is our only real glimpse into Irwin's married life, his mother, his father, plus we get to meet his second wife briefly.
I loved the ending and the character development is superb.
The most heart felt of the series.

Mildly curious.......2006-02-18

On the day of his wedding to Barbara, Fletch receives a letter from his long lost dad who claims to be in Africa and needs Fletch's assisance for some reason. Intead of going on their honeymoon to Colorado, Fletch and Barbara fly over to Kenya to meet with the enigmatic Walter Fletcher, but there's no sign of him. Only his pal Peter Carr.

While freshening up in the airport toilet, Fletch half witnesses a murder in which a man is stabbed to death. He tries to put this to the back of his mind as along with Carr and Barbara he flies around the desert and jungles looking at animals and trying to discover lost cities.

That's really about it, I'm afraid. Gregory MacDonald coughed-up a rather tepid story this time around. There no real sense of mystery or crime solving and there's far too much detail put into Fletch and Barbara's sightseeing and dinner/menu choices. It's more like an episode of Murder She Wrote than a real, solid whodunnit.

And what is the deal with the character of Juma and all that 'penis' stuff near the end? Why is he having group sex for no apparent reason? I so totally do not get that! I'll admit that this book was heading for a 2-star review but a surprise twist right at the very end turned the whole thing around and genuinely shocked me. But it's a lot of bore to trudge through to get to it. Methinks that MacDonald probably visited Kenya shortly before writing and was so impressed he felt like sending Fletch there to do exactly what he did; sit around in restaurants and going sight-seeing.

Some stronger inspiration could have helped the story, but it's still a good read for Fletch fans.

Too much National Geographic, not enough mystery.......2001-06-21

First of all let me say that I have read all of the Fletch books and I am a big fan of Gregory McDonald. I loved most of the books so I am not just a fan of the movie. But "Fletch, Too" was more of an hour long TV episode than a mystery novel, or any novel for that matter. Taking place in Africa, Mr. McDonald introduces us to cultures we are unfamiliar with - much like in "Carioca Fletch." This is fine, except that this is apparently more important than the story. Most of the "action" is driving from here to there, visiting this place, flying to that place, and - oh my God, eating meals. I understand the realism of having characters eating constantly as real people do, but too much is about fluffy situations such as these and not enough on the story, which gets interesting at the very end. The writing is good, as always, but the story wasn't explored enough. This Fletch adventure would have been exciting to be a part of, but it was a rather dull read. Sorry Mr. McDonald. I am looking forward to Son of Fletch and the Flynn books as well as The Brave.

Fletch meets his dad.......2000-05-03

A story that contains both mystery and adventure. Fletch goes on a quest to find his dad, and runs into interesting problems all along the way.

Average customer rating:

Unsung Tom Sawyer (please give me first time review $$)
An ignored classic, and a reviewer who wants 1st time $$$

Safekeeping
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Laurel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440575990
Release Date: 1987-10-01

Customer Reviews:

Unsung Tom Sawyer (please give me first time review $$).......2000-04-19

The protagonist of Safekeeping, Robbie James St. James Burnes Walter Farhall-Pladroman, is a boy-hero cut of the same cloth as any archetypal boy-hero, but no one knows who he is! No one has to read about his trip to America in their English class at school, nor do they have to hear about his being placed in the charge of Thadeus Lowry, a journalist who is like W.C. Fields with a typewriter, or his subsequent run from a mob hitman, or his hiding out in the home of a Harlem prostitiute. That's just a shame. The author's notoriety for his Fletch books and movies seem to have overshadowed this little-known gem he produced in the early '80s. There was not much in the arena of children's literature suitable for adult consumption for him to compete with in the latter half of the twentieth century, but the book was published with nary a ripple in the literary pond. Pick it up. For the love of a hero. For the love of words strung so tightly and beautifully together that they cradle a reader like the mother Robbie is left without. For your children, the same reason that compelled my mother to pick it up for me. It's not readily available here, but finding it is worth the effort, and saving it from obscurity is a noble, noble crusade.

An ignored classic, and a reviewer who wants 1st time $$$.......2000-04-18

This book was given to me by my mother based on a bit on the back cover that compared the author to Mark Twain. As wrong as that may be, I'm glad she picked it up. The fellow who wrote it is actually better known for the Fletch character and the related books. The same whimsical, tongue-in-cheek tone is present here, but where the book really distinguishes itself is in character development. The personalities of Robbie, Thadeus Lowry, and the Savalos are trompe l'oeil paintings of people done in the broadest strokes, and the evocation of the war era in New York is magnificent. While a thrilling and entertaining read, the book also affords insights into America, as seen through the eyes of Robbie, a young stranger here. The most amazing thing about Safekeeping, and the thing that has stayed with me for well over ten years (the time since first I read the book) is the cultural differences between America and England being so clearly illustrated by Robbie's ten-year old eyes taking in America as a whole as if it was an unfinished work, waiting for his more mature hand to coax some beauty out of it and out of the lives of the people he meets here.

Average customer rating:

Flynn series is great
Flynn's 2nd

Flynn's In
Gregory Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Buck Passes Flynn
Flynn
Fletch and the Man Who
Fletch's Moxie
Son of Fletch

ASIN: 0375713611
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Book Description

When it comes to crime, Boston Police Inspector and part-time intelligence agent, Francis Xavier Flynn is no stranger to the bizarre, the perverse, or the ridiculous. But when he is suddenly summoned by Police Commissioner D’Esopo to a secret wilderness compound far outside of their jurisdiction, he is a little surprised to find himself the hostage of a secret club of the nation’s most powerful and peculiar. Famous for his irreverent methods and razor sharp intellect, Flynn is forced to conduct a clandestine murder investigation. But before one murder is even solved, membership at the Rod and Gun Club continues to drop.

Customer Reviews:

Flynn series is great.......2005-11-09

Gregory McDonald is an excellent writer, with wit and inventiveness... His Flynn series is AT LEAST as good as the Fletch series.

Flynn's 2nd.......2000-08-09

I can't figure out why Gregory McDonald's "Flynn" series has paled in comparison to his much more well known "Fletch" novels. Flynn has his own share of fast paced, funny and interesting mysteries. In this case, he investigates a murder among the political elite of his native Boston. Those of you who are Fletch fans, I urge you to give Francis Xavier Flynn a chance.

Average customer rating:

McDonald was once so good...
Amusing, but hardly spectacular
More of the Same
Delightful. The is the best McDonald has done in a decade.

Skylar in Yankeeland
Gregory McDonald
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Skylar

ASIN: 0380725258

Book Description

A rogue and a rascal--the trumpet playing, lady-killing toast of Greendowns County, Tennessee--Skylar Whitfields talented lips have won him the affection of many a local belle. Now theyve won him a scholarship to a prestigious Northern music school--which is what brings young Skylar into the home of his snooty Boston Brahmin relatives, where he is decidedly not welcome. Perhaps their disdain has something to do with the disappearance of five million dollar-worth of family gembobs on the very night he arrives. Or his amorous effect on some of the Beantown females, whose explicit fantasies could have dire consequences for the visiting country cousin. And of course, theres the murder that Skylar seems involved in up to his Dixie neck. . .

Customer Reviews:

McDonald was once so good..........2004-04-02

Gregory McDonald once wrote funny, interesting books. The Flynn series was unique, and the early Fletch books were great. His skills seem to have deteriorated, and his last three or four books have been eminently forgettable. Sad.

Amusing, but hardly spectacular.......2000-10-09

If you are looking for a mystery forget it. The mystery is secondary to the rest of the story and is only really approached in the remaining 30 pages of the book. I found "Skylar" to be a better book, because the story was more original. As mentioned by one of the previous reviews that story centers around Jonathan Whitfield a "yankee" being the fish out of water around his cousin Skylar's southern surroundings. It seems this book was written just for the heck of it to see what it would be like to have Skylar up north. In "Skylar" we learn that the dumb hick image that Skylar puts on is all a facade and that he is truly a clever person. This story while showing glimpses of his intelligence disappointingly reverts to this original perception and it feels like you are reading the same story again. If you are interested in reading a Gregory MacDonald book then read one of the earlier Fletch novels. They don't actually read like the Chevy Chase movies but they are witty and worth the time (with the occasional weak book in the mix). If you have already read all the Fletch stories then you can give "Skylar" a try, but don't expect it to be on par with them. I would recommend the Flynn stories: "The Buck Passes Flynn","Flynn", & "Flynn's In" (about a boston detective/government agent). You may not be able to order them but you can be sure to find them in a used book store, and they are definitely more worth while than the Skylar books.

More of the Same.......2000-09-13

I just finished "Skylar in Yankeeland" and wasn't overly impressed. Certainly, it was better than "Skylar", but that's like saying Cheez in a Can is better than those Cracker Barrel fake cheddar sticks. Neither one really takes the blue ribbon, but at least you can squeeze Cheez in a Can directly into your mouth, without having to waste time cutting it.

In "Skylar", yankee cousin Jonathan Whitfield is a fish out of water when he comes south for a visit. In this installment, MacDonald turns the tables and has good ol' boy Skylar venture north to visit the very rich Whitfields, where he is, yes, a fish out of water. The family jewels are heisted, a young lady is murdered and general hilarity ensues. Or doesn't.

As a reader, I never like easy jokes. I figure the reason I'm paying to read an author's book is because he or she is much cleverer than I and will say things that I haven't already thought or write things that aren't cliches and because of this, I am increasingly saddened by Gregory MacDonald's descent into mediocrity. None of the characters here are much better than stereotypes and the situations they encounter are downright unlikely. Add to that the fact that one of the characters, a Boston blue blood since before the revolution, makes a personality change likely to cause a whiplash in anyone paying even the most casual attention and you have a book that is unlikely to win MacDonald any new fans.

Delightful. The is the best McDonald has done in a decade........1999-09-28

This was an extremely fun read. As a longtime fan of McDonalds work, I must confess that his Son of Fletch work of the last few years hasn't grabbed me. Skylar, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air (sorry for the cliche). McDonald has found new energy in Skylar. I hope we see more of him.

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