Fletch

I first stumbled on this book in the library many moons ago, when I had polished off all the Alistair McLean books and was perusing the nearby stacks for something else I might like. At the time I read all of McDonald's books, thoroughly enjoying them (I then moved on to John D. MacDonald, whose Travis McGee books are in a similar vein). I recommend the movie to friends as an adaptation of a book where they've captured the spirit of the story and updated it to modern times. Yes, it's lighter, the gritty reality of the plot surfaces only occasionally, but it translated to screenplay much better than I expected it to. For readers who enjoy mysteries or detective stories or just well-written novels, Gregory McDonald should be on your list.

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.

"Fletch" the novel is much darker than the Chevy Chase movie it subsequently became. Yes, the title character is working undercover on the beaches of L.A. when a millionaire asks him to kill him. But the story goes in a much different (and more believable) direction. The book also has far more tension than the movie as well as a much grittier edge. Recommended especially for fans of private detective fiction.

Even if you didn't like the movie (for the record, it's my favorite of all time), you still will enjoy the book. I read the book with curiosity as to how closely the movie followed it, but even Fletch Newbies will be thoroughly engaged by this mystery. Irwin M. Fletcher, reporter, has been working on a story to uncover the source of drugs on The Beach, when he is suddenly propositioned by a well-to-do businessman, who asks Fletch to kill him! What does Fletch do? What he always does, and that is to take matters into his own hands and try to find out why, while also trying to meet his deadline on The Beach story. This is a true first class mystery!