Customer Reviews

Fletch and the Widow Bradley

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, allow me to respond to the other reviews.

There are multiple mysteries/plots going on at once in this book, like many of the other early Fletch books. Sure, you may have one of the mysteries figured out (and, in fact, the nuance of the text indicates that Fletch figured it out before the readers did).

But the entire book is full of twists & turns, and that great Fletch wit and dialog. In this respect, this is one of the best Fletch books.

Also, the reader that complained about the ending must be a conservative type - you've got to be a progressive person to appreciate this book.

With that said, I strongly suggest the other *early* Fletch books, and I strongly suggest staying away from the more recent Gregory McDonald books.

Something must have happened in the author's life when he retired Fletch & started writing the Flynn & Skylar mysteries - maybe just conservatism as he was aging, who knows. But they hint at mysogyny, racism, & homophobia. The author unapologetically writes a comedic scene about Skylar's attempt to rape a woman.

I also strongly suggest staying away from the non-mysteries by McDonald - A World Too Wide & Exits and Entrances were both terribly slow & boring. And Safekeeping was a frustratingly slow novel that never really went anywhere.

The first two Flynn books (Flynn & Flynn's Inn) are probably the best - I was really looking forward to more books about this compelling character. But Buck Passes Flynn gets a little thin - a conspiracy theory book reminiscent of about a dozen movies on the same subject. And by the time he writes Flynn's World, it's downright awful. The novel lacks any of the playful dialog & wit of the first Flynn books and the Fletch books - instead, it's mostly political commentary on those darned liberals, the ACLU, and those crazy liberal colleges. It just reads like a long rant by Rush Limbaugh.

I guess it's time to say goodbye to the Flynn & Fletch that many mystery readers have grown to love. But in case you missed any of the early ones, the best books are: Fletch, Fletch Won, Fletch, Too, Confess, Fletch, Fletch's Fortune, Carioca Fletch, Fletch and the Man Who, Fletch's Moxie, and of course, the Widow Bradley. My favorite might be Confess Fletch - the first and best Flynn/Fletch novel.

In story time FLETCH AND THE WIDOW BRADLEY by Gregory Mcdonald comes before the first story FLETCH for which Mcdonald won an Edgar, but it was written later in the series which makes chronology confusing.
Fletch writes a story and is fired because the widow of the person he quote in the story says her husband has been dead for two years. Fletch doesn't have the evidence to prove his case, but his reporter's soul will not rest until he discovers all the facts.
Sharp dialogue, wit, and fast pace will keep you turning the pages.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Ok, so far the book is good, (I'm not done yet but...) I just finished reading Fletch Won and Fletch Too, as I like to read in chronological order of the character/story events. In Fletch Won and Fletch Too, Irwin is engaged and subsequently married to Barbara. So I'm confused as to who this Linda he is divorced and not paying alimony too in Fletch and the Widow Bradley. I know this isn't really a review as much as it is my curiosity getting the better of me. Anyone know the answer? As for Fletch and the Widow Bradley, the diolague is great and the story is pretty fast-paced. There is definately enough going on to keep the reader interested.

This is one of my top favorite 3 Fletch books. The magical thing about that is that's my opinion (before anyone else that's read this decides I must be crazy and disagrees). If you were able to see the twist in the first 1/3 of the book kudos to you. I will admit that later on in the book when a 'mysterious character' starts coming into the picture I started to really pick up something, but that didn't stop the interesting story unfold.

I'd say Gregory Mcdonald was on top of his game with this one and would suggest it if you've only read the original 'Fletch' book (The 4th in the 'series') and like the style and want more. If you've watched... say... The movie the "Usual Suspects" and immediately figured out what was going to happen in the first 30 minutes.... You're a ridiculously clever person and you probably won't find much entertainment in the Fletch books.

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.

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.