Flynn's in [Hardcover]

Gregory Mcdonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 1985

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.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Shameless establishment bashing . . . appealingly fresh and impudent." --Time

“Gregory Mcdonald's a suspenseful writer who knows how to set a scene, develop a character, and draw out a mysterious situation.” –West Coast Review of Books

“Splendid entertainment . . . Mcdonald is one of the cleverest writers around.” –United Press International
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

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. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Littlehampton Book Services Ltd (February 21, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575035757
• ISBN-13: 978-0575035751
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,142,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Flynn's 2nd, August 8, 2000

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flynn's in (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars more like 3-1/2 stars -- slightly above average, but still quite a few problems, November 29, 2010

By 

Matthew Farrell (Tempe, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flynn's In (Paperback)

If you know the Fletch/Flynn series, you know what to expect: a fast-paced murder mystery with some sizzlingly sarcastic dialogue. In this case, Flynn is called in to investigate a murder at a lodge that hosts some of the nation's elite, who want the mystery solved on their terms... terms which don't jibe with Flynn's system.

On the plus side, it's a quick read, entertaining, amusing, and has a couple crossover continuity gags with the Fletch series.

My problems with it: several plot holes (granted, they are loosely addressed, but not satisfactorily), there aren't enough clues available for me (as a reader) to solve the mystery as I go along (though others may disagree) and McDonnald's prose dives headlong into a personal pet peeve of mine: heavy-handed use of passive voice. That last is just a personal preference (passive voice annoys me) and other readers probably won't notice it unless they're trained to look for it.

Worth reading for completionist's sake, but if you're new to the Flynn milieu, start elsewhere, or at least keep your expectaions in check.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Gregory McDonald at his best, December 29, 2009

By 

S. Hammel (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Flynn's In (Paperback)

I was a big fan of McDonald's FLETCH series in the late 70's and early '80's and then the later FLYNN spin-off's, buying each as the came out in paperback. But somehow this title escaped my attention until recently.

To begin with the positive, FLYNN'S IN is filled with McDonald's trademark bantering dialogue and light tone.
And this mystery, which involves murders at a secluded lodge peopled by the uber-wealthy and who pull the strings of power in our country seems even more timely now than when this book was published back in '84.

But as a mystery this book is a rather frustrating read. McDonald's story is riddled with plot holes, contradictions and implausibilities. His cast of suspects are sloppily introduced and have wafer-thin characterizations so they remain a confusing blur. As a reader, I ended up having little involvement in the murder mystery's outcome since it was so hard keeping track of the characters.

This isn't a bad book for readers who want a fix of a McDonald book they may have also missed, but it's not the best introduction to a reader wanting to experience McDonald at his best.