Fletch and the Widow Bradley (Paperback)

~ Gregory Mcdonald (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This duo represent the 1981 and 1985 installments, respectively, in the author's ongoing Fletch series, which now includes nine novels. The former finds reporter/ investigator Fletch in trouble with his editor after quoting a business mogul who apparently is dead, but if he has shuffled off his mortal coil, who then is signing his name to rather large checks? In the latter volume, Fletch investigates the very complete services provided to clients at a luxurious spa. The murder of a millionaire he is supposed to interview turns his attentions elsewhere. But are the two connected?
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product 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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Vintage (July 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375713514
• ISBN-13: 978-0375713514
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,716 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 4 in The Fletch Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Fletch books...., August 7, 2007

By	Mad Max (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

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.

4.0 out of 5 stars Anyone else confused...?, May 31, 2008

By	James C. Spence (Yuba City, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Stay away from this one'?? Are you kidding me?, January 23, 2008

By	TJ "Teee Jay" (San Diego) - See all my reviews

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.