Books: Groucho Marx, Secret Agent By Ron Goulart (2002)

 

"It’s October 1939 and everyone expects the U.S. to join the war raging in Europe. And everyone is looking under the bed for spies. Attending a Hollywood Halloween Party, Groucho and Frank Denby notice that British director Eric Olmstead is being harassed by someone dressed as the Grim Reaper. But before anyone can intervene, the coustimed ghoul is gone and the very next day, Olmstead he is found dead -presumably by his own hand. Soon the questions surrounding the death of Eric Olmstead takes on an odor of espionage. The police continue calling Olmstead's death a suicide, as he did leave a (typed) note. His widow refuses to believe that her husband shot himself, and persuades Groucho and Frank to look further. Soon the pair is enmeshed in FBI agents and Los Angeles police, while the grieving widow clamors for revenge. Here is where Groucho proves his genius as a detective--he seizes on the clue that reveals the death to be murder. This, however, is only the beginning. There is another murder. Groucho and Frank are attacked; Frank is shot at (but not hit); Groucho is hit (but not shot at; just knocked to the floor by the fleeing assailant). They not only survive, but they pinpoint the Nazi spy and the Hollywood figures working with them." 

While not the as funny as the earlier books in the series, the fifth book does offer a few murders, some Nazi spies, and occasional dire peril for both Groucho and his pal Frank. What works more is Goulart‘s uncanny ability (as I mentioned before) to capture voice of the legendary comedian, making him a very complex character, with an unwavering eye about the world around him. But you can’t get away from the idea that Goulart is also offering a bit of glimpse into Marx’s dark, and sometimes sad,personal life. This sort of explains Groucho’s feelings about his film work, his brother’s personal lives, and why he sort of gets involved in these whodunits. He is seemly an unhappy person and I sense these little escapades are a distraction from his troubled relationships with his wife, with Chico, Harpo, Zeppo, and his own son. These little off ramps don’t distract from the narrative, but does give a little glimpse into the Marx Brothers later life.

Books: Fletch's Moxie By Gregory McDonald (1981)

Ms. Moxie Mooney is Hollywood royalty -- and she's in trouble. At the summons of his on-again, off-again lover, Fletch drops in on Moxie's film set, located in sunny Florida. If being called up for help by the box office beauty isn't work enough, Steve Peterman, Moxie's sleazy manager, is murdered while the cameras are rolling, and no one managed to see a thing. Despite the obvious lack of evidence, the rumor mill is still quick to churn up a potentially plausible suspect: Moxie. Realizing the need for a little R&R away from prying eyes, he hastily flies Moxie and her drunken father off to Key West. But trouble follows Fletch, in every sense of the word, and soon enough he's playing host to a full house of Hollywood's brightest. In true Fletch style, he delves into the investigation, dodging police inquiry, betting on race horses, taking a leisurely sail, and talking up his elite houseguests to get the dirt and solve this perplexing murder.

Not much goes on in the eighth Fletch book (chronologically, but the fifth published) beyond the murder in the beginning and the surprise meaty part towards the end. A lot of the middle parts seem to be random musings on Hollywood, the press, commentary on how “actors are only one with oneself while one is being someone else” and the set up of how many people hated and had reasons to murder Steve Peterman. Then there is the real introduction of actress and love interest of Fletch, Moxie (who had a cameo appearance in the prequel novel Fletch and the Widow Bradley), who is an interesting and complex character, written as three dimensional, intelligent women. The book is still a bit light, less humorous, but worth a read.

As with others books in the series, Mcdonald creates strong characters, using wit, sarcasm, and clever themes.