Gregory Mcdonald, RIP

[GA Russell]

Gregory Mcdonald was the author of the Fletch books. I read the first one, just called Fletch, about 2000 and really enjoyed it. But when I went to look for more, I found that they were all out of print. About a year ago, I saw at an airport book store one of the later Fletch books in quality paperback, so one of these days I'll try the next book in the series, which I think was called Fletch, Too.

Here's part of his LA Times obit:

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-...30.story?page=1

September 12, 2008

<h2 style="">Gregory Mcdonald</h2>Author of 'Fletch' mystery books

Gregory Mcdonald, 71, a former Boston Globe reporter whose best-selling "Fletch" mystery books also were made into films, died of cancer Sunday at his farm in Pulaski, Tenn., according to his manager, David List.

"Fletch," published in 1974, was the first in a series of books about an investigative reporter named Irwin M. Fletcher. Actor Chevy Chase portrayed the lead character in the 1985 movie "Fletch" and the 1989 sequel "Fletch Lives."

Mcdonald twice won the Edgar Allan Poe Award presented by the Mystery Writers of America and published 26 books, including "Flynn," "Running Scared" and "The Brave."

Born Feb. 15, 1937, in Shrewsbury, Mass., Mcdonald graduated from Harvard University in 1958.

[medjuck]

Sorry to hear that. I read all of the Fletch novels and a couple of others by him too. Very clever. I never understood why they didn't ask him to write the screenplays. The books are much better than the movies.

[catesta]

Shit, I didn't even know there were actual "Fletch" books.

Teenager: Are you a cop?

Fletch: As far as you know.

Teenager: Are you gonna take me to jail for car theft?

Fletch: Why? Did you steal the car?

Teenager: I sure did.

Fletch: Well, I'm not even sure that's a crime anymore. There've been a lot of changes in the law.

Edited September 12, 2008 by catesta

[tkeith]

Use book stores, my friend. I'm only missing two in the series at this point, and also discovered FLYNN and SKYLER. I didn't realize he had been the author of the books when I "discovered" him. I was looking for books by John D. McDonald (Travis McGhee series) and Ross McDonald (Lew Archer series that became the HARPER movies, starring Paul Newman), and happened upon the Fletch books. Loved the movie, the books may even be better (tough to be better than the first Fletch movie, though).

[BruceH]

Gregory Mcdonald was the author of the Fletch books. I read the first one, just called Fletch, about 2000 and really enjoyed it. But when I went to look for more, I found that they were all out of print. About a year ago, I saw at an airport book store one of the later Fletch books in quality paperback, so one of these days I'll try the next book in the series, which I think was called Fletch, Too.

Here's part of his LA Times obit:

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-...30.story?page=1

September 12, 2008

<h2 style="">Gregory Mcdonald</h2>Author of 'Fletch' mystery books

Gregory Mcdonald, 71, a former Boston Globe reporter whose best-selling "Fletch" mystery books also were made into films, died of cancer Sunday at his farm in Pulaski, Tenn., according to his manager, David List.

"Fletch," published in 1974, was the first in a series of books about an investigative reporter named Irwin M. Fletcher. Actor Chevy Chase portrayed the lead character in the 1985 movie "Fletch" and the 1989 sequel "Fletch Lives."

Mcdonald twice won the Edgar Allan Poe Award presented by the Mystery Writers of America and published 26 books, including "Flynn," "Running Scared" and "The Brave."

Born Feb. 15, 1937, in Shrewsbury, Mass., Mcdonald graduated from Harvard University in 1958.

Didn't know he was a Massachusetts man!

Russell, you could probably get all the other Fletch books used online. Try "Abebooks.com".

[medjuck]

He did a rather clever thing: putting Fletch's adventures in chronological order after he began the series so that the ones that took place earliest were published 4th or 5th and called: Fletch Won and Fletch Too.

[GA Russell]

Russell, you could probably get all the other Fletch books used online. Try "Abebooks.com".

Thanks for the tip, Bruce!

He did a rather clever thing: putting Fletch's adventures in chronological order after he began the series so that the ones that took place earliest were published 4th or 5th and called: Fletch Won and Fletch Too.

I'm glad you said that, medjuck. I would like to read them in the order that they were written/published. Any idea where I might find such a chronological list?

[medjuck]

I think they go Fletch, Confess Fletch, Fletch's Fortune,Fletch's Moxie, Fletch and the Widow Bradley, Fletch and the Man Who, Carioca Fletch, Fletch Won, Fletch Too and Son of Fletch. Even the early ones are out of chronology which was confusing. Fletch and the Widow Bradley takes place before Fletch. Carioca Fetch takes place immediately after Fletch.

IIRC the charcter Flynn is introduced in Confess Fletch and then went on to have his own series.

Edited September 13, 2008 by medjuck

[GA Russell]

Thanks medjuck!