I'm quite certain I read one or more Fletch books, probably in the mid-1980's when the Chevy Chase films were coming out and I was managing a book store, but I don't remember much about the books, so I was quite interested in looking at this, Confess, Fletch, being reissued to coincide with the new film.

I. M. "Fletch" Fletcher is back in the United States (from Italy), Boston specifically, and staying in an upscale townhouse that he's renting. The rental comes complete with all the usual amenities plus a few frills - including the naked, dead body of a young woman in the living room.

Inspector Flynn, investigating the murder, has Fletch as his prime suspect and he makes no bones about it, constantly encouraging Fletch to make it easy on all of them and just confess. Fletch is exactly uncooperative, but he's steady and steadfast in maintaining his innocence. Flynn is equally resolute in believing Fletch is guilty, but he feels there just enough lack of evidence to make the arrest.

While Fletch works to prove his innocence (by finding the actual killer) he's also hard at work trying to track down some stolen artwork and using some less-than-legal means to do so. Having a police tail complicates things, but Fletch is always cool under pressure.

This feels like a nice cross between the classic pulp detective novels (and I mean that in the best of ways) and the more 'modern' mystery fiction. Of course Fletch is not an actual detective, and the true detective here is the foil (however, a trustworthy one), and our protagonist operates on the border of the law.

This is most definitely a character-driven book (the entire series features Fletch's name in the title) and we have here a very interesting character in Fletch. As a journalist, he's got some investigating chops, and as a former Marine he can handle himself in some tricky situations. He's calm and cool and often quite aloof which is a big part of his charm. It's hard to imagine Chevy Chase playing him (back in the 1980's) but I'm really curious to see the film version of this particular book with Jon Hamm in the title role.

It's really nice to have new films if for no other reason that to see book reissues of a series that deserves to find new readership.

Looking for a good book? Confess, Fletch, by Gregory McDonald, might best be described as a 'modern pulp' mystery and is worthy of your reading time.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Was a fun read decades ago and continues to be. Fletch is free-wheeling, smart, sassy and every so much right!
Can't wait to see the movie. don't miss out on this great read.

Former investigative reporter Irwin Fletcher finds himself investigating a murder in which he himself is the prime suspect.

This is a re-release of an early entry in Gregory McDonald's popular Fletcher series, issued to coincide with the release of the Job Hamm-starring adaptation of the book. I was familiar with the Chevy Chase films, but I'd never taken the opportunity to read any of the source material.

The literary Irwin M. Fletcher is more subtle than the Chevy Chase interpretation, but he's still fast-thinking, fast-talking, and possessing of a keen intellect. The style of writing is perfect for such a character as most of the book is told through dialogue as Fletch matches wits and verbally jousts with a rich cast of unique characters.

While not a regular reader of the genre, I do enjoy a good mystery, with the best providing enough clues that the reader could put it all together, while at the same time creating enough misdirection to keep the reader from doing so for as long as possible. MacDonald achieves this masterfully, surrounding Fletcher with characters who the reader is never quite sure are more than they seem.

Several decades after its original release, the book doesn't show it's age much, so it reads just as well as any modern mystery I've encountered. It's a light, quick read which stands the test of time.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an e-book version in exchange for an honest review.

Gregory Mcdonald's CONFESS, FLETCH, originally published in 1976 and re-released in coordination with the 2022 movie adaptation, is a reminder of Mcdonald's skill as an author. The characters are rich and nuanced, the dialogue sparkles, and the plot moves quickly along. While it's not a mystery the reader (or Fletch) could solve without guessing, it's still a great story, with several good twists at the end.

Confess Fletch, the second novel to be released in the series is out with a tie in cover for the latest film. Those who enjoy the latter will, no doubt, also find satisfaction in this follow up to the first book “Fletch.”

The protagonist whose name is in the title no longer works for a Chicago newspaper and instead is living a higher life, having come into some money.

While supposedly working on a biography of an artist Fletch arrives into Boston from Italy, only to find a body in his rented apartment. After calling the police, the wonderfully enjoyable Inspector Flynn, another seminal character by author Gregory McDonald, and not featured in the film version, arrived on scene and throughout the novel encourages Fletch to confess.

While investigating the mystery at hand, the reader learns a host of other mysteries connected to Fletch through his many relationships. This book, like the best ones in the series keeps the reader guessing, laughing, and engaged.

It matters not if you have read any other books in the series, and Confess, Fletch is a delightful and satisfying read.

The book opens with Fletcher entering his home swap (a pre-VRBO option to rent out your home) and finding a beautiful, naked and dead woman. He calls the police, but since the. emergency is over, he uses the business line rather than using the emergency 911.

When ordering this I did not realize that it was a book I originally read back when it was first published in the 70s. In fact, I found I still had the paperback in my bookshelf. The opening has stuck in my mind for close to 50 years. I was curious to see if the rest of the book held up.

The snappy dialog of the first Fletch book was back, but not quite as funny. as in the first of the series. A few things made me smile (remembering when overseas calls were a big deal) and some cringe (household staff were called “servants”).

Some characters like Flynn, I remembered and liked from future books. Others, like Fletch’s fiancée and her steep-mother, were nothing more than caricatures and not as amusing as I might have found them in my original reading.

Plot-wise, it was just OK. I am kind of surprised that they are making a movie out of this.

I might have given it 5 stars in 1976, but now my tastes have changed and I reluctantly would give it 3. So I am averaging them out to 4. But there are better books in the series, including the original Fletch.

This is one of the wittiest book of a mystery I remember reading. A fast read but so entertaining while keeping you on your toes when Fletch and Flynn face each other. It is as twisting as the streets of Boston, the setting of this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of this book; I voluntarily leave my review.