Books › Fletch
Fletch
First published 1976 · 380 pages
A sun-drenched, dialogue-heavy romp through 1970s California, fueled by sharp banter and a delightfully irreverent anti-hero.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like eavesdropping on the smartest, most cynical guy in the room as he talks his way out of impossible situations. The experience is incredibly brisk, driven almost entirely by razor-sharp, deadpan dialogue rather than heavy exposition. It immerses you in a sun-drenched, slightly seedy 1970s California, balancing the grit of a beachside drug culture with the polished veneer of high society. The mood is breezy yet suspenseful, anchored by an irreverent protagonist who treats a murder proposition with the same casual annoyance as a nagging editor or a looming alimony payment. It will thoroughly delight readers who love their mysteries fast, funny, and stripped of all pretension, offering a masterclass in the art of the wisecrack.
- Mood
- sun-drenched
- breezy
- laid-back
- suspenseful
- Tone
- wry
- irreverent
- cynical
- deadpan
- sardonic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- anti-establishment rebellion · the facade of wealth · dodging responsibility · uncovering hidden truths
- The writing
- Lean, punchy, and heavily reliant on rapid-fire, razor-sharp dialogue rather than dense exposition.
- The arc
- Moves from detached, cynical curiosity to a satisfyingly clever triumph as the protagonist outsmarts everyone in his path.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love fast-paced, wisecracking mysteries featuring charmingly flawed anti-heroes who refuse to take anything seriously.
Content notes
- drug addiction
- mild violence
- dated 1970s social attitudes
About the book
FletchHe's an investigative reporter whose methods are a little unorthodox. Currently he's living on the beach with the strung-out trying to find to the source of the drugs they live for. FletchHe's taking more than a little flack from his editor. She doesn't appreciate his style. Or the expense account items he's racking up. Or his definition of the word deadline. Or the divorce lawyers who keep showing up at the office.FletchSo when multimillionaire Alan Stanwyk offers Fletch the job of a lifetime, which could be worth a fortune, he's intrigued and decides to do a little investigation. What he discovers is that the proposition is anything but what it seems.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Description from Open Library.
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