Fletch (novel)

Fletch is a 1974 mystery novel by Gregory Mcdonald, the first in a series featuring the character Irwin Maurice Fletcher.

Plot introduction

In the first novel, Fletch is working as a reporter. Over the course of the series, however, he acquires a moderate fortune and becomes a globetrotter perpetually working on a biography of fictional artist Edgar Arthur Tharp, Jr. He tends to stumble upon mysteries, often to be suspected of crimes by the police, and to win through depending heavily on his wits.

The first Fletch novel (1974) introduces I. M. Fletcher, a journalist staying on a beach watching the drug culture for a story, waiting to find the dealer's source before publishing an exposé.

A millionaire businessman named Alan Stanwyk approaches Fletch to hire Fletch to murder him; the man tells Fletch that he is dying of bone cancer and wants to avoid a slow, painful death. Fletch accepts $1000 in cash to listen to the man's proposition; the man offers him $20,000 for the murder, and Fletch talks him up to $50,000 in an effort to see if the man is serious. He appears to be serious, and Fletch begins investigating the man's story in between investigating the drug story on the beach and avoiding the two attorneys after him for alimony for each of his ex-wives.

Sequels

Because of the popularity of Fletch, many sequels (and prequels) were written involving the character. The following books were written in the Fletch series by Gregory McDonald (in the...
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