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Title: Carioca Fletch
ISBN: 0375713476
Author:
Gregory Mcdonald
Publicate Date: 2002-10-08
Publish: 2002-10-08
List Price: $12.00
Average Customer Rating: 3.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $5.98
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $2.99
Amazon Merchant Price: $9.60
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Not terrible....
After reading all of the negative reviews of Carioca Fletch, I was skeptical that the book would be able to keep my interest. I've just now finished reading the book and, while this is not the most captivating Fletch story in the series, I certainly didn't find it to be as bad as described by others.
In my opinion, it was a nice change of pace from the other Fletch books. There is not a lot of suspense or mystery, however I appreciated the fact that Fletch seemed to be in awe of Brazil. Also, his interactions with the Tap Dancers were pretty comical.
My biggest gripe is that Mcdonald didn't write a mystery about Fletch in Italy. I know it is touched on in other books, but I was hoping there would have been a story about Fletch moving to Italy (vs a whole book about Fletch in Brazil).
Either way, Carioca Fletch is still a good read if you are a fan of the series...it just doesn't compare to the others in terms of suspense and mystery (which is unfortunate as that is pretty much the genre Mcdonald was writing).
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2: 90% filler, 9% story and 1% mystery
The weakest Fletch book by far, by FAR. Carioca Fletch has our beloved investigative reporter on extended holiday in Brazil after swiping a sizable sum of Alan Stanwyck's fortune (this bit didn't happen in the movie). While there he learns that he may be the reincarnation of a man who was murdered 47 years ago and is more or less mesmerized into solving that case, whether he wants to or not.
Gregory MacDonald obviously started writing this book with no clear goal, story or resolution in mind. He rambles on and on and on about nothing of importance and gooses up the pages with endless filler material. So many untranslated Portuguese words and long, long random character names come and go, it's hard to keep up. The tepid story clearly is not novel length, even a pulpy novel such as this. All it is really good for is finding out what happens to the characters of the original Fletch book (the books were written and published out of chronological story order) immediately afterwards.
The Fletch series and character are great and have, so far, been well above average in terms of pulp fiction. But this is a major low point. For hardcore fans and completists only. Three stars is very generous indeed.
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3: Never believe everything you read
Like one other reviewer, I have to say this is an excellent Fletch book -- one of the best, in my opinion. Here Fletch takes on a whole new dimension in a foreign land, and personally I find the situation where he is mistaken for being a reincarnation of a Brazilian hilarious. This is also, as another reviewer mentioned, the closest we will come to having a supernatural Fletch story.
I just discovered Fletch a couple of weeks ago and now have read almost all the Fletch books, Flynn books, and am working on the two Skylar books.
Great author -- and almost all his books are consistently entertaining, and sometimes sublime.
My highest recommendation: Flynn's World.
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4: I loved it, but I guess I'm the only one
It is definitly more about Brazil than the story line, but Brazil is the story here. If I'm not mistaken, McDonald was a journalist at some point, and he's gotten at a travel story from a different angle here. It's a very Fletch adventure, just as Fletch's Fortune was with the old south. This time Brazil is a charicter. If you've read the rest, then, like me, you were probably jonsing for another adventure. It delivers.
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5: Not Good
This is my first Fletch book, and it might be my last. I'm only half way through it, but I'm not even sure I'll finish it. Essentially, the problem boils down to there not being any Fletch in the book. Though he's physically present, he doesn't seem to do, say, or think anything. Most of the book consists of McDonald going on and on and on about Brazil and the Brazilians. Fletch just sits in the middle of it and observses their zany, wackiness (as if anyone cares). Theoretically, there's a murder mystery here, but no one, especially not Fletch, does anything to investigate. Looking at the other reviews here, it appears it's not just me who thinks this. So, I'd say don't bother reading this.
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