Groucho Marx, Master Detective: A Mystery

This is one of those books that you wish had been written back when Groucho could have played the lead himself or that some enterprising person working for Mystery (on PBS) would turn into one of their series as a change of pace from their more serious fare.

A clever idea--a ham actor and consummate comedian as the detective! Ron Goulart's amusing (what would you expect with a Marx brother?) fictional accounting of a zany murder chase is not so farsical as it seems. Actually, the author, wisecracks aside, has a good case here--and this is the beginning of a series,too! A young actress (could Groucho be involved with any other!) is dead; the police are calling it a suicide; but Groucho is uneasy about all this. Somehow, the lines aren't straight and the cues are out of sync! Before the curtain falls, however, our Groucho has brought the house down in this SRO episode. Bravo, Groucho (and Goulart). A good read! ([email protected])

What I enjoyed most about GROUCHO MARX, MASTER DETECTIVE is that the author, Ron Goulart, knew how to blend the public "Groucho" with what he was probably like in his private life; it all came together very well. I felt as though I was actually in 1930's Hollywood. I am very much looking forward to the next installment.

Ron Goulart has managed to capture the spirit of Groucho Marx in wit and dialogue. Although that alone gives this book a life of its own, the plot and character development is masterfully delivered and a joy to read. I can imagine no other than Groucho himself uttering every line. A must for Marx fans and a good mystery for fans of the genre.

I loved this book and hope to eventually see more Groucho Marx/Master Detective stories. From page one you find yourself swept up in the story and characters and wish the book lasted even longer. Especially fun for fans of Groucho Marx and the Golden Age of Hollywood. Highly recommended!