- Paperback: 265 pages
- Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (February 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0786236922
- ISBN-13: 978-0786236923
- Product Dimensions: 20.7 x 15 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 358 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,346,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
A mystery series featuring Groucho Marx may seem farfetched, but Goulart makes the unlikely premise work. This time Groucho and his crime-solving partner, Frank Denby, journey from their Hollywood homes to New York City, where Groucho is set to perform in The Mikado at the World's Fair. On board the Super Chief train, Groucho and Frank run into many Hollywood types, including producer Daniel Manheim with his latest discovery, Dian Bowers. When Groucho scares an intruder out of Manheim's room, foul play is obvious, but can he and Frank figure out who wanted to harm the producer, and why? Once in New York, events take a nasty turn as a real body appears in place of a dummy on a Broadway stage. Between wisecracks and endless renditions of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady," Groucho tries to find the killer. Goulart captures Groucho's manic humor perfectly and, remarkably, makes us believe in him as a sleuth. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
In Ron Goulart's well received series featuring comedian-cum-amateur sleuth Groucho Marx, Groucho and his writer Frank Denby have made a name for themselves as detectives. In fact, in their last case, they were able to outsmart Sherlock Holmes, or at least the actor playing him. However, both men play down their sleuthing abilities and to escape their new reputation, Groucho agrees to perform in a Broadway play and Frank accompanies his wife on a business trip. When Groucho learns that Frank and Jane are going to New York via train he decides to join them, figuring it will be a nice relaxing journey.
However, murder and mayhem somehow follow them across the country. First, before even leaving for New York they are approached by a local mobster who firmly believes that the recent murder of his associate was not a mob hit. He asks them to look into the matter and Groucho suggests that he try "Philip Marlowe, Dan Turner or some other Hollywood shamus" even though "they don't have our track record...or a strawberry birthmark right here." From there, things only get more interesting. On the train they meet Dian Bowers, the newest star of Daniel Manheim, a domineering Hollywood producer. A series of bizarre events unfolds on the train, including an attempt on Manheim's life. When they arrive in New York, Groucho agrees to escort Dian to the premiere of her estranged husband's play, but the play never makes it into the second act because a body is discovered on stage. When Dian's husband becomes the prime suspect, Groucho and Frank once again find themselves playing detective.
Searching for clues in the Big Apple and trying to see if the second murder is at all connected to the death of the mobster, Groucho and Frank have their hands full. However, the pressure doesn't get to Groucho and as he hunts for clues he still has time for all of his silly gags and terrible puns. Whether or not you are a Groucho fan, "this enjoyable little tale will charm the baggy pants off you."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
However, murder and mayhem somehow follow them across the country. First, before even leaving for New York they are approached by a local mobster who firmly believes that the recent murder of his associate was not a mob hit. He asks them to look into the matter and Groucho suggests that he try "Philip Marlowe, Dan Turner or some other Hollywood shamus" even though "they don't have our track record...or a strawberry birthmark right here." From there, things only get more interesting. On the train they meet Dian Bowers, the newest star of Daniel Manheim, a domineering Hollywood producer. A series of bizarre events unfolds on the train, including an attempt on Manheim's life. When they arrive in New York, Groucho agrees to escort Dian to the premiere of her estranged husband's play, but the play never makes it into the second act because a body is discovered on stage. When Dian's husband becomes the prime suspect, Groucho and Frank once again find themselves playing detective.
Searching for clues in the Big Apple and trying to see if the second murder is at all connected to the death of the mobster, Groucho and Frank have their hands full. However, the pressure doesn't get to Groucho and as he hunts for clues he still has time for all of his silly gags and terrible puns. Whether or not you are a Groucho fan, "this enjoyable little tale will charm the baggy pants off you."
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quik witted ,fleet footed and thinly plotted,
By F. J. Harvey "Cricket ,country music and a go... (Birmingham England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Groucho Marx and the Broadway Murders: A Mystery Featuring Groucho Marx (Hardcover)
This is one that will appeal to Groucho-philes rather than hard core mystery mavens as the actual mystery is not so much thin as anorexic but the good nature and sparkling pace of the writing , complete with authentic sounding Grouch-isms ,will keep most readers turning the page with a smile on their faceThe title initially seems misleading as the book is well over half finished before the noted comedian and amateur sleuth actually gets to the Great White Way.The novel opens in Hollywood whwre Groucho and his writer sidekick Frank Denby resist the blandishments of a local mobster to find out who killed another gangland figure the womanising Nick Sanantonio but they soon find themselves involved in a mystery to which the latr mobster holds the key. They are on a cross country train trip to New York , Groucho to star as The Lord High Executioner in a aproduction of The Mikado ,and Denby accompanying his wife to negotiate for her popular strip cartoon to be made into a readio show .Also on board is a caddish movie producer Mnnheim ,his newest discovery Dian Bowers who is about to open in his new picture (Saint Joan) an up and coming British actress and a young dancer ,Len Cowan whose sister killed herself having been deceived by Mannheim .An attempt is made on Mnnheim's life while on borad the train but he does not get to meet his maker until after he arrives in New York where he is murdered at the opening night of a play which just happens to star Dian' estranged husband ,another man with a reason to hate the late mogul Naturally ,this being a mystery in which the obvious suspect is never the one to go for ,he is innocent and the Groucho-Denby team unmask the real killer The solution is predictable and unsubtle but mystery is not really the name of the game here as the emphasis is on quick wit ,humour and verbal dexterity . There are running gags abut the awfulness of the latest Marx Brothers movie ( At The Circus ) and at Groucho.s propensity top burst into song at every opportunity and the sheer good nature of the writing and verve of dialogue adequately compensate for plot shortcomings Recommended for Marxists of the Groucho -as distinct from Karl-persuasion -and thos ewho enjoy the lighter type of crime novel
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ron Goulart is channeling Grouch Marx again...,
By Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME)
This review is from: Groucho Marx and the Broadway Murders: A Mystery Featuring Groucho Marx (Hardcover)
Actually, there is only one murder on Broadway in "Groucho Marx and the Broadway Murders," the fourth mystery novel by Ron Goulart featuring Julius Marx, better known as Groucho. The time is 1939, at which point Groucho no longer looked like the caricature that graces the cover of this novel, and once again Groucho and his writer Frank Denby becoming involved in what proves to be a string of murders. In between the first murder in Hollywood and several in Manhattan, there is a cross-country train ride as Frank accompanies his lovely and talented cartoonist wife, Jane, to New York. Groucho comes along for the ride and the fun begins. As a murder mystery there is really nothing hereof substance; I pretty much figured out whodunit early on, but in the end that does not matter because these novels are about style rather than substance. The chief joy in reading Goulart's mysteries is that Groucho Marx runs around cracking wise. Yes, we have seen most of this before: Groucho is still complaining about the latest Marx Brothers film being a disaster (this time around it is "At the Circus"), nobody wants to hear him sing ("Lydia the Tattooed Lady" and songs from "The Mikado"), and people keep making the mistake of asking Groucho for his autograph so he can have big time fun with them (my personal favorite). Jane is the only one Groucho is nice to and that is because she is the smartest one in the book (I sure would like to read that "Hollywood Molly" script). There seem to be less famous names from the past running around this time around although it is nice to see Conrad Nagel finally catch a break. "Groucho Marx and the Broadway Murders" is a fun read with the mystery elements just an excuse for Groucho to run circles around all sorts of people and I think Goulart's channeling of Groucho is an above average effort this time around. What can I say? Obviously I am a devout Marxist.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The premise works and works well,
By
This review is from: Groucho Marx and the Broadway Murders: A Mystery Featuring Groucho Marx (Hardcover)
In 1939 his film career may be tanking (wait till the debut of At the Circus), but Groucho Marx and his friend, writer Frank Denby, have solved murder mysteries. Because of his reputation as an amateur sleuth extraodinaire, Mobster Vince Salermo wants Groucho and Frank to investigate the gangland-like murder of Nick Santantorio. Groucho and Frank politely say no because they are both heading to Manhattan for different reasons. Frank accompanies his wife, June Danner, the cartoonist of the popular Hollywood Molly strip, to discuss a possible radio rendition of her cartoon. Groucho heads to Broadway to perform in the Mikado.Also on the train heading east is movie mogul Daniel Markham and his new star Dian Bowers, performing in Saint Joan. Someone tries to kill Markham and only the fortunate insomnia of Groucho saves his life. However, Markham tells Groucho and Frank to mind their business, which the two nonprofessional detectives agree to do. However, at the debut of a Broadway play starring Dian's estranged husband, someone kills Markham. The police lean towards Dian's spouse and only Frank and Groucho, with a little help from Jane, try to prove otherwise. GROUCHO MARX AND THE BROADWAY MURDERS is a humorous and irritating historical mystery. The story line is engaging, but the non-stop wisecracking from Groucho and imitated by Frank can become an irritant. Still, readers get a feel for the era on both Broadway and Hollywood while observing an entertaining who-done-it. Harriet Klausner
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