Gregory Mcdonald: Fletch and the Widow Bradley (USA 2018)

From the Publisher:
"As in all the Fletch books, the dialogue is bright and snappy and the ending ingenious. Despite the prevailing flippancy, Mr. McDonald demonstrates much insight into character. He knows people, and a few sharp strokes are enough to fix them permanently. He is one of the best writers we have -- to the point and always original." -- New York Times Book Review

Young Fletch is less than pleased to be writing a business story, something that's well outside his field of expertise. Eager to get back out on the streets, he quickly compiles what he thinks is a well-executed article, complete with quotes from the chairman of the board's recent memos. But when he fails to do his due diligence when researching the company and its associates, he finds himself in hot water... and now out of a job. The chairman has been dead for over a year.

Realizing his mistake, he visits the widow Bradley to make amends -- and to ask a few simple questions. But her strange demeanor and puzzling answers leave Fletch perplexed. He can't help but wonder: Why would a dead man still be writing memos to his associates? Is he even dead?

With his interest now thoroughly piqued, fueled by his desire to get the real story and take back his job, Fletch puts his reporting skills to work as he dives into the mystery surrounding the Bradleys' past.

Gregory Mcdonald: Fletch and the Widow Bradley. Blackstone Publishing, ISBN: 9781538541951 (September, 2018), 240 p., $15.99.

Gregory Mcdonald: Fletch and the Widow Bradley (USA 2002)

From the Publisher:
Fletch and the Widow Bradley
When Fletch finds a wallet with $10,000 in cash inside, he doesn't realize it's the last piece of good luck he's going to see for a while. Because when he calls in to the News-Tribune, he discovers a story he's written is causing quite a sensation, and not the good kind. He might just be out of a job permanently.

Fletch and the Widow Bradley
If Tom Bradley, the chairman of Wagnall-Phipps and one of Fletch's principal sources, and not incidentally, the source of his paper's embarrassment, is dead, who's been signing his name to company documents, and why doesn't the company treasurer seem to know? If he's alive, how come his widow, Enid, has Tom's ashes on the mantel?

Fletch and the Widow Bradley
Fletch may have more questions than answers on his hands, but he knows he's a pretty good reporter, and if he's going to get his reputation back, not to mention his job, he's going to have to get to the bottom of more than one mystery.

Gregory Mcdonald: Fletch and the Widow Bradley. Vintage Books, ISBN: 0375713514 (July, 2002), 158 p., $11.00.

Gregory Mcdonald: Fletch and the Widow Bradley (USA 1981)

From the Publisher:
"Fletch, this time you goofed big. You're fired."
"What else is new, Frank? How's the family?"
"In that story of yours we ran Wednesday you have recent quotes from a man who's been dead two years."
"I couldn't have."
"That's what everyone's saying this morning. Very embarrassing for the newspaper."
"Frank, at least give me a chance to check my sources."
"Like who? Saint Peter? You get him on the line, I want to know."

FLETCH HAS GOT SOME TROUBLE!
BODY TROUBLE
with an executive dead in Switzerland. His ashes shipped home prove it. Or do they?
JOB TROUBLE
when Fletch's career is ruined for the mistake no reporter should make.
WOMAN TROUBLE
with a wily widow and her suspect sister-in-law
FROM ALASKA TO MEXICO
FLETCH
THE LAID-BACK MUCKRAKER
COVERS IT ALL!
Fletch and the Widow Bradley
BY
GREGORY MCDONALD
TWO-TIME WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD!

Gregory Mcdonald: Fletch and the Widow Bradley. Warner Books, ISBN: 044690922X (November, 1981), 285 p., $2.95.

Gregory Mcdonald: Fletch and the Widow Bradley (UK 1981)

From the Publisher:
Fletch is back! And that impudent, insouciant journalist and ace investigator is again in tremendous form. As who wouldn't be, when in the opening chapter he finds himself richer by a most unexpected $25,000. Or is he?

He picks up a wallet in a car park. The wallet contains the $25,000 and a hotel room key. Being an honest man he goes to the hotel, rings the room number, and tells the occupant, a James Crandell, that he has the money. Crandell says he'll be right down, and vanishes -- checking out of the hotel while Fletch waits. Leaving Fletch with the $25,000.

And that's just the sub-plot. The main story is about Fletch's interview with the vice-president of a business firm, on whose authority he several times quotes the company's chairman, Bradley, in his newspaper report. Unfortunately, Bradley has been dead for over a year, and his widow is very angry about Fletch's piece. She agrees not to sue, but the paper has been made to look pretty silly. Whereupon Fletch is sacked -- not that this gets him down.

But why, Fletch asks himself, was he lied to about Bradley? Or is Bradley still alive? If not, who signed those current memos in his name? Whatever's going on at Wagnall-Phipps? Fletch, who doesn't like being made a fool of, begins to investigate, and an expensive investigation it turns out to be, with trips to Acapulco, Dallas, Alaska and New York -- paid for out of the $25,000, which gets him into very awkward trouble with the money's eventual claimant.

Of course, Fletch works out both problems by the finish, and with his usual casual brilliance. This is a witty, ingenious, surprising and highly enjoyable comedy-thriller, with serious undertones, which doesn't even need a murder to keep it racing along.

Gregory Mcdonald comes from Massachusetts. After graduating at Harvard he joined his father's profession of journalist, becoming involved in investigative reporting as well as serving as Arts and Humanities Editor on the Boston Globe. In 1973 he resigned in order to write full time, and created the Fletch series of humorous suspense novels. He has written a number of other novels, including Running Scared and Flynn, and lives in New England with his wife and two sons.

Gregory Mcdonald: Fletch and the Widow Bradley. Gollancz, ISBN: 057503033X (October, 1981), 158 p., £5.95.