Groucho Marx, Private Eye

Rating:
Summary: Good but disappointing
Review: I anxiously awaited this 2nd book in the Groucho Marx mystery series and only recently found the time to sit down and read it. After 3 or 4 chapters I realized this is not as good as Mr. Goulart's 1st Groucho book-Groucho Marx, Master Detective-every line on every page was golden. This, however, is slow moving and not as well written as the previous book. It's almost as though it was dashed off in a hurry. The editing itself is very poor, I found several typos that made little or no sense. I hope that the 3rd Groucho book brings back that pizazz found in the 1st book. Get it? Got it? Good.

Rating:
Summary: Wears thin
Review: The first Groucho/detective novel was only so-so, and this second attempt is not as good. It wears a little thin, the mindless wisecracks. The Groucho persona of the Marx Brothers movies was certainly zany, but there was no serious jeopardy implied. It just doesn't work, somehow, in a detective novel, no matter how hard Mr. Goulart tries.

Rating:
Summary: Wears thin
Review: The first Groucho/detective novel was only so-so, and this second attempt is not as good. It wears a little thin, the mindless wisecracks. The Groucho persona of the Marx Brothers movies was certainly zany, but there was no serious jeopardy implied. It just doesn't work, somehow, in a detective novel, no matter how hard Mr. Goulart tries.

Rating:
Summary: Groucho and Frank are on the case once again
Review: This is Ron Goulart's second mystery featuring Groucho Marx as a celebrity sleuth. I have read the three currently available and this is definitely the weakest of the trio. The Marx Brothers' film career is on hold following "A Day at the Races" and Groucho's radio show has been renamed (to conform with the title of the book). Singing child prodigy Polly Pilgrim comes to Groucho and his faithful sidekick/writer Frank Denby claiming her mother has been framed for the murder of a prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. With Grouch on the case it becomes clear there has been more than one murder and it is just a question of finding out how all the pieces fit together before somebody finally stops missing Groucho with all those bullets flying around in this story. This is not a mystery where you get to figure out the clues along with the sleuth, you just go along with the ride with Groucho. The background of real Hollywood characters from the 1930s is a bit more prominent than Goulart's first effort, and there is more of Groucho's radio show, which is a plus. I also find myself more interested in Frank, especially since he is moving in with Jane (she's a great gal and a fine cartoonist). The running gag of people on the street thinking they recognize Groucho without his moustache is getting a tad old, and we will never know exactly what happened between Groucho and Joan Crawford in that phone booth south of the border, but then these novels are never going to be more than a fun read on the bus or the plane or the beach.

Rating:
Summary: Groucho and Frank are on the case once again
Review: This is Ron Goulart's second mystery featuring Groucho Marx as a celebrity sleuth. I have read the three currently available and this is definitely the weakest of the trio. The Marx Brothers' film career is on hold following "A Day at the Races" and Groucho's radio show has been renamed (to conform with the title of the book). Singing child prodigy Polly Pilgrim comes to Groucho and his faithful sidekick/writer Frank Denby claiming her mother has been framed for the murder of a prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. With Grouch on the case it becomes clear there has been more than one murder and it is just a question of finding out how all the pieces fit together before somebody finally stops missing Groucho with all those bullets flying around in this story. This is not a mystery where you get to figure out the clues along with the sleuth, you just go along with the ride with Groucho. The background of real Hollywood characters from the 1930s is a bit more prominent than Goulart's first effort, and there is more of Groucho's radio show, which is a plus. I also find myself more interested in Frank, especially since he is moving in with Jane (she's a great gal and a fine cartoonist). The running gag of people on the street thinking they recognize Groucho without his moustache is getting a tad old, and we will never know exactly what happened between Groucho and Joan Crawford in that phone booth south of the border, but then these novels are never going to be more than a fun read on the bus or the plane or the beach.