Groucho Marx and the Broadway Murders: A Mystery Featuring Groucho Marx

by Ron Goulart

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312265980
• ISBN13: 9780312265984
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Ron Goulart is channeling Grouch Marx again...

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.

The premise works and works well

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