Groucho Marx, Private Eye: A Mystery

Groucho Marx, Master Detective #2

by Ron Goulart

Groucho Marx made the transition from screen to paper in Ron Goulart's widely acclaimed first novel, Groucho Marx, Master Detective, where he debuted as a radio star-cum-private eye. Groucho and Frank aren't enjoying their latest costar, singing child prodigy Polly Pilgrim, a spoiled ingenue. When a prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon is found dead in his palatial home, and Polly's mother, the faded actress Frances London, is accused of his murder, Polly's request for Groucho and Frank to help prove her mother's innocence surprises them. She is convinced that Frances has been framed, and despite the mounting evidence against the washed-up perfromer, the pair takes on the case.

Genres: Mystery, Humor, 20th Century, Fiction, Detective, Cozy Mystery, Comedy

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Pseudonyms: Howard Lee; Frank S Shawn; Kenneth Robeson; Con Steffanson; Josephine Kains; Joseph Silva; William Shatner.
Ron Goulart is a cultural historian and novelist. Besides writing extensively about pulp fiction—including the seminal Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of Pulp Magazines (1972)—Goulart has written for the pulps since 1952, when the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction published his first story, a sci-fi parody of letters to the editor. Since then he has written dozens of novels and countless short stories, spanning genres and using a variety of pennames, including Kenneth Robeson, Joseph Silva, and Con Steffanson. In the 1990s, he became the ghostwriter for William Shatner’s popular TekWar novels. Goulart’s After Things Fell Apart (1970) is the only science-fiction novel to ever win an Edgar Award.

In the 1970s Goulart wrote novels starring series characters like Flash Gordon and the Phantom, and in 1980 he published Hail Hibbler, a comic sci-fi novel that began the Odd Jobs, Inc. series. Goulart has also written several comic mystery series, including six books starring Groucho Marx. Having written for comic books, Goulart produced several histories of the art form, including the Comic Book Encyclopedia (2004).

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a quick read that I thouroughly enjoyed. I loved all the Hollywood stars that were mentioned throughout the book. I thought Ron Goulart did a good job capturing Groucho's personality, I could hear some of the lines as if he were actually saying them. I hope I get to read some of the other entries in this series.

[Mal Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Groucho Marx was the third-born of the five Marx Brothers but far and away the best known. When I was growing up, I thought he was the funniest man in the world, and I'm not sure I've come across anyone since then who has made me laugh more. (The one possible exception is Robin Williams.) Groucho was on both radio and TV in You Bet Your Life, a game show that ran on television from 1950 to 1961. The show was largely unscripted and showed Groucho at his witty best. But my admiration for him may not have been hurt by the fact that my father bore a more than passing resemblance to him.

Groucho's wit was based on his matchless ability to turn any question or any statement into a string of non sequiturs. So any author who would dare to capture him between the covers of a book would certainly need a far above average facility with the English language. Clearly, Ron Goulart has that. In Groucho Marx, Private Eye, he reproduces Groucho's seemingly inimitable patter on the page with letter-perfect skill. Fortunately, Goulart wrote six Groucho Marx detective novels between 1998 and 2005. So far, I've read only the first two, but I'm looking forward to more.

Here's Groucho in Goulart's rendering:

"'Would you be Groucho Marx?'" someone asks him on the street.

"'Not if I had any choice,' he answered, stopping. 'But by now the name is on all the towels and silverware and it's just too much trouble to change it.'"

Groucho Marx, Private Eye is on the air

In Groucho Marx, Private Eye, the scriptwriter for the comedian's radio program, Frank Denby, provides Goulart's own voice as the narrator. Together, Frank and Groucho have already solved one celebrated murder case. Now, in 1938, they soon find themselves investigating another one. Groucho is on the air in a radio show called (Surprise!) Groucho Marx, Private Eye. The eponymous star is private detective J. Hawkshaw Transom. Frank writes the scripts.

Unfortunately, the show's ratings are declining, and the sponsor has forced Groucho to accept a popular child actor as his on-air daughter. The girl's mother has been framed for the murder of a former boyfriend, a prominent Hollywood plastic surgeon. Life with the kid will be impossible unless they can keep her mother out of prison. To prove the woman's innocence, Frank and Groucho will soon be tangling with mobsters, a crooked cop, venal studio executives, and a pudding manufacturer who wants to replace Frank with a clueless ad executive. It's all gloriously complicated, but of course Frank and Groucho will triumph in the end.

By the way, if you're a movie buff, you'll find a special bonus in this book. Goulart has worked many of the era's biggest film stars into the story. They add to the fun.

[Charles Kerns · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like Marxian (not Marxist, even though Groucho's lefty leanings are listed) imbecility, a simple 1930ish boys' magazine adventure plot, hollywood insider names, the location of a high class bordello, and some timely typos, this is your book. Goulart has mastered the art of Groucho wandering thru bad puns and worse associations.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

While notquite as good as the previous book, still everything I want from a Ron Goulart mystery, snappy banter, a decent mystery and quick paced writing.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Place yourself in the mid-1930s. The US has been in a depression. Hitler and pushing at their borders in Europe. In Hollywood, the Marx Brothers are approaching the end of their film careers. Groucho is expanding his career into radio. And, in this 6 book series, we can imagine Groucho has also teamed up with scriptwriter Frank Denby to solve the occasional crime, attempting to stay one step ahead of the bad guys – including the corrupt members of the local constabulary.

The second book in the series, “Groucho Marx, Private Eye”, contains a title with two meanings. First, it's the title of Groucho's (and Frank's) current radio show, and second, it reflects the actions taken by the pair when co-star Polly Pilgram's mother is accused of murder – and when the woman subsequently disappears while on bail.

People looking for underlying meaning and depth in their choice of literature will probably hate this book, and the author will probably attempt – and fail – to suppress laughter should they complain to him about it. The goal here is a simple light-hearted mystery, providing the reader an opportunity to enjoy a few paragraphs while having a chuckle or two, and without having to think too hard to follow the plot. Recommended for light readers, for fans of the Marx Brothers and 1930s Hollywood, and even film noir fans who are willing to put their tongues in their cheeks for a couple of hundred pages.

RATING: 5 stars

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ron Goulart is one of my favorite sci-fi spoof writers. He normally has a breezy style and outrageous characters displaying a sardonic sense of humor. I believe I've read every one of his SF "hard-boiled" detective satires and rate them fairly high.

I love Goulart and I grew up enjoying the humor and wit of Groucho Marx. So why did this book just not "click" with me?

Maybe it was because I began reading this while also reading that "great literature" piece of shit called Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller. I began reading this to offset the bad taste in my mouth that I got from reading Miller. I know that the book pissed me off each time I began to read another chapter and then would run to the safety of this tongue-in-cheek work. Whatever it was, "Groucho" fell flat with me. What made it worse was that I was really looking forward to reading this book as a "light" read in between some studies. Maybe it was because I didn't devour it in one reading, but spread it out over my lunch breaks at work. Whatever the reason, this is not my favorite.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would classify this as something different than a cozy mystery, maybe a slapstick mystery. I think author does a great job of capturing the Marx brothers humor in his main character, Groucho Marx. The book is also full of great Hollywood trivia prior to 1938. This book takes place spring 1938. I got a kick out of scene in a wax museum with likeness of Louise Brooks, who I never heard of until I read 'The Chaperone'.
Interesting how certain things haven't changed, botched plastic surgeries, drug overdoses, gossip tabloids...

I look forward to continuing with the series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Groucho is acting in, and Frank Denby writing, a radio comedy. The sponsors have added Polly, a bratty teenaged singer who hates Groucho. But when a Hollywood plastic surgeon is murdered, the police arrest Polly's mother, a fading starlet, and Polly begs Groucho and Frank to clear her. Groucho hates to show his soft side, but he has an avuncular fondness for Polly's mother, and before you know it, he and Frank are up to their ears with gangsters and corrupt cops.

[Rich Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun little novel and a great start to a new series. Ron Goulart has captured the era perfectly, and has Groucho Marx *on* all the time, as most people probably would expect him to be. He also has managed to contrive a very servicable li'l mystery at the same time.

I have no idea how this series slipped under my radar. Definitely looking forward to getting the next volumes in this series!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read thhis in my new place in Lat May it was light and fun. A lot of mock Groucho banter. The story was good. It was not treated with the same detial most mystery will do, it was more a glosssing.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Groucho Marx takes a break from playing a detective on his radio show to solve a second murder with the writer of his show, Frank Denby. The characters are entertaining, and the talk sounds like you would expect Groucho to sound. The book is fast-paced and fun. So far, I like this series.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in Goulart's Groucho series and a fun, fast read. The dialogue is masterful.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very light, fluffy mystery, but the setting of 30's Hollywood and Goulart's gift for channeling Groucho make this alot of fun.

[carson · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books I've ever read.