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Skylar #2
Skylar In Yankeeland
A rogue and a rascal--the trumpet playing, lady-killing toast of Greendowns County, Tennessee--Skylar Whitfields talented lips have won him the affection of many a local belle. Now theyve won him a scholarship to a prestigious Northern music school--which is what brings young Skylar into the home of his snooty Boston Brahmin relatives, where he is decidedly not welcome. Perhaps their disdain has something to do with the disappearance of five million dollar-worth of family gembobs on the very night he arrives. Or his amorous effect on some of the Beantown females, whose explicit fantasies could have dire consequences for the visiting country cousin. And of course, theres the murder that Skylar seems involved in up to his Dixie neck. . .
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 15, 2018
Covertly homo-erotic, creepy. Adolescent superstud lovingly described, spends way to much time in his underwear, showering and pleasuring grateful women of all ages. Throw in a bit of gratuitous homophobic rape fantasy just in case we don't get the point. Too bad, I liked the Fletch novels.
November 4, 2020
I enjoyed the read for the most part, but definitely trigger warning for rape...
May 22, 2021
Read in 1997. A fish out of water story. I'd forgotten I read so many McDonald books or that he wrote so many.
May 13, 2009
More than one mystery can be found in Skylar in Yankeeland, as well as the metamystery ("Why isn't this book/series more popular?"). Skylar is a good ole boy from Tennessee with a knack for solving mysteries. Written by the creator of Fletch, Skylar is a considerably more interesting and comedic character than Fletch.
Fletch is a newspaper reporter. You expect newspaper reporters to follow their noses into the type of curiosity that "killed the cat." We've seen it from the Jimmy Olsen/Lois Lane/Lana Lang of the comics through Kolchak: The Night Stalker of television fame to the investigative reporters of the fictional films The Paper and both the original and remake of The Front Page. We expect reporters to be accused of false motives or taken into custody for contempt of court. We don't expect this to happen to private citizens. Yet, no matter where Skylar turns, he seems to be accused of theft, rape, manslaughter, and murder.
Does that sound like enough mysteries for you? It should. Two of the four are "throw-away" mysteries that are anti-climactic when they play out, but one of the mysteries is incredibly detailed and disgusting while another seems almost tacked on at the conclusion as though McDonald forgot a loose end. Nonetheless, the story is both fast-moving and amusing. Skylar comes to visit his rich yankee cousins and enroll in a prestigious music school. Neither his family nor his chosen school turn out to be quite what he expected. The reversals of expectation in this novel, as in the Fletch series, are as delightful as some of the better written episodes of The Rockford Files. If you like comedy mysteries, this one is worth reading. It's certainly good enough I'm looking forward to finding a copy of Skylar, the original novel in the series.
Fletch is a newspaper reporter. You expect newspaper reporters to follow their noses into the type of curiosity that "killed the cat." We've seen it from the Jimmy Olsen/Lois Lane/Lana Lang of the comics through Kolchak: The Night Stalker of television fame to the investigative reporters of the fictional films The Paper and both the original and remake of The Front Page. We expect reporters to be accused of false motives or taken into custody for contempt of court. We don't expect this to happen to private citizens. Yet, no matter where Skylar turns, he seems to be accused of theft, rape, manslaughter, and murder.
Does that sound like enough mysteries for you? It should. Two of the four are "throw-away" mysteries that are anti-climactic when they play out, but one of the mysteries is incredibly detailed and disgusting while another seems almost tacked on at the conclusion as though McDonald forgot a loose end. Nonetheless, the story is both fast-moving and amusing. Skylar comes to visit his rich yankee cousins and enroll in a prestigious music school. Neither his family nor his chosen school turn out to be quite what he expected. The reversals of expectation in this novel, as in the Fletch series, are as delightful as some of the better written episodes of The Rockford Files. If you like comedy mysteries, this one is worth reading. It's certainly good enough I'm looking forward to finding a copy of Skylar, the original novel in the series.
July 12, 2014
After Jon experiences in the South we now get the reversal of Skylar going op north to Boston where he gained a scholarship at a prestigious musicschool due to his musical talent. So as expected Skylars arrival does raise some eyebrows with family and their friends. And unlike Jon who learned about Skylar in the first book while visiting the South most see a Souhern bumpkin that is more trouble than anything else. Unlike the 1st novel here everything happens to involve Skylar and he has no influence at all at all the happenings around him. The fun in this this book are his reaction towards everything haapening and him always remaining a gentleman. His boattrip with his 14 year old cousin shows Skylars nature best and unlike in his first book you now know that all the stuff that happens has little to do with Skylar.
But as a good boy he solves everything thrown at him with style and gentleness.
Perhaps it is me but when he was involved with shenanigans in Boston I kept expecting one inspector Flynn to pop up, which did not happen and was kind of disappointing to me.
This 2nd book was an improvement on the first or perhaps reading both books in a row made the 2nd book easier to read. It is by no means a difficult book to read, like the Fletch and Flynn novels very laid back in their nature and one forgets almost any sense of urgency in solving any problem.
The ending of the book was somewhat strange, it did fit and it didn't. Judge yourself I would say. But read both books after one each other, which would be my advise.
I found that three books by McDonald on a short break in the woods with a BBQ and no telly, internet and bad telephone connection the best companion one can have.
But as a good boy he solves everything thrown at him with style and gentleness.
Perhaps it is me but when he was involved with shenanigans in Boston I kept expecting one inspector Flynn to pop up, which did not happen and was kind of disappointing to me.
This 2nd book was an improvement on the first or perhaps reading both books in a row made the 2nd book easier to read. It is by no means a difficult book to read, like the Fletch and Flynn novels very laid back in their nature and one forgets almost any sense of urgency in solving any problem.
The ending of the book was somewhat strange, it did fit and it didn't. Judge yourself I would say. But read both books after one each other, which would be my advise.
I found that three books by McDonald on a short break in the woods with a BBQ and no telly, internet and bad telephone connection the best companion one can have.
August 23, 2014
(3 stars on it's own, 4 stars paired with the first book) This book pairs well as a follow-up from Skylar, but would not make much sense as a stand-alone volume. McDonald's dialogue shines as always. The story also includes McDonald's mix of levity with some very abrupt, dark moments. This combination has been there since Fletch and Flynn (and I've heard that the darkness takes the forefront in his book The Brave). But in the universe/s of Skylar, Fletch, and Flynn, you have someone to lift you out of the darkness. The Skylar books may not be the instant classics of the first two Fletch books, but they are an enjoyable read. The story is complete enough with two books, but I imagine that the third would have found
For me, that's all the McDonald on my immediate list. After 17 books in 2014, McDonald now appears pretty far up on my GR most-read authors list. I would like to come back and check out his other three-book series, but not sure that I'm up for The Brave, knowing how hard it was for me to finish American Psycho.
Really appreciate the words and stories that McDonald left for us. There is some great stuff here!
For me, that's all the McDonald on my immediate list. After 17 books in 2014, McDonald now appears pretty far up on my GR most-read authors list. I would like to come back and check out his other three-book series, but not sure that I'm up for The Brave, knowing how hard it was for me to finish American Psycho.
Really appreciate the words and stories that McDonald left for us. There is some great stuff here!
November 18, 2012
I've always been a semi-fan of McDonald's since I read "Fletch"... but, as usual, his books are heavy with irony, but short on plot and character. It's a good, breezy read that won't tax your thinking too much, but don't expect it to delve too deeply into anyone's psyche or reveal any deep secrets about human thinking. Virtually all the characters are two-dimensional. And, unlike Ron Goulart's books, I'm not sure that this is satire.
He does write with a casual ease, though. And, even though you think you know who stole the family jewels, you are wrong. But the ending is far too trite and contrived for my tastes.
He does write with a casual ease, though. And, even though you think you know who stole the family jewels, you are wrong. But the ending is far too trite and contrived for my tastes.
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March 1, 2008Still love Skylar, but it's not quite as snappy and sarcastic as the first one. Right up there with Fletch, though.
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May 1, 2009Fiction
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews