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Groucho Marx, Master Detective #6
Groucho Marx, King of the Jungle
Frank Denby and Groucho Marx arrive on the set of the new Ty-Gor film, a Tarzan knockoff, expecting to have Groucho do his humorous walk-on. What they find is that Randy Spellman, the star of the picture, has been murdered. Frank’s wife, Jane, is only a few weeks away from having their baby and the amateur detective team has promised to lay off on the sleuthing. But when a stuntwoman who has gone missing is suspected of the murder, Jane insists they take up the case to clear the young woman’s name.
In addition to being a horrible actor, Spellman was a womanizer and a blackmailer. Many people had reason to dislike him, or even kill him, and the investigation leads Frank and Groucho through the glamour and seediness of 1940s Hollywood, Groucho signing autographs all the while.
In this latest installment of the series, Ron Goulart is at the top of his game, reminding readers there’s no business like show business, except when this charming team is wearing its gumshoes.
In addition to being a horrible actor, Spellman was a womanizer and a blackmailer. Many people had reason to dislike him, or even kill him, and the investigation leads Frank and Groucho through the glamour and seediness of 1940s Hollywood, Groucho signing autographs all the while.
In this latest installment of the series, Ron Goulart is at the top of his game, reminding readers there’s no business like show business, except when this charming team is wearing its gumshoes.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Ron Goulart
607 books98 followersPseudonyms: 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).
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).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 30, 2020
In the sixth and final entry in Ron Goulart‘s series of Groucho Marx Mysteries, the irrepressible comedian and his trusty sidekick and scriptwriter, Frank Denby, once again wander into the thicket of Hollywood studio politics to investigate a murder.
This time around, the murder victim in question is a musclebound would-be actor who has been hired to play Ty-Gor, a low-rent version of Tarzan, in the latest rip-off of the popular African jungle films. The new Ty-Gor, it turns out, is a creep, both a womanizer, a blackmailer, and nobody’s idea of a boon companion. No one is sad to see him go. But of course a murder means bad publicity for the studio, and the producer is eager to see the murderer caught as quickly as possible. Naturally, then, the producer will turn to Groucho and Frank, whose track record for success in solving homicides puts the LAPD to shame. Fair warning: don’t be surprised when Groucho Marx solves another murder.
I read the books in this series for the humor; the dialogue, especially when Groucho is in the picture, is priceless. But Goulart is a master of plotting and suspense as well, and this tale, like the five that preceded it, is satisfyingly complex.
“The best-looking cartoonist in America”
Here, as in previous tales in the series, Frank’s wife, Jane Danner (“the best-looking cartoonist in America”), plays a central role as well. She is eight months pregnant and has demanded that Frank stay out of the private eye business until well after their baby is born. But it’s she who insists that the two men investigate the murder, since her best friend is in love with the young woman the police have rashly concluded is the culprit.
Groucho Marx, womanizer
Although there are hints that Groucho is married and that he, like the murder victim, is a womanizer, Groucho goes it alone in these stories. In reality, Groucho was “opponent of women’s lib incarnate,” in the words of the New York Times. BTW, for insight into what Groucho and his brothers were really like, check out the interview with two of their daughters from the San Francisco Chronicle. (Yes, they were all womanizers.)
This time around, the murder victim in question is a musclebound would-be actor who has been hired to play Ty-Gor, a low-rent version of Tarzan, in the latest rip-off of the popular African jungle films. The new Ty-Gor, it turns out, is a creep, both a womanizer, a blackmailer, and nobody’s idea of a boon companion. No one is sad to see him go. But of course a murder means bad publicity for the studio, and the producer is eager to see the murderer caught as quickly as possible. Naturally, then, the producer will turn to Groucho and Frank, whose track record for success in solving homicides puts the LAPD to shame. Fair warning: don’t be surprised when Groucho Marx solves another murder.
I read the books in this series for the humor; the dialogue, especially when Groucho is in the picture, is priceless. But Goulart is a master of plotting and suspense as well, and this tale, like the five that preceded it, is satisfyingly complex.
“The best-looking cartoonist in America”
Here, as in previous tales in the series, Frank’s wife, Jane Danner (“the best-looking cartoonist in America”), plays a central role as well. She is eight months pregnant and has demanded that Frank stay out of the private eye business until well after their baby is born. But it’s she who insists that the two men investigate the murder, since her best friend is in love with the young woman the police have rashly concluded is the culprit.
Groucho Marx, womanizer
Although there are hints that Groucho is married and that he, like the murder victim, is a womanizer, Groucho goes it alone in these stories. In reality, Groucho was “opponent of women’s lib incarnate,” in the words of the New York Times. BTW, for insight into what Groucho and his brothers were really like, check out the interview with two of their daughters from the San Francisco Chronicle. (Yes, they were all womanizers.)
December 16, 2020
A good end to the series, though I would certainly read more if they were available, cotntain all of the things you would expect: murder, Hollywood people being Hollywood people, cleaver jibes from Groucho, and an interesting mystery. If you like the series, you will like this book.
August 28, 2017
Lovely little read, entertaining and quite funny!
August 30, 2015
Ron Goulart wrote 6 mysteries in which screenwriter Frank Denby teams with comedian Groucho Marx to play amateur detective and solve murders in 1930-era Hollywood. In “Groucho Marx, King of the Jungle”, Randy Spellman, star of the Ty-Gor (what loincloth-garbed white-guy king of the jungle might they be alluding to?) series of movies has been found dead on the set. His former girlfriend is suspected – but she seems to have vanished. The studio calls the police, but also asks the scriptwriter (Denby) to look into it.
Face it, this is not the Great American Novel, filled with pathos and profound thoughts that will change the course of history – but it isn't intended to be. Goulart does a fine job of capturing the off-beat humor of Groucho, which doesn't alter one whit whether he's on or off camera. He features cameos with other stars and characters of 1930s Hollywood, and devotes a lot of print to describing that scene and the just-pre World War II mentality of the day.
Ron Goulart wrote 6 mysteries in which screenwriter Frank Denby teams with comedian Groucho Marx to play amateur detective and solve murders in 1930-era Hollywood. I hated to reach the conclusion of this one, because there isn't a 7th book in the series for me to enjoy now.
RATING: 4 stars.
Face it, this is not the Great American Novel, filled with pathos and profound thoughts that will change the course of history – but it isn't intended to be. Goulart does a fine job of capturing the off-beat humor of Groucho, which doesn't alter one whit whether he's on or off camera. He features cameos with other stars and characters of 1930s Hollywood, and devotes a lot of print to describing that scene and the just-pre World War II mentality of the day.
Ron Goulart wrote 6 mysteries in which screenwriter Frank Denby teams with comedian Groucho Marx to play amateur detective and solve murders in 1930-era Hollywood. I hated to reach the conclusion of this one, because there isn't a 7th book in the series for me to enjoy now.
RATING: 4 stars.
May 25, 2015
I'm a huge Marx Bros fan, and love Groucho's radio and TV work too.
I think I've seen all the films several times, have devoured their letters, biographies, scripts, history, and ...
... Am bit shocked to say after a couple of short chapters I found I was skimming pages just to follow the plot, as their wasn't much humour in either the situations or dialogue. And that's sad, as humour is more Marx Bros than plot.
And so, about 1/3 the way in, I've given up, completely.
I wanted this to work and was so excited by the idea, I bought a second volume in the same series, before giving up that is.
Sorry Ron, sorry Groucho. Hope my next visit will be more positive.
I think I've seen all the films several times, have devoured their letters, biographies, scripts, history, and ...
... Am bit shocked to say after a couple of short chapters I found I was skimming pages just to follow the plot, as their wasn't much humour in either the situations or dialogue. And that's sad, as humour is more Marx Bros than plot.
And so, about 1/3 the way in, I've given up, completely.
I wanted this to work and was so excited by the idea, I bought a second volume in the same series, before giving up that is.
Sorry Ron, sorry Groucho. Hope my next visit will be more positive.
February 12, 2009
Although radio writer and amateur detective Frank Denby promised his expecting wife that he wouldn't get involved in any mysteries until after their child was born, he and Groucho change their plans after discovering the body of the actor who was going to star in a Ty-Gor jungle adventure movie. The revealing of the murderer isn't very surprising, but the book has enough action and laughs to keep things interesting. If you're thinking it's as funny as a Marx brothers movie, you'll be disappointed, but the series is still fun to read.
October 12, 2013
Really enjoyed this one, but there was a bittersweet moment when you knew you had reached the end, and knowing there wasn't another book to continue with.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews