I want to start reading the "Fletch" books. Where should I begin?

Cafe Society
1

Which book makes most sense to begin with? Fletch Won?

Or should I start someplace else?

2

You should begin with “Fletch”.

The character evolved in the order of publication, which, roughly, goes:

Fletch
Confess, Fletch
Fletch’s Fortune
Fletch’s Moxie
Fletch and The Man Who
Fletch Won
Fletch, Too**

If there were subsequent books published, I haven’t read them.

*It is not too big a stretch to argue that these two titles comprise a single story.

3

Forgive me, since I don’t know – but am I right in understanding that the books are told chronologically out-of-order?

Should I still start with Fletch and work my way through them in the order they were published, or read them in chronological order instead?

4

I have read the seven books I list. Of the first five, “Fletch” really needs to be read first. It contains an ending that provides a plot element in the other four. I suppose you could read the other four in any order. Come to think of it, I forgot about Carioca Fletch. Sorry.

Chronologically, Fletch Won and Fletch, Too are set earlier in Fletch’s life, on the eve of his first wedding, and while he’s on his honeymoon.

I find Fletch books to be fun to read, and I like the way the character, with his smart-ass attitude, larcenous habits, and sneaky methods were introduced in Gregory McDonald’s first book, Fletch.

5

Those would be Son of Fletch and Fletch Reflected. Oh, and Fletch and the Widow Bradley.

And, yes, you really need to read Fletch first. As to the others, Confess, Fletch should be read before Fletch’s Fortune, as there are some references to it (not crucial to understand the story, but ideally, read Confess before Fortune). The rest, any order is fine, IMO.

Then…read the Flynn books.

6

I love Fletch (and Flynn).

I always like to read them chronologically:
Fletch Won
Fletch, Too
Fletch and the Widow Bradley
Fletch
Carioca Fletch
Confess, Fletch
Fletch’s Fortune
Fletch’s Moxie
Fletch and The Man Who
Son of Fletch
Fletch Reflected

I think Flynn is introduced in Confess, Fletch. IIRC the Flynn books:
Flynn
Flynn’s In
The Buck Passes Flynn
Flynn’s World

7

For a first-time reading of the series, I’d read them in the order in which they were published. And yes, don’t forget Carioca Fletch, which is probably my favorite (though I haven’t read them all).

Wonderful, sardonic, hilarious books. Enjoy!

8

I agree, for the first time reading, go in publication order. No question.

After you fall in love with them and read them again, you can play games like reding them in chrono order.

9

Has there ever been an instance where one shouldn’t read a series of books in the order they were published?

10

Dragonriders of Pern:

Dragonflight (1968)
Dragonquest (1970)
Dragonsong (1976)
The Dragonsinger (1977)
The White Dragon (1978)
Dragondrums (1979)

is publication order, but they probably should be read

Dragonflight (1968)
Dragonquest (1970)
The White Dragon (1978)

Dragonsong (1976)
The Dragonsinger (1977)
Dragondrums (1979)

since they are two separate trilogies (though connected).

11

The Bible comes to mind …

:::: ducking ::::