# I want to start reading the "Fletch" books. Where should I begin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059 "2004-12-21T22:05:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/1 "2004-12-21T22:05:52Z")
Which book makes most sense to begin with? Fletch Won? Or should I start someplace else? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/2 "2004-12-21T22:35:57Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/3 "2004-12-21T22:38:07Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/4 "2004-12-21T23:54:42Z")
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_. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/5 "2004-12-22T02:20:20Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > If there were subsequent books published, I haven’t read them. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/6 "2004-12-22T05:50:26Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/7 "2004-12-22T06:04:56Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/8 "2004-12-22T13:50:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/9 "2004-12-22T14:09:28Z")
Has there ever been an instance where one _shouldn’t_ read a series of books in the order they were published? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/10 "2004-12-22T15:42:09Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Has there ever been an instance where one _shouldn’t_ read a series of books in the order they were published? 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). ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-start-reading-the-fletch-books-where-should-i-begin/281059/11 "2004-12-22T16:03:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Has there ever been an instance where one shouldn’t read a series of books in the order they were published? The Bible comes to mind … :::: ducking ::::