What do you think?
Rate this book
Who Killed the Fonz?
The legendary 1950s-era TV show Happy Days gets reinvented as a gritty 1980s noir.
Late October, 1984. Prince and Bruce are dominating FM radio. Ron and Nancy are headed back to the White House. Crockett and Tubbs are leading men everywhere to embrace pastels. And Richard Cunningham? Well, Richard Cunningham is having a really bad Sunday.
First, there’s the meeting with his agent. A decade ago, the forty-something Cunningham was one of Hollywood’s hottest screenwriters. But Tinseltown is no longer interested in his artsy, introspective scripts. They want Terminator cyborgs and exploding Stay Puft Marshmallow men. If he isn’t interested in that sort of thing, his agent tells him, he’s gonna have to find new representation.
Then later that same day he gets a phone call with even worse news. His best friend from childhood back in Milwaukee, back when everyone called him Richie, is dead. Arthur Fonzarelli. The Fonz . Lost control of his motorcycle while crossing a bridge and plummeted into the water below. Two days of searching and still no body, no trace of his trademark leather jacket.
Richard flies back for the memorial service, only to discover that Fonzie’s death was no accident—it was murder. With the help of his old pals Ralph Malph and Potsie Weber, he sets out to catch the killer. Who it turns out to be is shocking. So is the story’s final twist.
Who Killed The Fonz? imagines what happened to the characters of the legendary TV series Happy Days twenty years after the show left off. And while much has changed in the interim—goodbye drive-in movie theaters, hello VCRs—the story centers around the same timeless themes as the the meaning of family. The significance of friendship. The importance of community.
Fast-paced and full of nostalgia, Who Killed the Fonz? is an ingenious twist on a beloved classic that proves sometimes you can go home again.
TM & © 2018 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved
Late October, 1984. Prince and Bruce are dominating FM radio. Ron and Nancy are headed back to the White House. Crockett and Tubbs are leading men everywhere to embrace pastels. And Richard Cunningham? Well, Richard Cunningham is having a really bad Sunday.
First, there’s the meeting with his agent. A decade ago, the forty-something Cunningham was one of Hollywood’s hottest screenwriters. But Tinseltown is no longer interested in his artsy, introspective scripts. They want Terminator cyborgs and exploding Stay Puft Marshmallow men. If he isn’t interested in that sort of thing, his agent tells him, he’s gonna have to find new representation.
Then later that same day he gets a phone call with even worse news. His best friend from childhood back in Milwaukee, back when everyone called him Richie, is dead. Arthur Fonzarelli. The Fonz . Lost control of his motorcycle while crossing a bridge and plummeted into the water below. Two days of searching and still no body, no trace of his trademark leather jacket.
Richard flies back for the memorial service, only to discover that Fonzie’s death was no accident—it was murder. With the help of his old pals Ralph Malph and Potsie Weber, he sets out to catch the killer. Who it turns out to be is shocking. So is the story’s final twist.
Who Killed The Fonz? imagines what happened to the characters of the legendary TV series Happy Days twenty years after the show left off. And while much has changed in the interim—goodbye drive-in movie theaters, hello VCRs—the story centers around the same timeless themes as the the meaning of family. The significance of friendship. The importance of community.
Fast-paced and full of nostalgia, Who Killed the Fonz? is an ingenious twist on a beloved classic that proves sometimes you can go home again.
TM & © 2018 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved
208 pages, Hardcover
First published February 19, 2019
About the author
James Boice
9 books16 followers
Novels, short stories. The Good and the Ghastly, MVP NoVA, Esquire, McSweeney’s, Fiction, Salt Hill. NYC. Boston. Cambridge. Northern Virginia. www.jamesboice.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
Who Killed the Fonz? By James Boice is a 2019 Simon & Schuster publication.
Imaginative, stylish, and nostalgic-
I found this book in the cloud library which is part of the many services my library provides. The title begged me to click on the book and read the synopsis- and I just couldn’t resist. It sounded so quirky and different I checked it out without reading any reviews first. However, when I went to add the book to my reading list on GR’s, I was a bit dismayed by a handful of lukewarm reviews.
But because I had already impulsively checked the book out, I soldiered on with it. I’m glad I did!!
Yes, this story is based on ‘Happy Days’ the sitcom that aired in the seventies and garnered the not so flattering term- Jump the shark. However, I loved the show at the peak of its popularity, so I was curious to see how the author planned to center a mystery around those popular characters.
The story is set in the eighties and narrated by Richard Cunningham, who is now living in Los Angeles with his wife, Lori Beth.
He’s a screenwriter whose career is now on the skids. When he receives word that Fonzie was killed in a motorcycle accident, he returns home to Milwaukee for the funeral. Here he meets up with Al, Ralph and Potsie, while taking a few trips down memory lane, sharing fond memories of Fonzie, all based on some of the most memorable episodes of the show.
However, Richard is detained in Milwaukee for a little while longer than he had planned because a local politician has asked him to write a speech for him.
While Richard is hanging out, he learns some troubling news about Fonzie’s wreck, which suggests it might not have been an accident after all.
To be clear, I don’t think this book was ever intended to be a deep, convoluted, complex thriller. I mean, it is based on a light-hearted sitcom after all. I had no preconceived notions, really, and I can’t say my expectations were very high, so I was able to approach the book with an open mind.
Yet, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. It is light, for sure, but it is also clever, in its way. I liked the original idea, for one thing, and appreciated the respect the author had for the original characters. Did the characters turn out like I had imagined they would? Yes, in some ways they did, but there are a few big surprises in there, as well.
The mystery is basic, but solid. I had no trouble guessing who the mastermind was behind the Fonz’s untimely demise, but there are a few nice twists tossed in which threw me off guard.
The book is also clean, without graphic violence, and falls nicely into the ‘amateur sleuth’ category, perhaps tempting some to label it as a cozy. I’m not sure I’d consider this one a pure cozy, but fans of the sub-genre can feel comfortable embracing this one.
To me, however, this is a nice, well rounded story. It has a descent whodunit mystery, but the charm is, most assuredly, in the use of characters from a beloved sitcom and from the emphasis on personal values and family.
It’s a unique approach to the television tie-in themed novel, for sure.
But mostly, it’s a very polished, but super entertaining and fun blast from the past, full of bittersweet nostalgia.
4 stars
Imaginative, stylish, and nostalgic-
I found this book in the cloud library which is part of the many services my library provides. The title begged me to click on the book and read the synopsis- and I just couldn’t resist. It sounded so quirky and different I checked it out without reading any reviews first. However, when I went to add the book to my reading list on GR’s, I was a bit dismayed by a handful of lukewarm reviews.
But because I had already impulsively checked the book out, I soldiered on with it. I’m glad I did!!
Yes, this story is based on ‘Happy Days’ the sitcom that aired in the seventies and garnered the not so flattering term- Jump the shark. However, I loved the show at the peak of its popularity, so I was curious to see how the author planned to center a mystery around those popular characters.
The story is set in the eighties and narrated by Richard Cunningham, who is now living in Los Angeles with his wife, Lori Beth.
He’s a screenwriter whose career is now on the skids. When he receives word that Fonzie was killed in a motorcycle accident, he returns home to Milwaukee for the funeral. Here he meets up with Al, Ralph and Potsie, while taking a few trips down memory lane, sharing fond memories of Fonzie, all based on some of the most memorable episodes of the show.
However, Richard is detained in Milwaukee for a little while longer than he had planned because a local politician has asked him to write a speech for him.
While Richard is hanging out, he learns some troubling news about Fonzie’s wreck, which suggests it might not have been an accident after all.
To be clear, I don’t think this book was ever intended to be a deep, convoluted, complex thriller. I mean, it is based on a light-hearted sitcom after all. I had no preconceived notions, really, and I can’t say my expectations were very high, so I was able to approach the book with an open mind.
Yet, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. It is light, for sure, but it is also clever, in its way. I liked the original idea, for one thing, and appreciated the respect the author had for the original characters. Did the characters turn out like I had imagined they would? Yes, in some ways they did, but there are a few big surprises in there, as well.
The mystery is basic, but solid. I had no trouble guessing who the mastermind was behind the Fonz’s untimely demise, but there are a few nice twists tossed in which threw me off guard.
The book is also clean, without graphic violence, and falls nicely into the ‘amateur sleuth’ category, perhaps tempting some to label it as a cozy. I’m not sure I’d consider this one a pure cozy, but fans of the sub-genre can feel comfortable embracing this one.
To me, however, this is a nice, well rounded story. It has a descent whodunit mystery, but the charm is, most assuredly, in the use of characters from a beloved sitcom and from the emphasis on personal values and family.
It’s a unique approach to the television tie-in themed novel, for sure.
But mostly, it’s a very polished, but super entertaining and fun blast from the past, full of bittersweet nostalgia.
4 stars
This was such an oddball idea for a book that I had to read it. It takes place 20 odd years after Happy Days. Richie is now a screenwriter in Hollywood. He heads back to Milwaukee when he hears the Fonz has died. (No, Fonzie didn't die in a shark attack. Fonzie jumped the shark, remember?) This takes a long time to get going. Once Richie returns to Milwaukee, the book becomes nostalgia driven. The author must reference half the episodes of the show. The book doesn't really get going until 2/3rds of the way through where it quickly comes to a conclusion 20 or 30 pages later. If you grew up on the show, you'll probably enjoy this.
The one question I wish the author had answered is one fans of the show have been asking for years. What Happened to Chuck? He just went up to his room at the end of season 2 and never came out. Did Fonzie wall him up in the room over the garage Cask of Amontillado style?
Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss. all thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
The one question I wish the author had answered is one fans of the show have been asking for years. What Happened to Chuck? He just went up to his room at the end of season 2 and never came out. Did Fonzie wall him up in the room over the garage Cask of Amontillado style?
Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss. all thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Fantastic noir "where are they now" novelization of the Happy Days bunch circa the 1980's. Makes me wish I was a watcher of the TV Show.
Aaaaayyyyyyy!
Aaaaayyyyyyy!
The year is 1984, and Richard "Richie" Cunningham gets bad news from his hometown in Milwaukee. Arthur Fonzarelli, his best friend when he was growing up, the Fonz is dead. Fonzie was driving his motorcycle when he crossed a bridge and lost control and into the guardrail. He went over the handlebar into the water, but no body has been found. Crushed Richard gets back home to the memorial service for Fonzie. In Milwaukee, the memories of his youth come back, but he also realizes the death of the Fonz may be something other than accidental. It may have been murder.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
I found my thrill On Blueberry Hill
He didn't know what he had in common with Potsie and Ralph anymore. They had shared so much once. They had shared everything. Then they had shared nothing. -Richie Cunningham
This book was wrapped in melancholy. The first half was a tale of longing, lost dreams, lost hope, and lost friends. Fonzie and Richie haven't spoken in ten years. When i read that line i felt the sadness and sorrow. Its been twenty years since he had seen his old high school buddies Potsie Weber and Ralph Malph.
"Everyone gets old" said Ralph. "No one stays cool forever. Not even the Fonz." Or do they?
The mystery/murder story was pretty good. If the author decided to use original characters it would have been just as good if not better. This is a good read but better for Happy Days fans.
He didn't know what he had in common with Potsie and Ralph anymore. They had shared so much once. They had shared everything. Then they had shared nothing. -Richie Cunningham
This book was wrapped in melancholy. The first half was a tale of longing, lost dreams, lost hope, and lost friends. Fonzie and Richie haven't spoken in ten years. When i read that line i felt the sadness and sorrow. Its been twenty years since he had seen his old high school buddies Potsie Weber and Ralph Malph.
"Everyone gets old" said Ralph. "No one stays cool forever. Not even the Fonz." Or do they?
The mystery/murder story was pretty good. If the author decided to use original characters it would have been just as good if not better. This is a good read but better for Happy Days fans.
I had such high hopes for this read and while it didn't really disappoint me, it wasn't exactly everything I wanted either. Richard (don't call me Richie) Cunningham is living in California with his family and is trying once again to write and direct a critically acclaimed film. Despite having previous success, he is currently struggling when he returns home one day to discover his childhood best friend, the Fonz, has died. Richard returns to Milwaukee for the funeral and once he arrives, he starts questioning if Fonz's death was actually an accident. So he, Ralph Malph and Potsie team up to find out what really happened.
Let's get the main issue out of the way so I can gush about the rest. Overall, I felt "Who Killed the Fonz" had a pretty weak mystery. In fact, it was almost downright predictable. And while there were a couple of twists thrown in for good measure, one I guessed before I even cracked the spine (or in my case, turned on the Kindle). That being said, this books was crammed full of nostalgia and 80's references. There were numerous pop culture references and considering I grew up watching Happy Days (and may have even had a crush on Fonzie for awhile) there were some aspects I had a blast reading. I was sorry that Pinky Tuscadero was never mentioned those because I ALWAYS wanted to be Pinky.
So if you are looking for a wonderful mystery, then you're expectations may be a tad high. However, if you are looking for nostalgia and pop culture references, then you can't go wrong with "Who Killed the Fonz."
Let's get the main issue out of the way so I can gush about the rest. Overall, I felt "Who Killed the Fonz" had a pretty weak mystery. In fact, it was almost downright predictable. And while there were a couple of twists thrown in for good measure, one I guessed before I even cracked the spine (or in my case, turned on the Kindle). That being said, this books was crammed full of nostalgia and 80's references. There were numerous pop culture references and considering I grew up watching Happy Days (and may have even had a crush on Fonzie for awhile) there were some aspects I had a blast reading. I was sorry that Pinky Tuscadero was never mentioned those because I ALWAYS wanted to be Pinky.
So if you are looking for a wonderful mystery, then you're expectations may be a tad high. However, if you are looking for nostalgia and pop culture references, then you can't go wrong with "Who Killed the Fonz."
I couldn't believe it when I found this book. Reading it was like a flashback to my childhood (being an '80s kid) & watching "Happy Days" on television. I could picture Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Donny Most, & Anson Williams taking up their old roles in this mystery in what happened to Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli. Boice did a great job in capturing the essence in each of those classic characters, now the mystery wasn't anything that would measure up to Agatha Christie or Anthony Horowitz. It is a good story about going home again, sticking to principles, doing what you really want to do to be happy & staying cool. With the story taking place in 1984 there are tons of great '80s references to pop culture & episodes to the show. It's a quick read & would recommend it to anyone that was/is a fan of the show.
Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced copy.
A campy look at the Happy Days gang, if the timeline continued into the 1980's. Richard Cunningham is a movie director, Ralph and Potsie are still a single unit of cheesy one-liners, and the Fonz is dead. Arnold's is struggling for business with the Bennigan's across the street.
I grew up watching Happy Days, so there is a fun nostalgic element to this. The book's main theme, of finding out what happened to the Fonz, is as campy as a Saved the the Bell episode, or Scooby Doo who-done-it. But then again, so was Happy Days, do it does fit the old feel of the show. Richie tries hitting the jukebox to get it to play. Oops, sorry--Richard, not Richie. He demands to be taken seriously. A fun and quick read.
A campy look at the Happy Days gang, if the timeline continued into the 1980's. Richard Cunningham is a movie director, Ralph and Potsie are still a single unit of cheesy one-liners, and the Fonz is dead. Arnold's is struggling for business with the Bennigan's across the street.
I grew up watching Happy Days, so there is a fun nostalgic element to this. The book's main theme, of finding out what happened to the Fonz, is as campy as a Saved the the Bell episode, or Scooby Doo who-done-it. But then again, so was Happy Days, do it does fit the old feel of the show. Richie tries hitting the jukebox to get it to play. Oops, sorry--Richard, not Richie. He demands to be taken seriously. A fun and quick read.
In the late 80's and early 90's, fondly remembered television series of the past received made-for-television reunion films. James Boice's Who Killed the Fonz feels like it could be a long-lost reunion movie for the cast of one of my all-time favorite shows, Happy Days.
Beginning in 1984 (the year that Happy Days finally ended its epic run), Who Killed the Fonz finds Richard Cunningham at a crossroads in his Hollywood career. While he's had success as a writer, including an Oscar nod, he can't quite get his dream project off the ground. When his agent tells presents him an offer to make write a Star Wars clone, Richard is less thrilled. However, it's either write the movie he doesn't want anything to do with or face the end of chasing his dreams in Hollywood.
Then, Richard receives a call from Milwaukee that his old friend, Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli had died in an motorcycle accident. Seems that Fonzie flipped off the front of his bike on a bridge, plunging to his death in the icy waters below. Richard goes back to Milwaukee for the first time in twenty years to bury his old friend and to consider what the next stage in his career will be. (Marion moved out to Hollywood with Richard and Laurie Beth years ago after Howard passed away and they left the famous house to Joanie and Chiachi).
Billed as an 80's noir thriller, Who Killed the Fonz is a loving homage to the classic series. Boice clearly knows his Happy Days lore, sprinkling in a few nostalgic flashbacks to classic episodes and moments from the series run as Richard comes to terms with the Fonz's death and that he hasn't been back to see his old friends in two decades.* He even has Fonzie's funeral take place at the same funeral home used in the "Fonzie's Funeral" two-parter late in the run of Richie episodes.
* I will have to call out Boice on one particular flashback that he doesn't get quite right. Recalling the famous episode where Fonzie did his epic dance, Boice tells us that it's Joanie who gets the exhausted Fonz back to his feet under threat of a crew cut. That isn't the case. Jonie and Fonzie bet Joanie's rival and head cheerleader that if they win, Joanie makes the cheerleading squad and if they lose, Fonzie gets a crewcut. The infamous dance that Fonzie uses to win the dance contest comes after the rival mocks the exhausted Fonz being dragged out on a stretcher that he'll have to get said crew cut. I know, I know, I'm picking nits here, but that's just the kind of fan that I am.
But as Richard into the life and death of his old friends, some things just don't add up. How did Fonzie plunge to his death and was there more involved that meets the eye? And what does a politician running for governor know about why the Fonz passed away?
When I received an e-mail from NetGalley asking me if I wanted to read this book, I couldn't surf over and hit the request button for this one fast enough. A mystery novel with the death of Fonzie at the center of it seemed right up my alley. Boice wins points on the nostalgia factor alone and his examination of Richard's dilemma both in his career and trying to find out what happened to the Fonz and his other Milwaukee pals is well done. For the most part, Boice gets the touchstones right and feeling authentic -- whether it's Ralph and Potsie still being part of the band or Arnold's open but struggling against the Bennigan's across the street.
Boice blends what we know about the familiar characters with the artists who brought them to life, especially in the story centering on Richard, down to him wanting to move into the world of directing movies.
I will also give Boice credit that he keeps the structure of a "typical" Happy Days episode in how a lot of the events unfold in the novel. To say more would be to give away a lot of the pleasures of the last half of the book (though I will put them in this review behind a big time SPOILER warning so I don't ruin your enjoyment). But, it's fun to see how Boice tweaks the conventions and structure of just about any of your favorite Happy Days episodes.
In short, this one is a lot of fun and was a fun hybrid of a story. It may not be the Happy Days reunion movie, but it's pretty darn cool-a-mundo.
OK, so I have to talk now about the the last half of the book. So, if you don't want to know, stop reading now. I'm going to get into huge SPOILERS here.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Beginning in 1984 (the year that Happy Days finally ended its epic run), Who Killed the Fonz finds Richard Cunningham at a crossroads in his Hollywood career. While he's had success as a writer, including an Oscar nod, he can't quite get his dream project off the ground. When his agent tells presents him an offer to make write a Star Wars clone, Richard is less thrilled. However, it's either write the movie he doesn't want anything to do with or face the end of chasing his dreams in Hollywood.
Then, Richard receives a call from Milwaukee that his old friend, Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli had died in an motorcycle accident. Seems that Fonzie flipped off the front of his bike on a bridge, plunging to his death in the icy waters below. Richard goes back to Milwaukee for the first time in twenty years to bury his old friend and to consider what the next stage in his career will be. (Marion moved out to Hollywood with Richard and Laurie Beth years ago after Howard passed away and they left the famous house to Joanie and Chiachi).
Billed as an 80's noir thriller, Who Killed the Fonz is a loving homage to the classic series. Boice clearly knows his Happy Days lore, sprinkling in a few nostalgic flashbacks to classic episodes and moments from the series run as Richard comes to terms with the Fonz's death and that he hasn't been back to see his old friends in two decades.* He even has Fonzie's funeral take place at the same funeral home used in the "Fonzie's Funeral" two-parter late in the run of Richie episodes.
* I will have to call out Boice on one particular flashback that he doesn't get quite right. Recalling the famous episode where Fonzie did his epic dance, Boice tells us that it's Joanie who gets the exhausted Fonz back to his feet under threat of a crew cut. That isn't the case. Jonie and Fonzie bet Joanie's rival and head cheerleader that if they win, Joanie makes the cheerleading squad and if they lose, Fonzie gets a crewcut. The infamous dance that Fonzie uses to win the dance contest comes after the rival mocks the exhausted Fonz being dragged out on a stretcher that he'll have to get said crew cut. I know, I know, I'm picking nits here, but that's just the kind of fan that I am.
But as Richard into the life and death of his old friends, some things just don't add up. How did Fonzie plunge to his death and was there more involved that meets the eye? And what does a politician running for governor know about why the Fonz passed away?
When I received an e-mail from NetGalley asking me if I wanted to read this book, I couldn't surf over and hit the request button for this one fast enough. A mystery novel with the death of Fonzie at the center of it seemed right up my alley. Boice wins points on the nostalgia factor alone and his examination of Richard's dilemma both in his career and trying to find out what happened to the Fonz and his other Milwaukee pals is well done. For the most part, Boice gets the touchstones right and feeling authentic -- whether it's Ralph and Potsie still being part of the band or Arnold's open but struggling against the Bennigan's across the street.
Boice blends what we know about the familiar characters with the artists who brought them to life, especially in the story centering on Richard, down to him wanting to move into the world of directing movies.
I will also give Boice credit that he keeps the structure of a "typical" Happy Days episode in how a lot of the events unfold in the novel. To say more would be to give away a lot of the pleasures of the last half of the book (though I will put them in this review behind a big time SPOILER warning so I don't ruin your enjoyment). But, it's fun to see how Boice tweaks the conventions and structure of just about any of your favorite Happy Days episodes.
In short, this one is a lot of fun and was a fun hybrid of a story. It may not be the Happy Days reunion movie, but it's pretty darn cool-a-mundo.
OK, so I have to talk now about the the last half of the book. So, if you don't want to know, stop reading now. I'm going to get into huge SPOILERS here.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was invited to read and review this strange little book by Net Galley and Simon and Schuster, and I thank them. It’s for sale now.
Fonzie is the eternally cool lone-wolf character in the television sitcom “Happy Days,” which was aired during the 1970s and early 1980s, back before the internet and the digital era gave us choices. The show is set in the 1950s, with malt shops, sock hops, and so forth. Richie Cunningham was the main character, an ordinary small town teen who was befriended by the Fonz. This book morphs forward to the 1980s, which places Richie—er, Richard—in middle age. He’s a Hollywood producer but is called back home by the death of Fonzie.
When I saw this book in my email, I wasn’t sure what to think. How does anyone write this book? Neither Richie nor the Fonz was anything more than a stock character during the series itself. Every problem encountered by any character had to be resolved with humor and warmth within thirty minutes—more like twenty once advertising is figured in. So my first assumption was that this must be some sort of dark satire. But that would be very edgy and risky, and I wasn’t sure Simon would touch something like that. But, it’s an invitation and a quick read, so let’s have a look.
Satire it isn’t. It’s promoted as noir, and it isn’t that either. I can go sit in the garage. I can say I am a car. I can get my children to all say I am a car. I still won’t be a car, or for that matter a motorcycle. And so I’m telling you right now that this is, in spite of its quirky title and book cover, a cozy mystery, period. It is what it is.
Now, that’s not a bad thing. There are a lot of readers that enjoy a good cozy, and it seems likely that a lot of those readers will fall into the demographic to which this story appeals, namely the Boomer generation, the readers that watched Happy Days when they were young and (hopefully) happy.
So here we are, back in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Potsie and Ralph Malph distrust Richard because he has become some sort of Hollywood big shot. His career is on the rocks, but they don’t know that; all they know is that he’s come back to the Midwest wearing designer clothes, and when he calls himself “Richard,” they snicker. But ultimately they all work together to unsnarl issues of local corruption as well as the mystery about Fonzie, and Richard realizes he is really still Richie.
So we have corn; we have cheese; and we have cheese corn. But it’s an accessible story that will provide a pleasant level of distraction that doesn’t require a tremendous amount of concentration or analysis. If your gram is undergoing chemo, she can take this into treatment and it will help keep her warm.
I recommend this book to those that primarily read cozy mysteries and are familiar with the series.
Fonzie is the eternally cool lone-wolf character in the television sitcom “Happy Days,” which was aired during the 1970s and early 1980s, back before the internet and the digital era gave us choices. The show is set in the 1950s, with malt shops, sock hops, and so forth. Richie Cunningham was the main character, an ordinary small town teen who was befriended by the Fonz. This book morphs forward to the 1980s, which places Richie—er, Richard—in middle age. He’s a Hollywood producer but is called back home by the death of Fonzie.
When I saw this book in my email, I wasn’t sure what to think. How does anyone write this book? Neither Richie nor the Fonz was anything more than a stock character during the series itself. Every problem encountered by any character had to be resolved with humor and warmth within thirty minutes—more like twenty once advertising is figured in. So my first assumption was that this must be some sort of dark satire. But that would be very edgy and risky, and I wasn’t sure Simon would touch something like that. But, it’s an invitation and a quick read, so let’s have a look.
Satire it isn’t. It’s promoted as noir, and it isn’t that either. I can go sit in the garage. I can say I am a car. I can get my children to all say I am a car. I still won’t be a car, or for that matter a motorcycle. And so I’m telling you right now that this is, in spite of its quirky title and book cover, a cozy mystery, period. It is what it is.
Now, that’s not a bad thing. There are a lot of readers that enjoy a good cozy, and it seems likely that a lot of those readers will fall into the demographic to which this story appeals, namely the Boomer generation, the readers that watched Happy Days when they were young and (hopefully) happy.
So here we are, back in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Potsie and Ralph Malph distrust Richard because he has become some sort of Hollywood big shot. His career is on the rocks, but they don’t know that; all they know is that he’s come back to the Midwest wearing designer clothes, and when he calls himself “Richard,” they snicker. But ultimately they all work together to unsnarl issues of local corruption as well as the mystery about Fonzie, and Richard realizes he is really still Richie.
So we have corn; we have cheese; and we have cheese corn. But it’s an accessible story that will provide a pleasant level of distraction that doesn’t require a tremendous amount of concentration or analysis. If your gram is undergoing chemo, she can take this into treatment and it will help keep her warm.
I recommend this book to those that primarily read cozy mysteries and are familiar with the series.
A fun story, but also very weird. The title, was what sold me on this. Probably, the title of the book, is what is going to sell this for other fans of the show too. It pegs your interest into wanting to know, why would anyone want to kill Fonzie. Everybody loves him.
In a lot of ways, I enjoyed the story, the characters came through very clearly. Grown up Richie or Richard, has lost his way a bit in the world, and has forgotten the ways and a lot of the people, from back in Milwaukee, including Fonzie. Postie and Ralph, are still their goofy selves, but grown with wives and children. As for Fonzie, we don't know a whole lot about him, since after Richie moved away, he started to hang out less with everyone and spent his time working in his garage. The moments when Richie, Postie, and Ralph, are together sharing their memories together, was my favorite moments in the book. But I'm not sure, if the writer was trying, to make it look like they're remembering some of their memories wrong. Because there are a few Happy Days moments, that are mention from the show, that are completely wrong.
But what didn't really work for me, was a lot of the plot and the time period. This is such a easy mystery to solve, there wasn't any real big surprise moments through out the story, maybe just one. I knew right off, when the characters arrived into the story, how they're involved in what happen with Fonzie, it was just too easy. And I wasn't a big fan, of the story taking place in the 80's. There are a lot of 80's references, which if your fan of the 80's, will get a kick out of it. I'm not a big fan of the era, it comes across a little to dirty, for these characters to be in. The 70's, I think, would have been a better era to place them, if you wanted to see them as adults, just when their starting to turn 40.
In a lot of ways, I enjoyed the story, the characters came through very clearly. Grown up Richie or Richard, has lost his way a bit in the world, and has forgotten the ways and a lot of the people, from back in Milwaukee, including Fonzie. Postie and Ralph, are still their goofy selves, but grown with wives and children. As for Fonzie, we don't know a whole lot about him, since after Richie moved away, he started to hang out less with everyone and spent his time working in his garage. The moments when Richie, Postie, and Ralph, are together sharing their memories together, was my favorite moments in the book. But I'm not sure, if the writer was trying, to make it look like they're remembering some of their memories wrong. Because there are a few Happy Days moments, that are mention from the show, that are completely wrong.
But what didn't really work for me, was a lot of the plot and the time period. This is such a easy mystery to solve, there wasn't any real big surprise moments through out the story, maybe just one. I knew right off, when the characters arrived into the story, how they're involved in what happen with Fonzie, it was just too easy. And I wasn't a big fan, of the story taking place in the 80's. There are a lot of 80's references, which if your fan of the 80's, will get a kick out of it. I'm not a big fan of the era, it comes across a little to dirty, for these characters to be in. The 70's, I think, would have been a better era to place them, if you wanted to see them as adults, just when their starting to turn 40.
I used to love watching Happy Days reruns on TV when I was a kid and like many Fonzy was one of my favorites, so when I seen this book I was curious.
This is a story told in the 1980’s and Richie Cunningham is now known as Richard and is working in Hollywood as a writer. He is married to Lori Beth and they have two kids and life has been okay but his career has took a nosedive. He wrote a great screenplay that got nominated for an Oscar and now nothing. He worked for three years on a screenplay he loved but nobody wants heartfelt stories it’s the 80’s they want cool slasher movies, fast cars, etc. His agent tells him about a gig he has for him to write a screenplay for a space movie that sounds a lot like Star Wars except for there is more cleavage happening. Richard can’t believe his life has come to this and then he gets a call that his best friend from his younger years has been killed.
So he goes back to his hometown in Milwaukee for Fonzy’s memorial and while he is there he finds out that something wasn’t right with what happened to Fonz. So he gets involved in trying to figure things out.
So this is a very nostalgic book and because of that I enjoyed most of this book but it was a bit of a let down because it was kind of boring in spots. The mystery of Fonz didn’t even happen till we were over 50% in (it was totally to easy to guess whodunit) and so I felt that he first part of the book really dragged, but in that first part was some great Happy Days memories which was enjoyable but still it dragged.
I think this would be enjoyable for mostly fans of Happy Days, I don’t really see it being a lot of fun for those who are not familiar with the show as I said before it could be boring. I am glad I read it because the ending really was the best part and I did enjoy the nostalgic feeling it gave me.
This is a story told in the 1980’s and Richie Cunningham is now known as Richard and is working in Hollywood as a writer. He is married to Lori Beth and they have two kids and life has been okay but his career has took a nosedive. He wrote a great screenplay that got nominated for an Oscar and now nothing. He worked for three years on a screenplay he loved but nobody wants heartfelt stories it’s the 80’s they want cool slasher movies, fast cars, etc. His agent tells him about a gig he has for him to write a screenplay for a space movie that sounds a lot like Star Wars except for there is more cleavage happening. Richard can’t believe his life has come to this and then he gets a call that his best friend from his younger years has been killed.
So he goes back to his hometown in Milwaukee for Fonzy’s memorial and while he is there he finds out that something wasn’t right with what happened to Fonz. So he gets involved in trying to figure things out.
So this is a very nostalgic book and because of that I enjoyed most of this book but it was a bit of a let down because it was kind of boring in spots. The mystery of Fonz didn’t even happen till we were over 50% in (it was totally to easy to guess whodunit) and so I felt that he first part of the book really dragged, but in that first part was some great Happy Days memories which was enjoyable but still it dragged.
I think this would be enjoyable for mostly fans of Happy Days, I don’t really see it being a lot of fun for those who are not familiar with the show as I said before it could be boring. I am glad I read it because the ending really was the best part and I did enjoy the nostalgic feeling it gave me.
A fast, entertaining read, and a clever story based on characters from the TV show Happy Days. 20 years after his high school days, Richard (Richie) Cunningham is a screenwriter in Hollywood facing an uncertain future. He's called back to Milwaukee when he learns that Fonzie died when his motorcycle crashed into a lake. Fonzie's body has not yet been recovered, but Richard returns to attend the funeral. Richard had lost touch with all his friends over the years, but he begins to reconnect when he realizes that Fonzie was murdered. Together, he, Potsie, and Ralph try to figure out what happened. The book is a fun walk down memory lane, especially for fans of the TV show.
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Like almost every American of a certain age -- I have warm memories about the show Happy Days. Granted, my memories are a bit hazy -- the show premiered when I was a few months old, but I was 10 when it ended. So I know I watched a lot of it between the first-run episodes and syndication (surely, someone syndicated those and I watched them) -- I mean, we had 3 channels (plus PBS), what else were we going to do? I remember very little about it -- I thought Potsie was kind of annoying, Ralph was hilarious, I didn't care too much about Joanie or Chachi, and the Fonz? I mean . . . who didn't want to be Fonzie? For everyone in my generation, our first exposure to the concept of "cool" our first symbol of it, the avatar of coolness was Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli.
I have clear memories of being 5 (+/-) and being at a semi-local amusement park riding a Carousel that in addition to animals, had some cars you could ride in -- or motorcycles. I hopped on those motorcycles and every time I went around to where my parents were standing and watching, I'd give them a big thumbs up and an "Ayyyyyyy."
What I'm trying to say is that I am a full-fledged member of the target audience for this book. But then again, pretty much everyone alive who's roughly my age or old is, too.
This novel takes place in late October of '84. Filmmaker Richard Cunningham's career is on the skids, he's got an epic movie he's been trying for years to make, but no one wants him to (today we'd call it Oscar-bait, his agent and movie companies considered it to be Box Office poison); he's just spent time talking to friend/contemporary "Steve" about his new time travel movie with the kid from Family Ties and his agent is trying to get him to write a script for a well-funded Star Wars-knock off.
The poor guy is having a rough day . . . and then he gets home to learn that his old friend, Arthur Fonzarelli has been in a wreck on his beloved motorcycle and is dead. Granted, the two had lost touch, but the knowledge that the Fonz is dead shakes Richard to his core. He quickly makes arrangements to head back to Milwaukee to attend the funeral. Neither his mother (who lives in his home) or Lori Beth can make the flight, so he'll stay in Joanie and Chachi's house (they're on vacation and can't catch a flight home in time to attend). Shortly after arriving, he runs into Al, Ralph, Potsie -- and even the jukebox.
Very quickly, Boice has set the tone (nostalgic, amusing, and wistful) and ticked off the major boxes when it comes to fan-service. He's going to have some fun with and even re-examine some aspects of the series (see the conversation that opening quote came from) -- but he's going to do it with respect for the source material. This isn't The Brady Bunch Movie, but it's not a slave to the original (see, Superman Returns).
That accomplished, he puts Richard into new territory -- he's brought out to the home of a Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate, who wants him to write a commercial for the final days of the campaign -- Richard even agrees to direct it. This gives him time to decide if he wants to follow his agent's wishes as well as an excuse to stay in town. Which he needs once he's given some information that leads him to conclude that Fonzie wasn't the victim of an accident, but was murdered.
So Richard has to figure out the direction of his career, convince anyone else that the Fonz was killed and/or find the killer, in a matter of days. All the while coming to terms with being home for the first time since he left for Hollywood, just days after coming home from the Army.
You make this a novel about struggling filmmaker Robert Cummings, returning to Detroit for the funeral of his old friend Frankie -- free and clear of pre-existing pop-culture prejudices and baggage -- and I'd still probably like t his book. Not as much, but it'd still be good. Wrap this up in beloved characters? The pretty good book becomes something else.
The identity of the killer was pretty clear soon after Richard started thinking about it (maybe even before then), and the motive seemed semi-obvious. But a big reveal close to the end changed the stakes significantly and made the motive and identity much more believable. And like with so many mysteries, the "whodunit" is less important than the journey taken to get to the revelation of the identity -- and this journey rocked. Richard's introspection and self-assessment was well-handled, as was his getting re-acquainted with his old high school friends, seeing what they'd made of themselves, etc. There's a good balance of sentiment and story here -- not unlike a certain situation comedy at its best.
I read this in one sitting, which I love doing, and the book moved along so nicely I didn't even think about putting it down for any reason. It's a thoughtful read, but not a ponderous one. It's a murder mystery, but there's only one or two moments of danger -- it's very much on the cozy side of the street, and can easily appeal to people who'd never read a murder mystery. It's lightly told and frequently amusing, but not very comedic. I will say that I laughed once -- thanks to Ralph, of course. While frequently amusing, this wasn't a comedy -- but Boice was able to use Richard's friends to lighten a pretty tense moment -- and to use that incident to push the story along rather than detract from the story. It's not a grab you and won't let go, kind of book -- but it'll easily keep you engaged.
The nostalgia starts with the Table of Contents (I'm serious here) and flows right to the last page, but never dominates anything. Boice keeps it from being schmaltzy or cheap, it' snot just about the show, it's about the characters (which I think would be particularly difficult with this group). This gets a strong recommendation from me -- even if you end up not liking it as much as I do, I can't imagine anyone walking away from this anything but happy about the time they spent with it. It's one of those that gets better the more you think about it -- the way that Boice built-on the foundation of the series and yet created something wholly original (and possibly deserving of a sequel, as long as it didn't involve a murder) is truly impressive.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
"Everyone gets old," said Ralph. "No one stays cool forever. Not even the Fonz."
Like almost every American of a certain age -- I have warm memories about the show Happy Days. Granted, my memories are a bit hazy -- the show premiered when I was a few months old, but I was 10 when it ended. So I know I watched a lot of it between the first-run episodes and syndication (surely, someone syndicated those and I watched them) -- I mean, we had 3 channels (plus PBS), what else were we going to do? I remember very little about it -- I thought Potsie was kind of annoying, Ralph was hilarious, I didn't care too much about Joanie or Chachi, and the Fonz? I mean . . . who didn't want to be Fonzie? For everyone in my generation, our first exposure to the concept of "cool" our first symbol of it, the avatar of coolness was Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli.
I have clear memories of being 5 (+/-) and being at a semi-local amusement park riding a Carousel that in addition to animals, had some cars you could ride in -- or motorcycles. I hopped on those motorcycles and every time I went around to where my parents were standing and watching, I'd give them a big thumbs up and an "Ayyyyyyy."
What I'm trying to say is that I am a full-fledged member of the target audience for this book. But then again, pretty much everyone alive who's roughly my age or old is, too.
This novel takes place in late October of '84. Filmmaker Richard Cunningham's career is on the skids, he's got an epic movie he's been trying for years to make, but no one wants him to (today we'd call it Oscar-bait, his agent and movie companies considered it to be Box Office poison); he's just spent time talking to friend/contemporary "Steve" about his new time travel movie with the kid from Family Ties and his agent is trying to get him to write a script for a well-funded Star Wars-knock off.
The poor guy is having a rough day . . . and then he gets home to learn that his old friend, Arthur Fonzarelli has been in a wreck on his beloved motorcycle and is dead. Granted, the two had lost touch, but the knowledge that the Fonz is dead shakes Richard to his core. He quickly makes arrangements to head back to Milwaukee to attend the funeral. Neither his mother (who lives in his home) or Lori Beth can make the flight, so he'll stay in Joanie and Chachi's house (they're on vacation and can't catch a flight home in time to attend). Shortly after arriving, he runs into Al, Ralph, Potsie -- and even the jukebox.
Very quickly, Boice has set the tone (nostalgic, amusing, and wistful) and ticked off the major boxes when it comes to fan-service. He's going to have some fun with and even re-examine some aspects of the series (see the conversation that opening quote came from) -- but he's going to do it with respect for the source material. This isn't The Brady Bunch Movie, but it's not a slave to the original (see, Superman Returns).
That accomplished, he puts Richard into new territory -- he's brought out to the home of a Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate, who wants him to write a commercial for the final days of the campaign -- Richard even agrees to direct it. This gives him time to decide if he wants to follow his agent's wishes as well as an excuse to stay in town. Which he needs once he's given some information that leads him to conclude that Fonzie wasn't the victim of an accident, but was murdered.
So Richard has to figure out the direction of his career, convince anyone else that the Fonz was killed and/or find the killer, in a matter of days. All the while coming to terms with being home for the first time since he left for Hollywood, just days after coming home from the Army.
You make this a novel about struggling filmmaker Robert Cummings, returning to Detroit for the funeral of his old friend Frankie -- free and clear of pre-existing pop-culture prejudices and baggage -- and I'd still probably like t his book. Not as much, but it'd still be good. Wrap this up in beloved characters? The pretty good book becomes something else.
The identity of the killer was pretty clear soon after Richard started thinking about it (maybe even before then), and the motive seemed semi-obvious. But a big reveal close to the end changed the stakes significantly and made the motive and identity much more believable. And like with so many mysteries, the "whodunit" is less important than the journey taken to get to the revelation of the identity -- and this journey rocked. Richard's introspection and self-assessment was well-handled, as was his getting re-acquainted with his old high school friends, seeing what they'd made of themselves, etc. There's a good balance of sentiment and story here -- not unlike a certain situation comedy at its best.
I read this in one sitting, which I love doing, and the book moved along so nicely I didn't even think about putting it down for any reason. It's a thoughtful read, but not a ponderous one. It's a murder mystery, but there's only one or two moments of danger -- it's very much on the cozy side of the street, and can easily appeal to people who'd never read a murder mystery. It's lightly told and frequently amusing, but not very comedic. I will say that I laughed once -- thanks to Ralph, of course. While frequently amusing, this wasn't a comedy -- but Boice was able to use Richard's friends to lighten a pretty tense moment -- and to use that incident to push the story along rather than detract from the story. It's not a grab you and won't let go, kind of book -- but it'll easily keep you engaged.
The nostalgia starts with the Table of Contents (I'm serious here) and flows right to the last page, but never dominates anything. Boice keeps it from being schmaltzy or cheap, it' snot just about the show, it's about the characters (which I think would be particularly difficult with this group). This gets a strong recommendation from me -- even if you end up not liking it as much as I do, I can't imagine anyone walking away from this anything but happy about the time they spent with it. It's one of those that gets better the more you think about it -- the way that Boice built-on the foundation of the series and yet created something wholly original (and possibly deserving of a sequel, as long as it didn't involve a murder) is truly impressive.
This book as not at all what I expected it to be. In fact, I picked this book several times at the bookstore, only to put it back down. Never really sure if it was something I'd enjoy. The cover was amazing and I do enjoy Happy Days, but I just wasn't sure. Still, I snagged a free copy during SeaBookstore Day. So I cracked it open thinking it'll be a fun bus book. I was quick to realize that I wrong about a great number of things about this book. This wasn't the satire I thought it was going to be. It was something a little more serious, a little more deep, and it quickly stopped being my bus book as I devoured between shifts.
You start out on what is basically Richard Cunningham's best day, but really it's his worst. The job he thinks he's going to get isn't exactly what he's offered. Only to get home to realize the day has gotten worse. His best friend is dead. From it's pretty much down hill slide of how much worse can it get before it gets better. Because it's based on Happy Days, so it has to get better. Right?
Well, that would be telling.
One of things I liked about Who Killed the Fonz? is the size of the book. Its just barely two hundred pages, but so much happens in those two hundred pages that I feel if it had been spread out into a bigger book I would have gotten lost. Would have forced the plot to drift. As a smaller book the plot is forced to move quickly as Richard unravels another piece of the puzzle. It's set up over the course of a week, just like the theme song of Happy Days. Which you bet your butt I was humming often as I read. Each chapter is a new day, and this helped with the flow of time.
Another thing I enjoyed was how spot on the attention to detail is. The world is already set up thanks to the TV show, but I do wonder how many times James Boice had to watch Happy Days as he was writing this. Because there was amazing details about Arnold's dinner, about Fonzi's bike, the Cunningham house, and things I'd forgotten about. Not only that but references to episodes even I remember seeing when I'd watch the re-runs on TVLand with my parents.
I also enjoyed was how close to the chest James Boice played the plot of the book. In fact it wasn't until like the last twenty pages or so I started to pieces it all together. I really enjoyed the small red herring on the bridge. It wasn't until then that I started to hope. And, I was really satisfied with the ending as well. I'd been put through a feeling grinder over two hundred pages. So it was nice to see everything tied up with nice little bow. I'm definitely glad I snagged this book on a whim. It was a really good read.
Who Killed the Fonz? was a great noir mystery that I'm happy I decided to add to my pile last month. I would have missed out on something really good if I had stayed on the fence. It kept me guessing and honestly on the edge of seat toward the end.
Buy, Borrow, or Skip: I say a solid library book for me. I enjoyed my time with it, but I probably wouldn't read it a second time. In fact my copy is going to my mom next.
Nostalgic for 70s & 80s sitcoms? Wondering what happened to Richie, Potsie, Ralph-Malph and the Fonz as they became middle-aged? Or plain and simply grew up in the Milwaukee area? Well this book is for. It's what might have been imagined of having a reunion movie, but with a slightly darker twist. A quick read. With the beach and pool season on the horizon this just may be the book for you.
In the same vein that characters from the Archie comics were updated and transported into the noir TV series RIVERDALE, James Boice (The Shooting) has lifted the cast of the sitcom HAPPY DAYS and inserted them into a cozy noir mystery. WHO KILLED THE FONZ? picks up the characters from the show, which was set from 1955 to 1965, 20 years later, in 1984. (The TV series aired from 1974 to 1984.)
Richard ("Richie") Cunningham is now in his 40s and living in Los Angeles with his wife and widowed mother. He has an Oscar-nominated screenplay to his credit but is finding it hard to get the green light for his literary film project when movie studios only want to produce rip-offs of The Terminator and Star Wars. When he learns that his longtime friend Arthur Fonzarelli has been killed in a motorcycle accident, he flies back to Milwaukee to attend the memorial. Once there, he's reunited with his friends Potsie Weber and Ralph Malph, and the trio begins to realize that the Fonz's death was a murder set up to look like an accident.
WHO KILLED THE FONZ? could have easily descended into campiness, but Boice has respect and affection for the characters and skillfully adds layers of dramatic depth to them. Boice also knows how to plot a tight and engaging mystery that embraces both light noir and coziness. Fans of the 11-season sitcom will enjoy being reunited with the cast of familiar faces and will appreciate their lighthearted banter while they play amateur sleuths to solve a murder and cover-up.
Richard ("Richie") Cunningham is now in his 40s and living in Los Angeles with his wife and widowed mother. He has an Oscar-nominated screenplay to his credit but is finding it hard to get the green light for his literary film project when movie studios only want to produce rip-offs of The Terminator and Star Wars. When he learns that his longtime friend Arthur Fonzarelli has been killed in a motorcycle accident, he flies back to Milwaukee to attend the memorial. Once there, he's reunited with his friends Potsie Weber and Ralph Malph, and the trio begins to realize that the Fonz's death was a murder set up to look like an accident.
WHO KILLED THE FONZ? could have easily descended into campiness, but Boice has respect and affection for the characters and skillfully adds layers of dramatic depth to them. Boice also knows how to plot a tight and engaging mystery that embraces both light noir and coziness. Fans of the 11-season sitcom will enjoy being reunited with the cast of familiar faces and will appreciate their lighthearted banter while they play amateur sleuths to solve a murder and cover-up.
Loved it. Well written and brought back a lot of memories of both the TV show and the 1980s.
A pleasant nostalgic look back (and then forward.)
I think they did miss an opportunity by not using a cover design that echoed Ready to Go Steady and Fonzie Drops In, the paperbacks of the '70s.
I think they did miss an opportunity by not using a cover design that echoed Ready to Go Steady and Fonzie Drops In, the paperbacks of the '70s.
Having watched “Happy Days” when I was growing up when this book came across Netgalley the title intrigued me. Now Richie who wants to be called Richard is living L.A. with Lori Beth but his career is not going as planned. He wants to write something of substance but his agent is still pushing the same old movies at him. Frustrated he arrives home to find out that Arthur Fonzarelli, “Fonzi” is dead. Going out to Milwaukee he is back with Ralph and Postie. At first, they are not happy to see him, but later they warm up. Al, though is happy, and he is glad to hear that Al’s is still open even with a competitor across the street. It is after the funeral that Richie begins to wonder what really happened to Fonzi crashing on a bridge that he has driven over forever. It is then that he begins his own investigation running into the same cop from the past who is now a Lieutenant. He also shots a commercial spot for a man running for governor all the while working at finding the truth. Are there some inconsistencies yes. I for one did not think this as a Noir, and some of the references did not match up with all of the shows, but it is a story and I was entertained while reading it and it kept me going as to who did it. It would have been nice though to have Pinky Tuscardaro either show up or even have been the governor’s wife, just saying. But overall a good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Having watched “Happy Days” when I was growing up when this book came across Netgalley the title intrigued me. Now Richie who wants to be called Richard is living L.A. with Lori Beth but his career is not going as planned. He wants to write something of substance but his agent is still pushing the same old movies at him. Frustrated he arrives home to find out that Arthur Fonzarelli, “Fonzi” is dead. Going out to Milwaukee he is back with Ralph and Postie. At first, they are not happy to see him, but later they warm up. Al, though is happy, and he is glad to hear that Al’s is still open even with a competitor across the street. It is after the funeral that Richie begins to wonder what really happened to Fonzi crashing on a bridge that he has driven over forever. It is then that he begins his own investigation running into the same cop from the past who is now a Lieutenant. He also shots a commercial spot for a man running for governor all the while working at finding the truth. Are there some inconsistencies yes. I for one did not think this as a Noir, and some of the references did not match up with all of the shows, but it is a story and I was entertained while reading it and it kept me going as to who did it. It would have been nice though to have Pinky Tuscardaro either show up or even have been the governor’s wife, just saying. But overall a good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
A short fun read. Part murder mystery, part nostalgia trip. Could have used more twists and turns, but still a solid read that I never imagined I would get.
A one sit wonder, which is what I call a book I start and finish in a couple of hours. Who Killed the Fonz carefully navigates the shoals of fan fiction and actually manages to be about something. It probably helps if you were a fan of Happy Days. I wasn't, but had no problem with all of the major references --- though I am sure I missed plenty as that will enhance the nostalgia factor. But the story of Richard Cunningham coming back to Milwaukee as a middle-aged man discontented with his life more than makes up for (1) the utter lack of mystery and (2) the mildly lame sitcom elements with Potsie and Ralph at the climax of the story. It is a very sweet read without being cloying.
OK so clues come kind conveniently at times. The villain is so obvious when you first meet them I thought it was decoy, but it is fun an short enough that none of that bothers you. It is fun finding these familiar characters again. Their talks about how the world lost its innocents since their youth was some of the best parts. So all and all I would say this book was not great but fun, and since it is really more of a novella than a novel (under 200 pages with margins you could land a plane in) it is quick enough of a read to be worth it.
Happy Days are here again!
Absolutely loved this book. A beautifully written story that brings a little bit more closure to the characters from the beloved sitcom. The conclusion kept me smiling the whole time I was reading it and while I know that a sequel really isn’t logical I’d love to see something similar from this author in the future. Excuse me while I turn back the clock and head on down to Arnold’s for a cheeseburger and milkshake.
Absolutely loved this book. A beautifully written story that brings a little bit more closure to the characters from the beloved sitcom. The conclusion kept me smiling the whole time I was reading it and while I know that a sequel really isn’t logical I’d love to see something similar from this author in the future. Excuse me while I turn back the clock and head on down to Arnold’s for a cheeseburger and milkshake.
A fun look at what might have been if the cast of Happy Days was still around in the 80s. A little sappy but so was the show! If you grew up like me watching the show you will like me how could you not want to see how they turned out? I also loved all the 80s pop culture references.
I got this as a e book from net galley. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.
Very cute. Like revisiting old friends.
If you ever watched "Happy Days", this is the book to read! Very well written telling the continuing story of Richie, Potsie and everyone who was in "Happy Days". I can not tell you anymore as I do not want to give anything away, but this was excellent.
What a delightfully fun read for anyone that has watched and enjoyed Happy Days. The book is a very quick read at less than 200 pages (I read it in one sitting). Briefly, the book is set in the 1980s when the Happy Days gang from the '50s and early '60s are well into adulthood. Richie Cunningham returns to Milwaukee for the funeral of the Fonz. His death, thought to be accidental, is soon the center of a mystery (a little mystery).
The book is mostly about the nostalgia of recalling the fun sitcom that was Happy Days. All the characters you remember make an appearance as the mystery of the Fonz's death is explored. This is not a book to select if you are looking for a serious mystery with hard-boiled characters. Instead, it is a romp down memory lane as you remember the various Happy Days episodes and what happened to the gang each week.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and recommend it for anyone that enjoyed Happy Days.
The book is mostly about the nostalgia of recalling the fun sitcom that was Happy Days. All the characters you remember make an appearance as the mystery of the Fonz's death is explored. This is not a book to select if you are looking for a serious mystery with hard-boiled characters. Instead, it is a romp down memory lane as you remember the various Happy Days episodes and what happened to the gang each week.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and recommend it for anyone that enjoyed Happy Days.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews