The Fixer

Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn

By: Josh Young, Manfred Westphal

Narrated by: Jefferson Mays, Manfred Westphal

A riveting tell-all biography that delves into the extraordinary life of Hollywood’s most infamous private detective and “fixer” to the stars, revealing newly discovered shocking revelations from his never-before-seen investigative files.

During the height of Hollywood’s Golden Age, one man lorded over the city’s lurid underbelly of forbidden sin and celebrity scandal like no other: Fred Otash. An ex-Marine turned L.A.P.D. vice cop, Otash became the most sought-after private detective and fixer to the stars by specializing in the dark arts that would soon dominate the entertainment industry.

Otash was notorious for bugging the homes, offices, and playpens of movie stars, kingmakers, and powerful politicians, employing then state-of-the-art methods of electronic surveillance and wiretapping for a who’s who list of clients for whom he’d do “anything short of murder.” He lied to federal authorities to protect Frank Sinatra from criminal liability; recorded Rock Hudson’s coming out confession to his estranged wife; moved in with Judy Garland to help her get sober; taped President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy’s tragic love affairs with the greatest sex symbol of all time, and listened to Marilyn Monroe die.

Based on Otash’s never-before-seen investigative files and personal archives, The Fixer takes readers inside the sensational and nefarious world of the man whose life inspired the private eye characters portrayed by Jack Nicholson in Chinatown and Russell Crowe in LA Confidential.

Great Insights Into a Controversial Event

Very interesting and insightful, especially for someone who lived through that time, and has read and heard all the different versions.

Great Read

I really enjoyed this book. I'm intrigued by books like this. I listened to it quickly. I encourage you to read it.

Interesting listening

That there was no information about what really happened with Marilyn Monroe at the end of her life. Just a lot of lead up as if you’re going to find out.

Mentioning of others like Jimmy Hoffa.

Mr. Otash life was one of success and failures. His love for his daughter and hers for him was heartwarming.

Believable story.

NOSTALGIA for the most interesting celebrity situation I never heard of that were all intertwined in this book.