The Fixer

Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn

By: Josh Young, Manfred Westphal

Narrated by: Jefferson Mays, Manfred Westphal

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

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 he listened to Marilyn Monroe die.

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

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Josh Young and Manfred Westphal (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing

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.

Great Biography

It was a very informative and tremendously interesting book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Great years of the 50's and 60's Hollywood.

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.

Loved it!!

Fascinating story very compelling evidence about Marilyn Monroe’s last night alive. It was hard to pause this one.

Amazing piece of history!

I could not stop listening! I loved the honesty of the personal successes and failures of so many in Hollywood and Washing DC that were revealed.

level of coruption

it never ceases to amaze me of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. it paints a good picture of the depth of issues the people in Hollywood have. Not a lifestyle to be jealous of. One of the most interesting books I have ever read.

Just WOW!!!

This is an Awesome book!!! I will encourage everyone I know to listen to this!!!

The real backstory on Hollywood surveillance

O’Tash was well known during my life. Confidential Magazine was huge. Lots of clandestine things were going on among the influential. This includes politicians!
This book was made off interviews with O’Tash during his last year of life.
The emphasis on Marilyn is only due to her myth. She was just a checker in the board. Her life was tragic but she lived so recklessly!
The bugging of offices and homes is at last, exposed here. That info was very interesting to me!
Enjoy. This isn’t some writ by someone who never knew the principle characters, or wasn’t even alive when they lived. This is mostly O’Tash’s story. Amazing. Scandalous!

Fascinating to learn the truth

The veracity of the answer to one of political history's biggest questions (mysteries) is entwined with the story of an amazing PI. Maybe the best there ever was.

For Hollywood gossip lovers!

This biography of a former marine-turned LAPD cop-turned private detective and "Fixer" of thorny problems is at times compelling and at other times in need of more substance.

The author meets Fred Otash, the subject of the biography, after he retires. The two become friends and after Fred's death, the author is told by Otash's surviving daughter that he should be the one to tell her father's story.

In the book, we learn about Fred's work in the LAPD, particularly his clashes with the department's chief, which cause him to quit the force and work independently, becoming a master at setting up surveillance recordings for those in need. Throughout his life, he becomes embroiled in any number of complex situations, the most famous of which involves Marilyn Monroe and her affairs with both JFK and RFK.

The narration is fine -- clear and understandable.

The book is gossipy and entertaining but there are some situations that lack interest or emotion.