Lynne Garber’s Death On the Amazon: My Memories of Eric Fleming is the story of an irreverent, iconoclastic Television idol from the days when Western’s dominated the Nielsen ratings. Garber was a young cosmopolitan lady from Manhattan who had multiple characteristics—Bennington College scholarship, Ford Agency model, Latin Quarter dancer, and insider to mafia mysteries.

She writes about Eric Fleming, who starred as Gil Favor on Rawhide television, from an insider’s viewpoint, Lynne Garber described Fleming from her role as his fiancée and confidante. Fleming’s childhood was an ordeal of daily beatings by a drunken father, and Fleming needed plastic surgery after a 200-pound load crashed on his face during World War II.

With refreshing candor, she demystifies pervasive myths about Fleming. The writer sheds light on Fleming’s antagonistic relationship with Clint Eastwood who played his Rawhide sidekick Rowdy Yates, and discusses CBS CEO William Paley. She divulges the authentic reasons he quit Hollywood only to return to film ‘a made for television movie’, High Jungle in the Peruvian Amazon.

Despite the personal tragedies, I appreciated her lighthearted manner in how she described life at Eric’s Hollywood Hills house, “Los Angeles weather is like an obituary; the local newspapers always had something positive to report about it, regardless of its true condition. It was early spring in Los Angeles, with blossoms budding on deciduous trees and awe-struck tourists ignoring the smog as they tried to locate estates of past and current hot Hollywood legends.”

With her insider’s sensitivity, Death On the Amazon is a book about a nonconformist television star that spurned Hollywood proclivities; its traditions and social rituals. Garber describes her solid, heartfelt insights into one of Hollywood’s top stars of the 60s. The staying power of Rawhide on ME TV and streaming services is a testament to the two Adonis’ that starred in the show. With stars Fleming and Eastwood, Rawhide vaunted to the sixth highest rated television show in 1960, ahead of The Untouchables, Ed Sullivan, Bonanza and Candid Camera.

I will stop the review at this point and let the reader revisit a more glamorous time in Hollywood, and read about the decision to film a scene where Fleming shoots the rapids on the Huallaga River, deep in the Amazon.
 

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Arik Kaplan, Author

 

  

 

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I never watched Rawhide but had heard of it, so this biography sounded very interesting to me. I really like books that take place in the 1960's. This book was a wild ride.

I did not know anything about Eric Fleming. His life was so fascinating. He was someone who had so many hardships but still kept coming back. His relationship with Hollywood was one of love and hate. He always stayed strong. Somehow, he began to believe in faith and fate.

The relationship with Lynne was anything but predictable. Both characters, had faults, who doesn't, but they truly loved one another. It was them against the world. In the end, I was definitely rooting for them. Maybe, the book teaches you, to always listen to your partner, when they are truly looking out for you.

The story had almost everything anyone could want - romance, love, sex, pills, travel, illness, triumph, Hollywood, Hollywood executives, despair, fear, holding your ground, anger, disbelief, filming, struggle and so much more. The book (and his life) were not predictable. I never knew where the story was going next.

I work at UCLA neuropsychiatric hospital. Somehow, even this came up in the story. Yes, it was being facetious. Heck, UCLA hospital did come up one more time in the story.

I highly recommend this book. It is unlike anything I have read in the past. It might even motivate you to try harder. Understand, your past is related to your present but it doesn't define you. Maybe, listen to what people tell you.

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jamie Cha, Goodreads user

 

 

 

I knew nothing about the subject of Eric Fleming and his tragic death before I read this book. The book was provided to me for free in exchange for an objective and honest review

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It is rare that a story can keep a reader's interest when the ending is already known. This book moved the story swiftly, and made me want to keep reading, even though I knew what happened. The description of the little towns on the Amazon and the landscape as well as insects and animals, was vivid, and reflected the words of someone who was there herself.

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Fleming's fiance was privileged to have Eric's extensive diaries which provided authenticity to the work. There was obviously extensive research done by the author to verify facts included in the narrative. While I wish I learned what happened to Fleming's fiance and the aftermath of the tragedy, the story had to end somewhere.

I highly recommend this book for persons who are interested in true history behind the scenes of the making of a film and what can go wrong, a travel adventure very well described, and, of course, the love story between Eric and his fiance, that holds everything together.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Judge Katherine Mader

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What an incredibly well-written, first-person account of one of Hollywood's most under-appreciated men. Reading this book was not at all the typical experience one expects when picking up a biography. Indeed, it was much, much more. It is not just a story - it's a window into a relationship that, as one reads, one feels incredibly privileged to be a part of. Watching Eric Fleming as Gil Favor on Rawhide, even 54 years after his death, you can sense the depth of his character as a person - you have just a glimpse, but it's clear he was much more than 'just another actor'.

And in this book, his story is told - the story I wish everyone could have heard years ago. Gripping, well-written, and inspiring. Lynne Garber's bravery and transparency shines. I am so glad she chose to share this story with the world; I hope it encourages and inspires those with histories like Eric's.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jenni Siu, Goodreads user

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I thought this was going to be just about his trip (and death) in the Amazon. It's so much more! I don't like to leave long reviews that give away too much, so...this is about Lynne and Eric meeting & falling in love, and their story up to Eric's death. Full of great stories & life. I could have read this in 2 days (hard to put down!) but I had other things going on.

If you like real-life stories, get this book! It's told by both Lynne and Eric, so you get both sides. Thank you Lynne, for sharing your story!!

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Karen, Goodreads user

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Very well written in my opinion. She is very candid and holds nothing back. Highly recommend this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Carolyn, Goodreads user

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