The Deep Blue Good-by by John D. MacDonald Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Deep Blue Good-by
Book Review: Slip 18
Summary: 4 Stars
THE DEEP BLUE GOODBYE-BY is the introduction to one an enduring character of mystery fiction, Travis McGee.
McGee's lost ladies find in a scared man a source of help for their problems. McGee recovers lost fortunes for half the recovered amounts plus expenses. We will follow him through many searches, long for more stories, and express a faith in a world seen and experienced by McGee as the Busted Flush rides at anchor at Slip 18.
With McGee, we're never disappointed: the good guy wins, but sometimes the expenses run higher than the recovery.
HaintsWriting as a Small Business
Book Review: THE FIRST TRAVIS MCGEE NOVEL
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been reading older mystery/detective novels for the last year and quite naturally that would lead me to the legend, John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee. THE DEEP BLUE GOOD-BY is the first in the series, from 1964. It is still outstanding eve after all these years. I will certainly go ahead and read some more in this series.Book Review: The Thief Within the Theft
Summary: 5 Stars
According to rumor, when John MacDonald first debuted Travis McGee in 1964, he submited five novels at once. Ritual considers The Deep Blue Good-by as the true first novel, although there is little evidence that would favor any of them. All can be read independently, and all are excellent reading.McGee makes his living by retrieving things that are hopelessly lost and tasking a hefty percentage off the top. This funds his idyllic existence on the Busted Flush, a housboat in Lauderdale. As McGee puts it, he is tacking his retirement in chunks spread over his life rather than all at once. When Chookie McCall, a friendly dancer tries to get McGee to listen to the probelms of one of the women in her dance troupe McGee's first reaction is to say no. But his sense of chivalry betrays him, and he finds himself drawn into the story of Catherine Kerr, who suspects that her estranged husband ran away with a nest egg that her father left for his family before he went to prison and to his death.
Soon McGee, the Busted Flush, and a Rolls Royce pickup truck named Miss Agnes are out hunting for Junior Allen and the mysterious treasure he is suspected of taking. What McGee discovers soon enough is that Allen isn't just a crook, he is a true socipath. The story begins to take ugly turns and we quickly find out that even white knights can get very dirty. MacDonald's mystery storys are more often roller-coaster rides than quiet journeys, and The Deep Blue Good-by is no exception. McGee is noble defender, tough guy, and patient listener as the circumstances require. What he never is, is boring.
What sets MacDonald's novels apart from his many imitators is his tight control of language and pacing. Without warning McGee's narration can shift from the mystery at hand to scathing social commentary. Descriptions are vivid without the use of excess adjectives. While MacDonald isn't really a noir writer, there is a dark shadow in all his stories. One that can leave you shaken long after you turn the last page.
Book Review: The beginning of a fruitful series
Summary: 4 Stars
I love these books. Travis McGee is one of all-time great fictional wise guys. He's witty, and pretty resourceful. The Florida setting makes a great backdrop and the books are full of action. The McGee brand of private eye was a masterstroke on the part of MacDonald. McGee is just a seemingly innocent beach bum that makes his money stealing money from those who have previously stolen it from someone else. In this opening book of the series, McGee takes on an ex-con that stole some goods belonging to a friend of a friend of McGee's. That's all you need to know of the plot. The real enjoyment of these books are the journeys McGee travels.
There's a funny stream of misogyny that runs through this series that I have to comment on. McGee's exploits with women are much in the vein of James Bond, but MacDonald, I think, seems uncomfortable with the fact, because McGee is always rationalizing his behavior and the author's sympathies seem to be with him. One way or another, McGee always has some deeper reason as to why his constant use of various women is actually doing them a whole lot of good. Travis McGee is the sensitive womanizer. Now, I've never met such a person, but if one existed, I think that he'd spend the majority of his time on the analysts couch. This is just the first book, but when you're ten or twelve deep into the series, you'll no doubt laugh as McGee says something like, "All the women mean something" after one dies the sudden, yet requisite, death.
Anyway, these books are fun and their goal is to entertain, and they do just that. If you read one or two, there is a good chance you'll read all of them sooner or later. I usually take one on vacation.
Book Review: The first of the McGees!
Summary: 4 Stars
Even though I still find "Flash of Green" to be my favorite MacDonald book, there's something so appealing about the Travis McGee series that keeps me coming back to them. But "The Deep Blue Good-By" just doesn't have that quick pace that some of the others have, maybe because it was the first time he was introduced to the reading public. And the minor characters just are not as interesting. This is all a presonal reaction, so don't take it too seriously. I just hope that MacDonald continues to gain in popularity, as I feel he is horribly overlooked.