I have had four color-themed Travis McGee books sitting on my shelves for years—all old paperbacks acquired from disparate used book locations. John D. MacDonald has long had the reputation as a template for generations of mystery writers—his fans famously including Stephen King & Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.. So, 60 years after it’s publication and my birth, I finally delved into my first Travis McGee novel. And I liked it. Lean and fast with sharply drawn characters and a satisfying mystery, MacDonald’s often beautiful descriptions pepper the prose—leaving an almost cinematic impression after reading. Famously a denizen of Florida, this story has McGee out of his element in the southwest—unfortunate for my first choice to read. Curious if I will appreciate this more or less after reading about him on his own turf. As with my own hands, the book has some age spots—the writing reflects the stereotypes of its era but that is ingrained in any work—you have to create space for that. I will be reading more. ( )

A fun yarn with a strong opening. A mystery set somewhere in the American southwest rather than Florida, we spend most of the book meeting interesting characters and trying to figure out what is really going on. Liked how the puzzle pieces ultimately fit together, liked the characters, liked the purple prose and philosophizing; didn't like how the protagonist mostly survives by luck (by my count, he avoided being shot on 3 separate occasions due to pure chance). ( )

When his money gets into the reserve, Travis McGee sets aside his retirement and goes looking for a lucrative job. This time he has headed out West to work for a woman named Mona who is convinced that her husband has stolen the money she inherited from her father. She needs money because she wants to run away with a college professor.

McGee is ready to say no since he doesn't like Mona and doesn't know what he can do that lawyers and accountants aren't already doing. But things change when Mona is shot and killed while standing next to Travis. By the time Travis walks down to the nearest phone and calls the sheriff a couple of hours have gone by. When he returns to the isolated cabin there is no body and no indication that anything happened. The police are skeptical especially since a couple looking like Mona and her college professor got on a plane for points South just the day before.

Travis knows what he saw and begins his own investigation. The college professor's sister is on his side since she can't believe that her brother would have run off without talking to her and he certainly wouldn't have run off without his insulin and supplies.

Travis also convinces Mona's husband that things are not like they look at first glance. The husband has his own assortment of possible enemies and also has the Feds looking into his business practices which are decidedly shifty. Travis agrees to work for the husband because he likes him more than he liked Mona.

This was an engaging historical mystery filled with attitudes that sort of made me cringe while listening to the audiobook. Husbands using physical punishment on their wives wouldn't be acceptable these days and were likely illegal then too. Travis's attitudes to women would not make a desirable partner these days for most women. Not that he is looking for any relationship deeper than a sidewalk puddle after a summer rain. He's proud to be a beach bum and take his retirement in chunks while he is young enough to enjoy it. But when problems need an unconventional, maybe even illegal, solution, no one is better than Travis McGee. ( )

I have read most of the Travis McGee series before but somehow not this one.

I have conflicting feelings about this book and the series overall. I love the way MacDonald uses words and the plot is, as usual, well crafted and satisfying. I have a more difficult time with McGee's, and one assumes McDonald's, attitude towards women - it isn't exactly sexist or patronizing but it has some of those overtones. On the other hand, the more you learn about McGee over the course of the series, the less sexist he appears. Is it just the 1960s/70s way of talking or that background culture? Or is it something specific to Travis McGee? I don't know but I can see some female readers hating this character (and therefore inevitably the book). ( )

Another travis mcgee- the usual stuff. this time in a desert ... good scene where travis is trapped with a girl by some nasty toughs. (it works out ok) ( )