Rating: 
Summary: Another Winner from John MacDonald
Review: John D. Macdonald has created the most wonderful character in Travis Magee. I have read his adventures over and over again, starting in the 70s. In The Deep Blue Goodbye Macdonald has created possibly the worst villain in his series. A sociopath, at times he seems unbeatable, and you'll be sitting on the edge of your chair until Trav triumphs again and gets the girl, albeit temporarily. Each book in the Trav Magee series are well worth reading, as are all of the other books MacDonald wrote.
Rating:
Summary: McGee makes colorful debut!
Review: "Home is the 'Busted Flush,' 52-foot barge-type houseboat, Slip F-18, Bahia Mar, Lauderdale." Is there any address in American literature so readily identified? Probably not. It's the home of Travis McGee, "knight in tarnished armor," and central character of the over-20 volumed series by John D. MacDonald. With quite a following of readers around the world (my first McGee was while vacationing in Torremolinas years ago and needing something to read while soaking up the Spanish sunshine and absorbing the sangria deliciosa!), MacDonald's hero, along with his sometimes bizarre assortment of friends, enemies, and hangers-on, goes from one adventure to another. Each of the McGee books contains a color in the title, easily recognizable. And it's not purple prose either! MacDonald, a best-selling novelist for years, has more than just a storyline to carry his books. Certainly, McGee is his principal concern. He's "retired" most of the time--he only goes back to work when he sees he's running out of money. He'd rather stay aboard his houseboat and entertain his friends that work. He claims he's taking his retirement one day at a time! "The Deep Blue Good-by" is the first in this series, published in 1964. It is amazing, too, that in reading it here in the year 2000, the book still stands as relevant now as it was then. McGee, as usual, finds himself befriending and then helping out Cathy Kerr, who has come to him in desperation. Her misfortune has been to meet up with Junior Allen, "a smiling, freckle-face stranger" with depravity on his mind and a more odious person you don't want to meet. There is also something about missing inheritance. McGee is unable to resist and from the moment he accepts the challenge, the reader is glued to the pages. MacDonald's style is terse (some would say Hemingwayesque--one of MacDonald's favorite writes, incidentally) and moves rapidly, a pace easy to keep up with but one that if you blink, you might miss something. But who wants to blink when MacDonald is on a McGee crusade! The author's knack for piercing characterization, his ability to capture the landscape and atmosphere of "Lauderdamndale," and his penchant for a good story make this first episode one not to be missed. True, the McGee books ordinarily don't have to be read in sequence, it's still a good idea. Over the course of the series, naturally, an affinity toward complete understanding of Travis, and his good friend Meyer, keeps readers truly involved. "The Deep Blue Good-by" is a "hello" to a great series! Billyjhobbs@tyler.net
Rating: 
Summary: remarkably unremarkable...
Review: 'Deep Blue Goodbye' is the first of many Travis McGee mysteries, and it's my first John MacDonald novel. And as I explain below, it will probably be my last John MacDonald novel. Our story takes place in south Florida circa 1960. Travis McGee is supposedly one of those lovable rogues that women adore and men envy. He works privately in collecting stolen items for those not wanting to involve the law, and retains 50% commission. In the 'Deep Blue Goodbye' he finds himself working for a woman who is trying to regain stolen articles of her deceased father, who in turn had stolen them himself during WW II. The mystery itself unwinds nicely if fairly conventionally. The author doesn't break new ground here; I got the feeling I've seen this all before on television or as a composite of other mystery novels I've read. A so-so story can often be redeemed by fine writing and/or characterizations. But other than capturing a good feel of a Miami long forgotten, MacDonald's literary skills are just average. I found the Travis McGee character to be especially contrived. MacDonald was probably looking to develop him as an 'enigmatic' character. I simply found everything about him to be phony, perhaps as some alter ego of the author. Bottom line: certainly passable entertainment, but nothing more.
Rating:
Summary: The Thief Within the Theft
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The Thief Within the Theft
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Meet Travis McGee- the true definition of hard-boiled.
Review: After reading all of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee books, I would say that The Deep Blue Good-By is the best way to meet the greatest character of the detective-story genre. Imagine the best qualities of Hammett's Continental Detective Agency Operative and Sam Spade, Chandler's Philip Marlowe, and Cussler's Dirk Pitt combined with a unique personality that is impossible not to love. MacDonald's characterization is unmatched in almost all authors I have read, and his story-telling skills are amazing. But most impressive are his social commentaries voiced by McGee in interior monologue; nearly all the nigh-cynical observations voiced by Mcgee were true in MacDonald's time as well as ours. If you love a good story, regardless of whether or not you like mysteries, you will love this book. One word of caution, though-- once you read this, you will be hopelessly addicted to the world of Travis Mcgee.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely riveting!
Review: As you know by the previous reviews, this first book in the Travis McGee series, MacDonald paints a brilliant story with a magnetic appeal. The characters are interesting and the storyline flows like a mountain spring. We lost a fantastic American author when John D. passed away, but he left his mark on literature. I've many of the McGee books on the shelf and enjoy picking up and rereading due to the truly great writing style of MacDonald.
Rating: 
Summary: The first of the McGees!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for any American
Review: I am a lawyer who was an English major as an undergrad. Jonathan Yardley of the Washington Post wrote a favorable essay about Travis McGee in 2003 which got me interested in the series (incidentally, my contracts professor used Travis as a character in many of his essay questions). I first read "A Deep Blue Goodbye" and was instantly hooked. McDonald intersperses the action of his novels (Boy, is there is action!) with Travis's insights into American society. Even though this book was published in 1964, Travis's insights are completely appropriate for today. If you are a reader who likes both action and a bit of philosophy on America, try this book or any other Travis McGee books (you don't have to read them in order). More realistic than Mike Hammer (Travis doesn't always get the woman and often gets his a-- kicked), Travis McGee never fails to thrill. Once I wanted to write the perfect detective novel. After reading Travis McGee, I knew I was beat. If you have any other questions or comments, e-mail me at schlegce@aol.com. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for any American
Review: I am a lawyer who was an English major as an undergrad. Jonathan Yardley of the Washington Post wrote a favorable essay about Travis McGee in 2003 which got me interested in the series (incidentally, my contracts professor used Travis as a character in many of his essay questions). I first read "A Deep Blue Goodbye" and was instantly hooked. McDonald intersperses the action of his novels (Boy, is there is action!) with Travis's insights into American society. Even though this book was published in 1964, Travis's insights are completely appropriate for today. If you are a reader who likes both action and a bit of philosophy on America, try this book or any other Travis McGee books (you don't have to read them in order). More realistic than Mike Hammer (Travis doesn't always get the woman and often gets his a-- kicked), Travis McGee never fails to thrill. Once I wanted to write the perfect detective novel. After reading Travis McGee, I knew I was beat. If you have any other questions or comments, e-mail me at schlegce@aol.com. Enjoy!
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