In the Florida Keys, a houseboat explodes in a giant white flash, instantly killing those on board. The boat belonged to Travis McGee’s friend Meyer. But it’s not Meyer who’s dead – he’d lent it to his just-married niece, Norma, and her husband, hoping to give them the perfect honeymoon.
“There are no one hundred percent heroes.” That’s the famous opening line, and it’s influenced several generations of crime fiction writers. Jack Reacher is a descendant of Travis McGee, as Lee Child is a great admirer of MacDonald’s work, as are Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Carl Hiaasen and other heavyweights. The plot of “Cinnamon Skin?” Oh, there’s a boat that explodes and a drug deal, but the plots barely matter in the 21-book McGee series. It’s the rich character, and the pyrotechnic writing. MacDonald may be the most quotable crime fiction writer since Raymond Chandler. “Waves can wash away the most stubborn stains, and the stars do not care one way or the other.” Then there’s his concern for the environment of Florida…sixty years ago! “Somebody has to be tireless or the fast buck operators would asphalt the entire coast, fill every bay and slay every living thing incapable of carrying a wallet.” And those opening lines: “We were about to give up and call it a night when somebody threw the girl off the bridge.” You can start with the first one, “The Deep Blue Good-By,” to which I paid homage in “The Deep Blue Alibi.” I bet you’ll read all 21…and then start all over again.
This book is part of the Travis McGee series written many years ago by John D. MacDonald. Every book in this series was excellent. Well worth the cost and the time.
The GREAT John D. MacDonald – my favorite author. Every Travis McGee novel is a treasure.
John D. McDonald is one of the best, I like almost anything he writes, but the Travis McGee series is my favorite. I’ve read these over and over and over.
Although this is an older series (all titles based on colors), Travis McGee is unforgettable. I enjoyed this book, but my favorite was “The Green Ripper.”
This was one of the last Travis McGee novels.
As always this author writes a vivid story you can picture in your mind. Throw in a twist or two & the hook is set and you don’t put the book down until the last page has been read.
Another great read by John D. McDonald
One of the All-Time GREAT authors !