From a beloved master of crime fiction, The Lonely Silver Rain is one of many classic novels featuring Travis McGee, the hard-boiled detective who lives on a houseboat. Travis McGee has luck to thank for his reputation as a first-rate salvager of stolen boats. Now Billy Ingraham, a self-made tycoon, is betting that McGee can locate his $700,000 custom cruiser. McGee isn’t so sure. He knows all … McGee isn’t so sure. He knows all too well the dangerous link between Florida boatjackings and the drug trade, and he’s vowed never to swim with the sharks—but if he wants to keep his head (AKA finances) above water, swim he will.
“As a young writer, all I ever wanted was to touch readers as powerfully as John D. MacDonald touched me.”—Dean Koontz
Even though McGee doesn’t feel like sticking out his neck for this case, Billy’s wife, Millis, convinces him to step up to the challenge. Sort of. After a pilot friend leads him to the stolen vessel, McGee immediately regrets not going with his gut. The yacht is no longer an ordinary boat. It’s a slaughterhouse.
After witnessing the sordid scene, McGee realizes he’s knee-deep in the white-hot center of an international cocaine ring. In the midst of this terrifying ordeal and an affair with a very dangerous woman, McGee is shocked by the return of a secret from his past. Over the years, McGee has recovered many wrecks—now he’ll need to salvage his own life.
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Now I know why present mystery writers refer to John D MacDonald as the father of crime fiction. Travis McGee character preceded Harry Bosch.
John D. McDonald wrote 21 Travis McGee novels starting with The Deep Blue Good-by and ending with The Lonely Silver Rain. John died before he could write anymore McGee novels. Of all the books, this is the one I have listened to the most. Narrated by Robert Petkoff, as all McGee novels are on Audible, The Lonely Silver Rain has to be my favorite. McDonald has fully fleshed out his character and McGee has to face some tough choices in this book and learns a few surprises that set him back on the road of salvage expert. Ask anyone who writes in the Sea Adventures or action/adventure category and they’ll tell you McDonald is an inspiration for them. Read them yourself and find out why McDonald is the master who over his lifetime published 60 plus works, most of them centered in Florida.
A perfect ending volume to the Travis McGee series.
I always enjoy John D. Macdonald’s books because they remind me of my father, who died many years ago. He always read them during his noon break and I know why. He never knew the outcome until the end. It also reminds me of a time before computers and cell phones, when Travis has to use his wits solve the mystery.
last book for Travis Magee. sigh.
Travis McGee is my all time favorite literary character. I started following this character back in the mid sixties and have read all the books with him in it. I originally read this back around 1989 or 1990 and enjoyed it then. So since it had been so long since I read it I decided to read it again and I thoroughly enjoyed it again. The character is so engaging especially when he launches into one of his soliloquy’s about the state of life in general and where he thinks it is headed. Highly recommend this to everyone.
good book liked the ending
proof that the new writers do not compare to the oringinal.They should quit trying
Read every John D. MacDonald book. You owe it to yourself. He’s a master of plot, character, and at pulling the reader into the story. “The Lonely Silver Rain” is not exception. Unfortunately, it’s the last of the Travis McGee novels, and I advise you to start at the beginning. They don’t have to be read in order, but starting at the end is not the correct choice, so start with “The Deep Blue Good-by.” I know, I know..but that’s the way he spelled it. However one spells them, John D. MacDonald novels are wonderful. The really sad thing is, with MacDonald’s death in 1986, there won’t be any more.
My heart broke with every word in this book — the final adventure we could every share with the **Magnificent** Travis McGee!
As with all Travis Mc Gee books, this one was superb
The last in the series, it provided a suitable coda to Travis McGee’s adventures.
Macdonalds best book
The final installment of one of the great detective series in American literature. This guy just got better and better.
One or the Travis McGee series by John MacaDonald(all books in series have color in the title) & the one I most enjoyed
Really, this is the best book I have ever read. It is also the saddest. I cried at he end because I knew it was the end of the greatest collection of books (20) I have ever read.
MacDonald is one of America’s most underrated writers, and his insights into the human condition are unique and uncannily perceptive.
Questioning the reality of his carefree existence McGee becomes involved in another escapade with the usual results, only with a surprise ending
Too bad John d. McDonald is dead I could read 100 of his books
This is the most depressing Travis McGee novel I’ve read. Travis is in a funk and he’s being hunted by a cabal of South American drug lords. In this one he seems to be tiring a bit of his beach bum lifestyle. I won’t give spoilers,and all ends well, but most of the read is just slogging along hoping something interesting will happen. Let’s just say this one is not my fave Trav novel.