thebeardedpoet's review against another edition
5.0
This one is not so much a salvage operation as a revenge con. In the last three chapters, there is an intense, high peril situation which I found quite exciting. Well done, John D. MacDonald!
catladylover94's review against another edition
3.0
it was just ok, sorta like a robin hood, who took money from the rich and made the poor rich, with it. fast easy read,
ghostroom217's review against another edition
3.0
Slow start to this one, but picked up nicely about a third in. Have read all the Travis McGee series now. Next time I'll read them in order.
yaj's review against another edition
5.0
One of the better Travis McGee novels, filled with mystery, shady financial dealings, and revenge, all set in a Florida that once was.
darwin8u's review
3.0
"In all emotional conflicts, dear girl, the thing you find the hardest to do is the thing you should do."
-- John D. MacDonald, Pale Gray for Guilt
A good solid Travis McGee romp. MacDonald's novels, like his titles, don't stray from his themes very far. But like a seafood restaurant you know well, and go to for its quality and execution, the Travis McGee novels are well-executed variations on the same themes: revenge, woman-in-peril, etc.
This one is focused on revenge. Travis along with his trusty economist Sancho Panza seeks to get even with a conspiracy of men who have done a bad deed to an old friend. McGee is challenged in this novel because he is doing his job, but for a friend. As he says, "Strangers make the best clients. Then I can play the odds and stay cold. Here I'm too emotionally hung up. I'm too angry, too sick at heart."
This isn't his best. I'd recommend it to those who love MacDonald and are looking for a bit of escape. If you aren't a hardcore John MacDonald fan, I'd skip this one.
-- John D. MacDonald, Pale Gray for Guilt
A good solid Travis McGee romp. MacDonald's novels, like his titles, don't stray from his themes very far. But like a seafood restaurant you know well, and go to for its quality and execution, the Travis McGee novels are well-executed variations on the same themes: revenge, woman-in-peril, etc.
This one is focused on revenge. Travis along with his trusty economist Sancho Panza seeks to get even with a conspiracy of men who have done a bad deed to an old friend. McGee is challenged in this novel because he is doing his job, but for a friend. As he says, "Strangers make the best clients. Then I can play the odds and stay cold. Here I'm too emotionally hung up. I'm too angry, too sick at heart."
This isn't his best. I'd recommend it to those who love MacDonald and are looking for a bit of escape. If you aren't a hardcore John MacDonald fan, I'd skip this one.
tbrown's review
4.0
I am rereading the McGee series and have not been disappointed. They have held up quite well. In the middle of this one, though, I almost started skimming. The details of the scam McGee runs to gain revenge on his friend’s killers didn’t make sense and my eyes glazed over. But then I came to the last two chapters and everything about this book changed. Those chapters are the best of MacDonald and of McGee. It boosted my rating from three to four stars and I left the book anticipating #10.
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