A review by kurtwombat
Purple Place for Dying by John D. MacDonald

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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.