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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t normally read crime fiction, but MacDonald is held in high regard, so…There’s not much action until the end, which doesn’t bother me. The hero, McGee, is your standard Bogart-styled, cynical ladies man, which also doesn’t bother me. The sex passages are well-written, slightly erotic and not sleazy. His bad guy is appropriately sleazy (and brutal) though. There’s a lot of downbeat sociological critiquing by McGee. MacDonald obviously knows boats, but overdoes the boating vocab and technical stuff. And there’s an excess of swing-for-the-fences prose, like “My head seemed full of distances, of wraiths and mists, a wide and lonely country encased in a papery fragility of bone.” Huh?
If you’re into hardboiled, tough-guy detective fiction, yeah, I guess I recommend it, though I’m hoping for better when I sample Ross Mac, Chandler, and Selby. Those of you into Travis McGee might want to check out the other “color” mysteries, my Nick Montaigne series, Similar to McGee but more soft-boiled, with less weird prose and with tongue-in-cheek humor.
If you’re into hardboiled, tough-guy detective fiction, yeah, I guess I recommend it, though I’m hoping for better when I sample Ross Mac, Chandler, and Selby. Those of you into Travis McGee might want to check out the other “color” mysteries, my Nick Montaigne series, Similar to McGee but more soft-boiled, with less weird prose and with tongue-in-cheek humor.
The Deep Blue Good-by was written in 1964. For a "dime" novel or one that I would call "read and forget", this is one well written story. It is amazing to me the difference in writing styles and reader's needs for a lot of white on the pages with snippets of character development. While MacDonald does use stereotypes to begin with, he fleshes out his characters to make them so individual and real.
There is cleverness in the McGee character with shart wit but not the constant smart aleck-i-ness of a lot of today's rogue private eyes. The bad guys are truly bad but they don't need chain saws to be truly eerie and scarey.
I'm so glad this series is back in print. I purchased the first 3 and am ready to read the rest of them.
Yes, I did read some of these stories way back when they were first published - but heck 45 years ago was a long, long time in reading memory.
Peg
There is cleverness in the McGee character with shart wit but not the constant smart aleck-i-ness of a lot of today's rogue private eyes. The bad guys are truly bad but they don't need chain saws to be truly eerie and scarey.
I'm so glad this series is back in print. I purchased the first 3 and am ready to read the rest of them.
Yes, I did read some of these stories way back when they were first published - but heck 45 years ago was a long, long time in reading memory.
Peg
Very much of its time, this was sometimes difficult to follow. Different to my usual fodder as the writing was as important as the plot with the latter being quite thin by modern standards. Enjoyable but not sure that I'll rush to read the rest of the series.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Read physical book -
*The Deep Blue Good-by* by John D. MacDonald is a gripping crime novel that introduces the charismatic and quick-witted Travis McGee, a freelance “salvage consultant” with a knack for getting into—and out of—dangerous situations.
Travis is both a compelling protagonist and a morally complex figure, navigating the world of crime and betrayal with a cool confidence. Cathey, the beautiful dancer caught in a web of family history and stolen wealth, adds an emotional layer to the plot.
The antagonist, Allen, is a brutal, evil force. MacDonald’s characterization ensures that each of these characters are built out, contributing to the story’s gripping pace and emotional depth.
Overall, *The Deep Blue Good-by* is a fast-paced, well-written novel with memorable characters and sharp dialogue, making it a standout in the genre of hardboiled crime fiction.
Short fast read, my style.
*The Deep Blue Good-by* by John D. MacDonald is a gripping crime novel that introduces the charismatic and quick-witted Travis McGee, a freelance “salvage consultant” with a knack for getting into—and out of—dangerous situations.
Travis is both a compelling protagonist and a morally complex figure, navigating the world of crime and betrayal with a cool confidence. Cathey, the beautiful dancer caught in a web of family history and stolen wealth, adds an emotional layer to the plot.
The antagonist, Allen, is a brutal, evil force. MacDonald’s characterization ensures that each of these characters are built out, contributing to the story’s gripping pace and emotional depth.
Overall, *The Deep Blue Good-by* is a fast-paced, well-written novel with memorable characters and sharp dialogue, making it a standout in the genre of hardboiled crime fiction.
Short fast read, my style.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No