• Nightmare in Pink

  • A Travis McGee Novel, Book 2
  • By: John D. MacDonald
  • Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
  • Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (1,356 ratings)

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Nightmare in Pink  By  cover art

Nightmare in Pink

By: John D. MacDonald
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
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Publisher's summary

Nina - a career girl living alone in Manhattan - offers Travis McGee companionship and the first loose thread in the elaborate fabric of a gigantic swindle. Now, she's leading McGee on a wild and tortuous chase into the decadent world of high society, the ruthless world of big money, and the weird world of hallucinatory drugs.

©1964 John D. MacDonald Publishing, Inc. Renewal © 1992 Maynard MacDonald (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[T]he great entertainer of our age, and a mesmerizing storyteller." (Stephen King)
"[M]y favorite novelist of all time." (Dean Koontz)
"[W]hat a joy that these timeless and treasured novels are available again." (Ed McBain)

What listeners say about Nightmare in Pink

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Probably a Pretty Good Man

There’s an irony here. Unfettered Travis McGee, dedicated lay about with a refined contempt for the stultifying aspects go-getter American prosperity, runs into a criminal conspiracy with even more contempt for conventional life – and learns that normalcy isn’t such a bad thing after all.

True, Travis tends to get up on his soapbox a tad too often. MacDonald’s attempts at emotional lyricism can make one’s toes curl. And for all the complex personal sexual morality that he believes sets him apart from baser men, Travis McGee still gets plenty of action.

Nevertheless, it’s a solid if somewhat predictable story. Travis really is what one female character calls him, “probably a pretty good man” in whose company it is a pleasure to spend a few hours. And Robert Petkoff plays him to perfection.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Very much a product of its time

If you could sum up Nightmare in Pink in three words, what would they be?

Entertaining, but flawed

If you’ve listened to books by John D. MacDonald before, how does this one compare?

The second in the series finds McDonald still developing the character of Travis McGee. Oddly, the writer spends more time with the romance and McGee's relationships with women more than he does the thriller aspects which, at times, seem s little over the top. Taking McGee out of Florida this early in the series reduces the effectiveness of the character considerably. Not nearly as good as The Deep Blue Goodbye, it's still an enjoyable entry in the series. Terrific narration.

Have you listened to any of Robert Petkoff’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I wasn't certtain he would be a good fit for McGee but in the space of two books, he's won me over. I look forward to listening to his work on the rest of the series.

Any additional comments?

Anyone who enjoys a good "Since you're going to die anyway, I'll explain my entire sinister plot to you" villain will be be right at home here.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Book 2 Travis McGee

One of the weaker books in the series, in my opinion. The plot is pretty contrived and implausible. But considering it was written in the early 60s I think that’s where the obsession with Hallucinogenics comes from.

The performance is terrific. Petkoff narrates the entire series and really does an outstanding job.

As to the series…
Well, to read detective novels from the 60s and 70s is to accept that there will be a certain amount of racism, sexism, misogyny and homophobia.
And all those things are present in the Travis McGee novels. Perhaps it is nostalgia on my part… My dad was a huge fan of these books back in the day… so I overlook a lot of that when listening to these books. If you were able to overlook those things, or encapsulate them in the time the books were written, the Travis McGee novels are quite engaging and entertaining as mysteries. And, again, the performance is so good in all of these that you will be quite drawn in.
If you are new to this series, don’t start with this one.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Misogynist

I listened for over 2 hours. In all that time, Travis never spoke to a male, and in his descriptions of the women he spoke to, he was always evaluating their sexuality and sizing them up as potential bed partners . In between there were little snippets of a plot. I just got bored with it. I decided after the 2 hours that if the next person he spoke to was not a man, I was giving up. I gave up. By the way, Robert Petkoff's narration was excellent. So good in fact that I went searching for books that he was narrating. I found some John Sanford Mysteries and purchased one.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

McGee is the "REAL DEAL"

First encountered McGee years ago and I'm enjoying the series just as much the second time around.
Johd D. MacDonald deffinatly created a true "champion for the underdog"

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Had to skip ahead at one point

At one point, the plot got pretty circular so I fast-forwarded. Amazing but I didn't miss a thing. I enjoy these books because of the south Florida setting. There was almost none of it in this book...it all happens in NY.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

just ok<br />

the book had its moments it was okay I didn't like it as much as the first one mainly because much of it was just not credible.... the man character is not very likeable he a little bit too arrogant and in conceited.... unlike Jack Reacher who by the way could kick this guy's ass

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Love Travis McGee, but this was disappointing.

I enjoy the character of Travis McGee, but as soon as the storyline became
an involuntary commitment in an asylum due to psychedelic drugs.. I lost interest.
I did finish it, but a great disappointment because it seems the author
bailed on a complicated mystery. I'll try another one in this series.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Very Dated

Very dated story with a horrible sexist attitude toward woman. Couldn't listen to it. The depiction of women in it is despictable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great novel by a great mystery writer.

Any additional comments?

Really good book, though it feels a bit date worn in spots. Nightmare in Pink has a few dips but keeps humming until the very end.

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