The Deep Blue Good-By

A Travis McGee Novel, Book 1

By: John D. MacDonald

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 6 hrs

Publisher's summary

He's a self-described beach bum who won his houseboat in a card game. He's also a knight errant who's wary of credit cards, retirement benefits, political parties, mortgages, and television. He only works when his cash runs out, and his rule is simple: he'll help you find whatever was taken from you, as long as he can keep half.

Nothing that John D. MacDonald wrote is better loved and more enduring than the 21 books in his series about Travis McGee, the Florida-based “salvage consultant” who recovers property for a fee so he can take his retirement “a piece at a time”. Narrator Robert Petkoff, hand-chosen to narrate with the approval of MacDonald’s estate, brings McGee’s world of the Busted Flush (his houseboat, which he won in a poker game) and “Miss Agnes” (his custom Rolls-Royce pickup truck) to vivid life.

©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)

Totally Hooked

My father was a great reader of detective fiction. I remember John D. MacDonald paperbacks lying around our house when I was a child. So when I came upon this, the first Travis McGee book, I took a chance. Although the mores of the time differ from now and the women are definitely not the women of today, Travis McGee is a man for all generations. The story was engaging and exciting and I found myself thinking about the book when I could not listen to it. My only complaint is that it is way too short and left me wanting to learn more about this man and his adventures. I will read them all. Everyone should. It is a glimpse into a time long gone and, if you are of a certain age, it may help you understand the ideals and thoughts of a previous generation.

Overly Dramatic

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I don't think so . The story was ok. Maybe it was the reader, but WAY too dramatic, and way too wordy. it could have been told with much less words

Would you listen to another book narrated by Robert Petkoff?

maybe, if my a different reader

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no

Good Story, but Flawed

This is a tough review to write. First, the pros. The style is very good and the story and plotting are well done. In some ways, the characterization of the villain is better realized than the protagonist. The villain, whom the reader doesn't actually meet until 3/4 through the book, is despicable and utterly evil, even though all we really know about him is what's reported by his victims long before we see him. McGee is a little too much like the cliche of the classic private dick...think of Philip Marlowe with less scruples. However, at several points in the story McGee completely surprises the reader, and we see a hidden core of sensitivity and kindness which he covers up with scathing critical rhetoric. And that leads me to the chief con of the book: McGee himself. He's a curmudgeon, the sort of guy everyone in the office tries to avoid because of his tiresome lectures. McGee is the product of his time, the mid 1960's, when America still imagined every problem had a straightforward cause that could be cured by more money, or more government oversight or more moral and political determination. A novel is a bully pulpit, and McDonald isn't the first to sermonize his readers, but with McGee it's too much. By the halfway point of the book I was thinking, "Come on, shut up and get on with the story." I don't want to forget another important pro, the narrator, which was one of the best aspects of this audio book experience. A narrator of lesser talent would have seen me put down the book long before the end. I don't know if I'll read another Travis McGee novel. Maybe.

A Great Start To A Classic Series

For 20 years ⁠— from 1964 through 1984 ⁠— the Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald were a mainstay in the mystery genre. With each of the 21 titles including a color in their name, this was one of the first examples of books in a series having a theme. Living on a houseboat called The Busted Flush, which he won in a card game, the protagonist, McGee ⁠— who is neither a cop nor an investigator ⁠— is a "salvage consultant" for hire, regularly finding himself in a variety of mysterious predicaments. The first novel in the series, which had a major influence on Lee Child — the author of the best-selling Jack Reacher series — explains how McGee only works when his cash runs out, and his rule is simple: he'll help you find whatever was taken from you, as long as he can keep half.

Focused on the recovery of stolen gem stones, this first entry in the Travis McGee series is an entertaining read. An Audible Original, the narration is excellent. The narrator has a pleasing voice that doesn't get in the way of the story being told. As a fan of numerous modern-day mystery and thriller writers, I found it interesting to delve into a book and a series that made a lasting impact on some of my favorite authors, including Lee Child and Stephen King. Like exploring a musician's vast body of music, I'm delighted that this series is a lengthy one. It gives me the opportunity to see how it evolves over time. Travis McGee is an interesting character and The Deep Blue Good-By is the perfect launching pad for him.

talented but chauvanist writer

There is some beautiful writing in this book but listening to John MacDonald's 1950ish views on women while interesting can also be depressing.
Good girls are worth protecting . Sexually promiscuous girls "bad" girls have no redeeming traits. The male hero of course can sleep with whoever he likes without judgement. MacDonald is a talented product of hs times but I would not recommend his novels to women except as a curiosity.

Good story, about an "R" for content

A good engaging mystery. Not ideal for listening with teens in the car- there are rape scenes and several graphic sex scenes.

Trav McGee was quite a surprise for me

This series takes place in the early 60's Travis McGee is a tough guy with a heart. He's a beach bum who only works when he needs the money. He will find what was taken from you for half. This is the first book in the series that I've read. and I'm hooked. So far I'm up to book 5. I'm not sure how many there are. but so far each one has gotten better and you find out a bit more about Travis in each story. I do recommend this series if you enjoy detective type stories. I suggest you start with Book 1 and go from there, however I do think most books can stand on their own. Enjoy

Nothing Better Than a Travis McGee Yarn

What did you love best about The Deep Blue Good-By?

John D MacDonald is my all-time favorite author and a must read. His Travis McGee series is legendary. You must read/listen to all 21 books to truly appreciate MacDonald's mastery of story-telling. The first 4 books hold up well, but at book 5 is where MacDonald kicks it up another gear and keeps it there through the rest of the series. The Deep Blue Good-By is an excellent introduction and highly recommended.

What did you like best about this story?

Having the audiobook finally available.

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

This was my first time listening to Robert Petkoff and I think he did a fantastic job. I have read a disparaging review but luckily didn't let it keep me from giving the audio book a try.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Like an enjoyable visit with a long lost friend.

Nostalgia. The way it was--sort of.

Any additional comments?

"A golden oldie from the bargain basement of better ballads," as the disk jockeys used to say about the time this book was written. By today's standards, it's trite, it's sexist, it's round-house punches, and it's a flashback. If you've never read Travis McGee, this is the place to start--and then listening through the series (our local library no longer has the books) watch him evolve and grow. Ageless but dated, this was hard boiled fiction at its best. It was good to finally hear the Travis McGee series. The narrator is okay, I believe by the end of the book I found him credible--but not the way I would have portrayed McGee. This isn't the best book in the series--those come later, but reading in sequence is a heck of a lot of fun.

Book was written in the '60's but is still relevan

Where does The Deep Blue Good-By rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

3 out of the last 10 books I've listened to.

What other book might you compare The Deep Blue Good-By to and why?

A Sidney Sheldon book.

What about Robert Petkoff’s performance did you like?

Yery engaging

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Justice finds a home.

Any additional comments?

nope