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)

Good older novel read. A little slow, but clever

Was refreshing to read an older novel, I don't want to use the word dated. The story was welcomed not being riddled with busy technology.

It was a little slow moving, however the characters were believable.

Narrator did a wonderful job. I would search for a future book they have read.

Old School Playboy

Here's a time capsule story. The women are needy and hot The men are up to no good. Travis McGee is a kind of low rent James Bond who saves the day. Cheesy and dated, but fast paced and entertaining.

Jack Reacher type from the 1960's thru 1980's

I have been a Travis McGee fan since I was introduced to him when this book was first published in 1964. I've probably read the entire series five times. When I listened to this book, when the reader is getting his intro to McGee, I realize like Lee Child's character Travis has his own moral sense and plays by his own rules. MacDonald philosophizes more than I remember and the Reacher type persona hasn't been fully developed, but as I remember the character develops as the series advances. I'm in my 70's so I remember the time period in which the book is set. This may create a difficulty for readers younger than 40 years of age, but with patience they may enjoy this series as I enjoy Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Nero Wolfe, all set in a time-frame with which I don't easily connect.

Whew

This is intense, fast, rough.. The Reader is expressive, able to build tension, good book!

good first book in series

good start, I'm hooked enough to read 2nd book and it takes a lot to get me invested in series; great rounded characters, looking forward to book 2, enjoyed the narrator also, easy to follow characters,

Classic Travis McGee, well-told

I never tire of these stories. they capture the essence of the pre hippie Anti Hero

Too much sex

There is too much sexuality in this book to make it an enjoyable read. Otherwise, it would be an enjoyable private eye type novel.

Travis McGee is back

Loved these stories 40 years ago, loving them again. Try them and become a fan.

Emotional

I read Travis McGee novels years ago and was delighted to see them popping up again. Travis is a tough guy with a heart. He describes his life as living in retirement as he goes. Trav is a "retriever". He gets things back for people who probably shouldn't have had them in the first place. He takes a case when he is running low on funds. At a 50% fee, it can be a long time between jobs.

This job involves a friend of a friend. A woman whose father died in prison before he could give his family the fortune he had gotten for them. Not saying how he got it. There is plenty of emotional stress for Travis, a really nasty bad guy and some women who he can't help helping.

The audio is great because a lot of T McGee stories are told by him and hearing a good narration was a real pleasure. Suggest you all remember these books were written in the 50's yet are a great read. Might read some things that are not totally politically correct today but they are minor and didn't bother me at all.

A wonderful experience a heartily recommend.

Took a while but worth it.

The hype about the author led me astray. I expected lots up front and was almost ready to hoist my phone, then prose became interesting and gripping. Listened while I gardened and did a fall cleanup.

Looking forward to more adventures.