Nightmare in Pink

A Travis McGee Novel, Book 2

By: John D. MacDonald

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

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)

McGee Does the Big Apple

"We're all still carnivores, and money is the meat. If there's a lot of money and any possible way to get at it, I think people will do some strange and warped things."
- John D. MacDonald, Nightmare in Pink

Travis McGee #2 = Travis McGee goes to NYC. Well, he goes to NYC and is slipped a mickey while investigating the murder of a friend's little sister's husband. Like almost all of MacDonald's Travis McGee novels, this one is heavy on damsel in distress and flavored with MacDonald's own brand of misogyny light. I think MacDonald might be able to almost make a convincing argument that his books aren't really sexist, but I also think he was smart enough to understand that there was a BIG market for books about white knights rescuing damsels. Basically, this entire series could have been written in some warped version of Camelot. And, since this book was published in 1964, MacDonald is basically surfing on the shards of the Kennedy's lost Camelot.

Very early Travis

I have read as many John D - Travis books that there are. It is clear that John D was still developing Travis, the character in this release. The book was too much Travis self centeredness and not enough personal doubts. I know from having read all the John D - Travis books he manages to strike the right balance as Travis matures so there is hope. Keep listening and enjoy.

Brings back memories.

Great story telling. It was as good as reading it yourself. Like I did many years ago. In fact, it might have been better!

Mandatory title here

It’s a mistake to require 15 words in a review. People can have opinions without commenting. Stars can be enough.

Not his Best, but good.

The book was written in the early 1960's. Has aged well. Certainly not John McDonald's best writing but worth a listen.

Great escape fiction that will take you back.

John MacDonald's creation of Travis McGee took me back to a time when I wore a younger man's clothes (as the song says). It was a time win one had to go to a land line to make a phone call and men and women lived in very strict observance of certain imagined roles for the sexes. Travis McGee is that macho, trouble shooter who is also caring and compassionate and the women in his life are "very female" but surprisingly tough in their own way. After all life is never as neat and clean as it should be and the tasks the main charter takes on are never as neat and clean as they should be either. The plot is always fast moving and the presentation of the characters by Robert Petkoff adds to the whole. So take an afternoon and step back to a world where absolutes still exist and let your memory and imagination play with each other. I liked it and I hope you do too.

Tearing Through the Series

Travis McGee and Meyer are a compelling duo. Start at the beginning and I dare you to stop.

Well worth a listen

What made the experience of listening to Nightmare in Pink the most enjoyable?

Listened while riding my Goldwing

What did you like best about this story?

I'm a Travis McGee fan from WAY back.

What does Robert Petkoff bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings the characters to life

Quite a Story

Audible did the world a favor by ensuring these works were made into spoken word books. This series is a vital part of the history of American fiction. I am thankful that they have been made accessible for generations of audio book consumers.

Another Fun Read

Released in 1964, Nightmare in Pink is the second book in John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series. In this entry, Nina — a career girl living alone in Manhattan — offers the protagonist companionship and the first loose thread in the elaborate fabric of a gigantic swindle. She leads 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.

As with the first novel in this highly influential series, Nightmare in Pink is a fun and entertaining read. An Audible Original, the narrator does a wonderful job of breathing life into an already lively story. His delivery and phrasing is solid, and the narration never gets in the way of the story. I enjoyed this audiobook just as much as the first, and I look forward to more McGee mysteries in the future.