One Fearful Yellow Eye

By: John D. MacDonald

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

How to you extort $600,000 from a dying man? Someone had done it very quietly and skilfully to the husband of Travis McGee's ex-girlfriend. McGee flies to Chicago to help untangle the mess and discovers that, although Dr. Fortner Geis had led an exemplary life, there were those who'd take advantage of one "indiscretion" and bring down the whole family. McGee also discovers he likes a few members of the family far too much to let that happen....

©1966 John D. MacDonald Publishing, Inc. Renewal © 1994 Maynard MacDonald (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

McGee Does the Second City

"A man will let his money be taken only when the alternative is something he cannot endure."
- John D. MacDonald, One Fearful Yellow Eye

McGee Does the Second City. I liked it, but didn't love it. Sometimes MacDonald takes McGee away from Florida and it seems to almost work, but I still think I prefer McGee on a boat to McGee in Chicago, in the snow. As a favor to an old flame, McGee goes to Chicago because her ex-husband's estate has been emptied and the relatives all think she did it. McGee looks into the hows and whys of the money disappearing. McGee's views (and I'd presume to a bit MacDonald's) on homosexuals and Blacks appear in this novel and they are nearly there, but only reach the uncanny valley of sensitivity towards other groups:

"I'm always skeptical of the male who makes a big public deal about how he hates fairies, how they turn his stomach, how he'd like to beat the hell out of them. The queens are certainly distasteful, but the average homosexual in the visual and performing arts is usually a human being a little bit brighter and more perceptive than most."

I have to remind myself that this was published in 1966. He is growing. Language like that was seen as progressive in the 60s, in certain circles. Hell, language like that might sound progressive in Texas, Idaho, or Arizona in certain circles now. I seem to always find areas where MacDonald nearly writes a perfect novel, but a couple things just block it for me. He is one of those writers I keep coming back from and keep ending up just a bit frustrated (and not just because I keep wanting to enroll him in sensitivty training classes). His books have the potential for real genius and the more I read the more I see this potential. Individually, however, this book doesn't get close.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Winter in Chicago and a Nightmare From the Past

Travis McGee receives a call for help from his old friend Glory Doyle; her husband Fortner Geis a noted surgeon died of cancer and $400,000 1968 dollars is missing with no trail. Both of the doctor's Children feel certain that Glory is behind the loss of their inheritance so she gets no support from those who were part of his life before they met. As Travis ambles around Chicago talking to the family and friends of the doctor he begins to discern patterns in the events of the last year on the good doctor and his loved ones.
An emergency summons blows the case open and the doctors's beautiful but repressed daughter reveals a morass of Freudian feelings about daddy. Her next move of course is to jump Travis momentarily; then immediately puts the brakes on her libido but a breakthrough has happened. They agree that this mutual attraction should progress.
However unknown to all but one character in this book an evil from the past is influencing current events and will come to effect McGee and those he holds dear and will; in the end touch everyone in the Geis family.
With certain exceptions along the way I enjoyed this book. As is per usual MacDonald's plot is solid, the story moves quickly containing just enough detail to flesh out the story line without bogging it down and though his view of women predates the baby boom era even the female characters are rounded and well formed. Plus his strength in story telling make this a compelling read and or listen. One reservation is the reader; perhaps someone should have explained to him that this wasn't Shakespeare or even Wuthering Heights.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

It seems over but then it gets REALLY interesting!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! It's flawlessly constructed.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Travis McGee is brutish and intuitive.

Which character – as performed by Robert Petkoff – was your favorite?

Well, this series is all about Travis McGee--a very interesting fellow.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Cant tell you--it would spoil it. :-)

Any additional comments?

Enjoy!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Still love John D.

Where does One Fearful Yellow Eye rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a very good listen while driving.

What was one of the most memorable moments of One Fearful Yellow Eye?

Travis extricating himself from the grasp of a lonely, hot housewife.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Exceptional Series

I am on my 20th book from this series, which I started reading just a few weeks ago. They all seem to blend together but they're all very good. Start at #1 and work your way through.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A nice suprise

I hadn't expected the way this one would end. The twists near the end caught me completely by suprise. An excellent book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A fun read

I first read most of John D McDonald's novels at first printing. This book was a fun read then. Today, I listened to the audio version and enjoyed it for some of the same reasons, but I found any references to cost, technology, and the relative values of the time most interesting. To say I was impressed with the plot/story line, writing today as much as I did in the 60's would be misleading. JOHN D. just doesn't match up to current mystery writers like Vince Flynn, Tom Clancy, or even Clive Cussler. However, this is still a fun read.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

An exploration of family relationships

As always Travis gets into a couple of life endangering scrapes, and as always find unique ways out. A couple of his ladies are endangered but don't die, but there is plenty of death. LSD plays a role dating the story. It goes to Chicago but managed to stay and end in Florida.

one of the best!

this could be my favorite McGee story. interesting to see the reference as to the use of Lsd in the relief of frat with terminal patients. there's been a lot of recent news with the current studies on it in 2018! also tying in Nazi war criminals is brilliant!

Among the best of a very good series.

Balancing self-awareness and self-confidence, with wry social commentary, Trav literally drops into a maelstrom of deceit and manipulation, with some of John D.'s most compelling female characters. Each has a lesson for our tarnished hero, as credible action and scenes wrangle the twists and turns of a persuasive and surprising plot. Sexuality, intimacy, and gender identity and roles take center stage. MacDonald was well ahead of his time.

loved it. on to the next Travis novel

loved it. on to the next Travis novel. start at the beginning this time. Good reads.