The Lonely Silver Rain

A Travis McGee Novel, Book 21

By: John D. MacDonald

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

Searching for a wealthy friend's yacht, Travis McGee puts himself square in the center of the international cocaine trade, and finds himself the target of some of the most ruthless villains he's ever met. Contemplating his own mortality for the first time, Travis McGee discovers amid all the danger the astonishing surprise behind the cat-shaped pipe cleaners someone is leaving at his door. This is vintage McGee in a novel that confirms John D. MacDonald's reputation as one of the greatest suspense writers of all time.

©1985 John D. MacDonald Publishing, Inc. (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

The Best For Last

If you are reading this, there's a good chance you've listened to the other twenty titles in the McGee series . . . experienced 20 years of John D MacDonald's McGee magic in just a few, short months and know what an incredible cultural treasure these recordings represent.

Here, now, is the last McGee novel ever, maybe the best McGee novel ever and assuredly the most heartfelt McGee novel ever. Savor this one, because there ain't gonna be any more.

Savor also Robert Petkoff's brilliant characterizations. I had my doubts, at first, but Petkoff has proven himself to be one of the best audiobook narrators ever, taking the listener on a trip back in time . . . to a world peopled by all the wonderfully quirky characters of MacDonald's imagination, bringing them from the written page to life with skill and style.

It's been a long, wild ride

I'm sad to say that I've now listened to all of the Travis McGee novels, some I've also read before Audible came along. I will miss Travis and Meyer (and their voices as read by Robert Petkoff). It has been a very interesting study in social attitude change since John D MacDonald first introduced Travis in the early sixties, when Travis said he didn't know many women who were "useful outside of the home". By the mid eighties, women were behaving like actual people with experiences and intelligence rather than trinkets. As a woman who lived through these times, I hadn't really noticed (I was just a kid in the early sixties) until I read these novels just how far women have come. Rather than be offended, it make me chuckle to read about the helpless lassies Travis rides in to rescue. Unfortunately, most of them meet a grisly end by the last page.

Excellent conclusion to a wonderful series

Even though I suggest earlier MacDonald books to savor this master at work The Lonlely Silver Rain can be appreciated by itself. MacDonald is a true master of the crime novel and what is remarkable about him is that there is a timelessness about him. With the exception of the value of the dollar and makes and models of cars the same stories could easily be told in the present day. A master of suspense and an exceptional storyteller this is MacDonald at his finest.

"The small things are lasting things."

"If innocenec could keep us alive, my friend, we'd all be saints."
- John D. MacDonald, The Lonely Silver Rain

This might not be my favorite, but it is the last and I enjoyed it. It made me cry. That isn't a small thing, but perhaps it isn't a big thing either. I typically cry at the end of every one of Charles Dickens' novels. I cry at commercials. I cry at a good story that isn't too sentimental, but that creates tension and unites a narrative release with a novelist's take on our shared humanity. This novel did that. It was a classic McGee novel and was also almost better than most. The sexual healer hero was downplayed.

I'm sad that I'm done. I still have a bunch more John D. MacDonald to read, but will probably only read Condominium this year. I've read a lot of McGee and while not sick of him. I could probably do with a Johhn D MacDonald break.

A Lover of Great Writing

John D. is incomparable. There’s never been a greater writer. This, his last McGee book, comes full circle for the character and I suspect the author. What a perfect and fitting ending for this unforgettable series.

Excellent!

I got hooked on the Travis McGee books this year and have now gone through all 21. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. This one was a bittersweet experience because I knew it would be the last. As usual, the writing and characterizations were superb, and the plot kept me guessing. The ending was somewhat unexpected, but it was so much better than what I had feared. Yes, without any spoilers, it has a happy ending. If you like the earlier ones, you’ll love this one.

Interesting departure from Travis McGee stories.

What did you love best about The Lonely Silver Rain?

The surprising twist that takes the Travis McGee series into a whole new chapter.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Trav, of course, as he begins to show his age.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Interesting, semi-ensemble production. Missed Gavin's raspy voice.

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

Eventually everyone grows up.

McGee's Last Ride

The last book of the Travis McGee series ended on both a high note and a low note. The low notes occurring as the author attempted to tie up all the loose ends of McGee's life. Willie Nucci of The Scarlet Ruse returns dying of cancer; perhaps as the author's stand in. Someone is leaving pipe cleaner cats on "The Busted Flush" and since I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone. I'll just say that it totally invalidates the ending of a previous book that was pretty convoluted and unlikely already. The last Meyer/ McGee party on some deserted tropical island several names from previous books are seemingly tossed in randomly to establish a connection to previous works. As are several names in one of the earlier chapters where the names of past characters now dead are named. It felt as though the soul reason for this portion of TLSR was that the author knew he was dying and was making an effort to tie all the loose ends of the series together. This seemed a useless effort on the part of John D. who with a few exceptions usually usually tossed in names of new characters in each book as though they were old friends.
Which brings us to the positive aspects of the penultimate McGee. Trav's client is his old friend Billy Hanrahan; another of those old friends who somehow escaped mention in the first twenty books in the series. Billy and his new wife Millis have just had their brand new custom built yacht stolen and Billy contracts Travis to get it back. When he finds it there are three dead bodies on the boat. the kids who stole it and a girl they picked up in Mexico. At that point the attempts on McGee's life begins. In this vein McGee goes off on a rant concerning the American Government's war on drugs that contains more cogent points in three pages than thirty years of statements by political and law enforcement officials. All books and all series contain problems and weak points. At the time it was being written this series contained fewer than most; even close to thirty years after the final edition of the life and times of Travis McGee, the books still work. Despite the weaknesses that evolve in a series written thirty to fifty years in the past the works of John D MacDonald are a primer on how to write mystery fiction. With apologies to John Lennon. All I am saying is give McGee a chance.

Wonderful final novel

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

As good as the first

What did you like best about this story?

The end was great and unexpected

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

Great Reading

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

Unexpectedly good

Any additional comments?

Sad there were only 21

Sad the series has to end!

I’ve listened to the entire Travis McGee series in order over a five-months period. It’s been a great listen! Robert Petkoff does an excellent job with the narration and the characters. A friend had recommended this series, which he had listened to on cassette tapes while traveling as the series was still being written back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Travis McGee reminds me a little of James Bond without all of the bravado and techy gadgets. Although, I think Travis is more complex than Bond. I truly appreciated the intelligence and vocabulary in John D. MacDonald’s writing. I recommend the entire series - in order (although they are written to stand alone, as well). I’m going to miss Travis — and Meyer!

A twist at the end

Not my favourite book. Too many complicated names. Didn't really enjoy it. But l stuck it out to the end, you do the same. Worth it.