So let's take a look at books. I finished one since my last post. I'll provide my review and also the synopsis of the next book in line. Then I'll continue with my ongoing look at my favorite authors.
Just Finished
"Marazan was English author, Nevil Shute's first published work, in 1926. Two other books were discovered later that were written earlier. I enjoyed Marazan very much, it was a bit rough around the edges but it was an entertaining story and as it developed, an excellent action story.
Philip Stenning is a commercial pilot during the time when the airline industry was just in its initial throes, that period between the World Wars. He has just completed a frustrating job, returning to London from Manchester and wants some time off. His boss, Morris, has other ideas and sends him to Portsmouth to pick up an important client. This job will ultimately change Stenning's life drastically. Airplane problems means he has to crash in a field. Trapped in the plane he is rescued by escaped prisoner, Compton. Feeling an obligation to Compton, who says that he was set up by his step brother, Italian Mattani, who is involved in shipping illegal drugs to England.
This introduction begins a fascinating adventure. Stenning tries to lay a false trail to keep the police off Compton, sailing around the southern coast of England, traveling to Italy to gain information on Mattani and ultimately helping Scotland Yard in their efforts. The story is slow paced at the beginning but we get to know about Stenning and gradually more about his past. He goes through a personality change as he finds out more about Mattani and remembers how drugs have fatally affected close friends. The story focuses on Stenning but we also meet other characters who are very interesting; Compton's cousin Joan Stevenson (who plays a relatively minor role but has a strong impact on Stenning with her strength of character and clear vision), Stenning's Italian friend from WWI de Leglia who provides such assistance in Italy, and the two Scotland Yard officials, Sir David Carter and Maj Norman.
It's a great intro to the writing style of probably my favorite author, Nevil Shute. Interesting characters with flaws who get caught up in events that make them strong, fascinating individual. The other enjoyable aspect of this story was those portions dealing with the air industry and also the sailing on the high seas. Shute never gets too technical but he does paint a fascinating picture. As a minor note, I did find it fascinating how Shute seemed to treat the aircraft and boats as living characters, often referring to Stenning's actions with either as we, vice I. Small point but I liked it. Great story, great writer. (3.5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"This spy thriller finds Malcolm Stevenson, a wealthy, middle-aged shipbuilder, embroiled in an international Communist conspiracy. Smuggling guns into England, he gets caught up in politics and alien ideologies. In time he becomes more concerned with his lone quest for the truth."
My Favorite Authors - John D. MacDonald
John Dan MacDonald was an American author who wrote crime novels and also fiction and even Sci-Fi. He lived from 1916 - 1986, born in Sharon Pennsylvania and died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He might be best known for his mystery series featuring sleuth Travis McGee. I've focused on the McGee series but have also read one of his Sci-Fi novels. From 1964, he wrote 21 books in the Travis McGee series and more standalones. 
John D. MacDonald
"She’s the opposite of a damsel in distress: a famous movie star, very beautiful, very much in control of her life. She’s just made one little mistake and now she needs Travis McGee to set it right. The money is good and Travis’s funds are in need of replenishing. But that’s not the only reason he takes the case. There is the movie star’s assistant—efficient and reserved, with a sadness underneath that makes McGee feel he’d brave any danger to help her.
Sultry movie star Lysa
Dean has gotten herself into a spot of blackmail, posing for naked
photos while participating in a debauched party near Big Sur. If the
pictures get out, Lysa’s engagement to her rich, strait laced fiancé
doesn’t stand a chance. Enter Travis McGee, who’s agreed to put a stop
to the extortion, working alongside Lysa’s assistant, Dana Holtzer.
They begin by tracking down everyone associated with the lurid evening,
and soon enough they’re led on a chase across the nation as murder
after murder piles up. Further complicating matters, Travis and Dana’s
relationship soon turns steamy. And just when he thinks he knows exactly
where things are headed, one big twist shakes McGee’s life to the very
foundation."
My review: "I finished The Quick Red Fox this morning during a quiet period at work.. shhhhhh, don't tell anyone.. ;0) I think this one was a bit grimmer in subject matter than the others, even though so far they are all have a bit of an edge to them. I do like McGee's character, he's thoughtful, cynical, old-fashioned, treats women with respect and tough. It's a series I will continue. I'm glad that I was introduced finally to such an excellent series." (4 stars)
"Of the five MacDonald mystery thrillers I've read this month, this isn't my favourite. Maybe a bit too grim for me. Having said that, I still enjoyed it very much. MacDonald writes readable, interesting stories. Travis McGee is an excellent protagonist, as he describes himself, a white knight in a rusty suit of armour. This story takes him to Mexico and California, trying to find out who killed an old friend. An inevitable romance, more violence than I recall from the other stories and a twist to McGee's heart all add up to an excellent story. Travis McGee has quickly become a favourite of mine, cynical in his way, a throwback in a modern world, he's excellent. (3 stars)"
"This is my first experience reading John D. MacDonald. I've never been that interested in taking up one of the Travis McGee mysteries, but of later, I've read many recommendations in my Goodreads book clubs. So I took the leap and ultimately, loved this story. Travis McGee is an interesting, thoughtful Private Detective. This story just begins to develop and introduce him to the reader. The mystery, tracking a man who has done wrong to various people is well-developed and quickly set into motion. It's a gritty story when it has to be and the ending was surprising in some ways. It's a comfortable page turner and a satisfying story. I highly recommend you taking a chance on Travis McGee. For me it's on to the second story in the series, Nightmare in Pink. (4 stars)"
"A beautiful woman calls Travis McGee to Arizona. She needs his help recovering the money that her good-for-nothing, soon-to-be-ex-husband stole from her. But she's not long for the world, and even though his employer dies, Travis isn't giving up. It's not often he leaves Florida, and he's not about to go home empty-handed. The third Travis McGee adventure." (5 stars)
"Bright Orange for the Shroud is the 6th book in the Travis McGee mystery series by John D. MacDonald. It surprised me to realize that it's been 4 years since I last delved into McGee's world.
McGee is a beach bum who lives on his houseboat in Florida and to make ends meet takes cases to help people in need. In this story he is planning to take the summer off, having earned enough money from previous cases, that he can take the boat and just relax and vegetate for the summer. His plans are upset by the sudden appearance of an acquaintance, Arthur Wilkinson. Arthur is at wit's end and doesn't know who can help him, but McGee. He married a few months back and it turns out that it was part of a scam to bilk him of his inheritance. Arthur is beaten both physically, mentally and spiritually by this encounter. With the assistance of Chooke, a dancer who had previously dated Arthur, McGee agrees to try and help. While Chooke works to build up Arthur's spirit again, they set off to try and get Arthur's money back.
That's the basic story, but it has an edgy darkness to it. Arthur is a decent guy, who has had his spirit broken by his 'wife', a malicious, wicked gold digger and his body broken by a swamp dweller, Boone Waxwell, who partners with the 'wife', Wilma. Other people were involved in the scam but Boone becomes the focus and he is someone you don't ever want to meet.
McGee plan to recover the money is not without danger and the story begins to get under your skin, in a creepy, dangerous way. I'm trying to remember the other McGee stories I've read so far, but I think that so far, this one might have been the darkest, or at the very least, right up there.
The story is a page turner, the characters, McGee, Chooke and Arthur are all well crafted and they are people who you don't want anything bad to happen to. Excellent story and I look forward to the 7th installment. (4 stars)"
"I'm most familiar with John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee mystery series. I was surprised to find that he had also written a few Science Fiction (or as he calls them, science fantasy) stories. Ballroom of the Skies was originally written in 1951. It's an interesting story and takes a bit of time to get into the flow of what is happening.
We find the Earth working through the First Atomic War and being threatened with the 2nd. The US is no longer a powerhouse, instead it is the PacIndia that is the power.
Dake Lorin, a journalist, has been working for a year with an idol of his, Darwin Branson, to try and stop this imminent threat. But what happens will turn his life upside down. There are powers that monitor everything taking place on Earth and who can impact changes they perceive that will threaten this power. Where they are from and why they are doing this will become apparent as you delve more into the story.
I did find it confusing at time, but it is supposed to be. There are illusions, mind tricks, etc. that throw your image of what is real and what isn't into a tail spin. I don't think it is a perfect Science Fiction story by any means, but it is well worth reading, for the time period when it was written, for the author who wrote it (to gain a different perspective on his writing) and just for the interesting concept. (3 stars)"
"I didn't think this, the 2nd Travis McGee mystery, was as good as the first, but having said that, I still enjoyed very much. I liked the characters tremendously, McGee is developing nicely from the 1st book and his surrounding cast was excellent. I thought the story got somewhat weird in the middle, but even there, it was written to make it tense and even scary. That being the predicament McGee finds himself in. It must have made him feel helpless and friendless. The story resolved nicely and I think realistically. All in all it was an enjoyable, well-written story and it makes me want to continue with my Travis McGee odyssey this month. Onto Purple Place for Dying.! (3 stars)"
"It's been two years since I dusted off a Travis McGee mystery from my bookshelves.Darker Than Amber is the 7th book in the series and one of the better ones that I've read thus far. Author John D. MacDonald once again proves he can spin a mean tale.
We find McGee with his friend Meyer on a bit of a vacation with McGee trying to blow off some steam from his last investigation. He now has enough money put away that he can afford to relax for a few months. It's late at night and they are fishing off their boat under a bridge in Florida. Surprising events will involve them in a murder ring. As they relax on their boat, a body sails off the bridge into the water. McGee dives in and discovers a young lady at the bottom, tied with wire to a concrete block. They manage to save her and after her story decide to try and help her and at the same time to put a dent into this crime ring.
It's a short story so I won't get into too much detail about their activities but suffice it to say, there is a group of young attractive ladies who, with the help of an equal group of tough male partners, who take advantage of older men and eventually rob them and then dispose of them. Neither the men nor women have many, if any, worthy qualities.
This story is a bit of a nice twist for McGee as he is not really helping a damsel in distress (well, he is sort of, I guess) but trying to help nameless men avoid disaster at the hands of this group. It's an interesting investigation and it's made more interesting by his interactions and assistance with / from his friend Meyer. It was kind of nice to make it a bit of a team effort. McGee also gets assistance from another old friend, one who he has helped in the past. It's always neat when you meet people who have been aided by McGee and how they appreciate what he's done for them.
There are enough good people in the story, along with McGee and Meyer to counteract those who aren't quite so nice. The story is an interesting read with sufficient action to hold your interest and it moves along nicely and is resolved quite satisfactorily. I look forward to the next McGee story. (4 stars)"
I still have most of the other books in the series on my bookshelf. The complete listing of MacDonald's works can be found at this link.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
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