The Lonely Silver Rain (1985)

Librarian's note: SEL adored MacDonald's McGee mysteries, one and all. ( )

I grew up reading Travis McGee - there was a whole section of bookcase devoted to John D. MacDonald's books in our house, but I haven't read one of his in a very long time. So, when I ran across this one recently I was looking forward to a cozy evening's read.

Unfortunately for me, I picked on of McGee's later adventures. The tall, sun-soaked private detective/boat bum is feeling lonely, discouraged, and morose, and the tone of the book shows it. Grime, drugs, gangs, murder that appears random and senseless.... and through it a McGee stalked and harried by his own malaise as much as the killers seeking his death. Although it ends on a lighter note, this is not the McGee I remembered so rosily. Not that it's put me off MacDonald, but next time I'll do some thumbing through before I drag one home! ( )

The Lonesome Silver Rain is a nice closer for this series -- not a final word, per se, but a suitable "wrap up." After due consideration, it is my opinion that Darker Than Amber, The Long Lavender Look, The Scarlet Ruse, and The Dreadful Lemon Sky are the best of the series -- and that The Green Ripper is, by far, the poorest. ( )

http://pergelator.blogspot.com/2007/12/good-book-or-lunch-with-gang.html ( )

This is Travis McGee's swan song (as written by JDM, anyways) and you can FEEL the middle-aged beach bum's arthritus in it. ( )