The Deep Blue Good-By

A Travis McGee Novel, Book 1

By: John D. MacDonald

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

He's a self-described beach bum who won his houseboat in a card game. He's also a knight errant who's wary of credit cards, retirement benefits, political parties, mortgages, and television. He only works when his cash runs out, and his rule is simple: he'll help you find whatever was taken from you, as long as he can keep half.

Nothing that John D. MacDonald wrote is better loved and more enduring than the 21 books in his series about Travis McGee, the Florida-based “salvage consultant” who recovers property for a fee so he can take his retirement “a piece at a time”. Narrator Robert Petkoff, hand-chosen to narrate with the approval of MacDonald’s estate, brings McGee’s world of the Busted Flush (his houseboat, which he won in a poker game) and “Miss Agnes” (his custom Rolls-Royce pickup truck) to vivid life.

©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)

Strong start to series

Any additional comments?

First book in the long-running Travis McGee series. In this one, a woman’s dead father had hidden something valuable on their property and she was swindled out of it by his old Army buddy, an abusive rapist. Well-written and fun. You can see the influence on Michael Connelly, Stephen King (style not substance) and others.

The Travis McGee Series is Born

“I am wary of the whole dreary deadening structured mess we have built into such a glittering top-heavy structure that there is nothing left to see but the glitter, and the brute routines of maintaining it.”
― John D. MacDonald, The Deep Blue Good-By

Moments of brilliance mixed with standard, hard-boiled detective fair. This wasn't my first John D. MacDonald, or even my first Travis McGee, but it is the first book in the series. Technically, I think he published the first three novels in three months, so there has to be some Irish Triplets thing going, but I'm not smart enough to figure out what to call it when you launch a series so fast (a three-round burst?).

While one doesn't need to read MacDonald's novels in order, he does capture the culture of America from the 60s to the 70s and I'm sure someone could (and should) write a novel about American culture, sex, economics, and politics as explored sequentially in Travis McGee novels.

Having read about 2/3 of this series as I reflect back on this one, it isn't near the top. It is good, and solid, but mainly serves to introduce the audience to the idea of McGee. So, we get the background story, and a basic framework for what will end up driving the following 20 novels in the series:

* Something is taken.
* Travis McGee reluctantly recovers something that has been taken.
* He gets paid for it.
* Perhaps, the payment is not worth the cost of getting it back.

Fair warning, MacDonald's take on women and sex in these books reflects the era. In many ways, MacDonald reminds me of a more intellectual and American version of Ian Fleming. But just don't jump into these books expecting to run into Gloria Steinem.

Well, it's a Travis McGee novel--

Any additional comments?

I hadn't read a Travis McGee book in years. I remembered that I liked the Florida and shoreline ambience. His foes are always supervillains and die spectacularly badly. Unfortunately, this one had a truly terrible victim--one I found little sympathy for. Anyway, the ambience is there, and T. McGee is still the hard-boiled softy! I thought that the book was read well and it's worth a listen when you want sheer entertainment--that's why you buy a Travis McGee! Warning: if you read it at the beach you'll keep glancing over your shoulder. . .

New Read for me

This series and John D. MacDonald are new to me. A very nice change of pace. Kept my attention and gave a good picture of the character background.

The Deep Blue Good-by

Would you listen to The Deep Blue Good-By again? Why?

Intriguing story. I am trying to listen to it for the 3rd time because I listen when I go to bed and even though I set the app into sleep mode for the shortest time available (15 min), I still fall asleep and miss something crucial to the story. So I listen over and over again until I get the story. This one is worth listening to again and again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Travis McGee because he comes across as free and easy slacker but when somone needs his help, he helps anyway he can.

Looking forward to more of Travis McGee!

I have recently become an audio book "junkie" and have started a few different series by several authors. I read the reviews about the Travis McGee series and decided to give the first book a try. I really enjoyed it and will continue to keep this series in my queue!

A great yarn, beautifully read

What did you love best about The Deep Blue Good-By?

Terriffic characterizations, even for the minor players. They come alive! Even though this was written in 1964, it's not the least bit dated.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Louise, because she recovers her self resepect despite the abuse of her former lover.

Which scene was your favorite?

Thrilling hand-to-hand combat in the dark on a boat in the middle of the ocean.

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

When a woman needs a hero!

Any additional comments?

I hope they record every one of the Travis McGee books.

interesting concept for the main character,

many possibilities for the main character in future books.


I'd love to read more about trav!

Author of Words put together well...

My intro to this author and narrator. I could listen to the pair all day no matter what they were saying. Okay, despite my emotional reaction the review: Wonderful storyline. I am not one for a tough story very often but this one was so good! I am a sissy I cannot abide evil people even the idea of them. So my enjoying this story was amazing. It was not tooooooo gruesome. But it was so smartly done, this author KNOWs words...many words, different words, phrases...this is not like anything I have listened to before. The characters are so today and I just want to know the hero's story but it is not given here. I've owned this book for quite awhile so with the wave of books this may have already been buried but I hope you didn't miss...So very well done. First male narrator I have listened to that can do men and women without making me grind my teeth at the female voice. Thank you! A good book is such a gift!

Great narrator!

What did you love best about The Deep Blue Good-By?

The voice of this narrator was perfect for the role and did really well with female voices. I really enjoyed the story, kind of a throw back to James Bond.

What did you like best about this story?

The detail in the narrator's thoughts.

Which scene was your favorite?

Bad guy bobbing on an anchor.

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

No