This is the 19th entry in the Travis McGee series, and it’s starting to show its age. Free Fall in Crimson takes up after the events of The Green Ripper, in a rare example of series continuity. McGee is reeling from the loss of his partner Gretel and reluctant to take on an investigation into the death of an acquaintance’s father. Ron Esterland, a successful painter, was on the outs with his plastics magnate father and had been cut out of his will. However, there […]

The Green Ripper finds Travis McGee in a rare state of domestic bliss with the lovely Gretel Howard, unfathomably making concrete plans for the future. Of course, per the rules of 20th century American male-centered fiction, it can’t last. One day at her job at a health resort, Gretel sees a man whom she eventually recognizes as one of the cult leaders who brainwashed her former sister-in-law. Unfortunately for her, he recognized her as well, and a few days she develops a mystery illness and […]

The thirteenth novel in the series finds “salvage consultant” Travis McGee in a more contemplative frame of mind than usual. He’s been spending time with a beautiful widow of considerable means and she seems intent on making Trav husband #2. Remarkably, he finds himself at least a little drawn to the idea. McGee’s mind is changed when a man comes to see him and accuses McGee of sleeping with his wife. Travis doesn’t sense the danger until it’s almost too late, narrowly avoiding the hail […]

Travis McGee was surprised to find his old football teammate stressed and gloomy on his first visit in many years. McGee suspects unhappiness in marriage, but really the cause of the problem is financial in origin. Business at Bannon’s marina hotel has been in steep decline since the county shut down the nearest highway. Bannon’s wife, Janine, suggest cutting their losses and selling, but the only offer is suspiciously low and just happens to be coming from a relative of one of the county commissioners. […]

Travis McGee and his trusted friend Meyer are fishing in a secluded location late one night when a car stops on the bridge overhead. Next thing they know a woman wearing cement shoes is thrown into the water and sinks to the bottom. Acting quickly, McGee is just barely able to get her out alive. Once she’s recovered from the shock, she tells them the shocking story. A beautiful young woman, Evangeline (“Vangie” to her friends) has been a prostitute since she was a teenager, […]

The sixth book in the Travis McGee series finds our hero taken aback by the sudden reappearance of an old friend, and absolutely shocked by his change in appearance. The last time McGee saw grocery-fortune heir Arthur Wilkinson was at his wedding. McGee didn’t approve of the match and his suspicions have been proved correct, as the bride has lured poor Arthur into a phony real-estate scam and absconded with nearly every last penny. McGee agrees to try to recoup as much of the money […]