This is the second of the 21-book Travis McGee series, and, I regret to say, is not nearly as well done as the first of the series, The Deep Blue Good-by, which astonished and impressed me.
This one takes place in New York City rather than in Trav's home base in Florida, and the strong sense of place is absent. Also largely absent are the thoughtful digressions. What is left is more the usual formulaic detective novel. That part is more than satisfactorily done, if that is all a reader is looking for.
The story begins when Trav's army buddy asks him as a favor to investigate the death of his little sister's fiance. As he tries to unravel the clues, he uncovers hints of an elaborate scheme to embezzle money and stumbles into an expected world of hallucinatory drugs, becoming a helpless victim of psychic experimentation.
In the end, it is not Travis who actually brings the villains to justice. That part is rather anti-climactic. The focus has shifted to his romance with the little sister and their love life. I will have to say that the accounts of their love making are very erotic (at least to a female), focusing not on various body parts and specific descriptions of actions but on feelings and emotions.
It will be interesting as I continue to read the Travis McGee books (in order) to see if his seemingly irresistible sexual attractiveness continues for the entire series. This is the only aspect that seems to me to be contrived, and surely it could not continue through 21 books.
I am hoping #3 in the series, A Purple Place for Dying, will be more satisfactory.
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