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This page lists novels, short story collections and non-fiction by John D. MacDonald. Books about John D. MacDonald are also included.

John D. MacDonald wrote three science fiction novels. Although falling outside the scope of this site these are included for completeness sake.

Cover images are usually, when possible, of the early US edition and a recent paperback or digital edition.

By John D. MacDonald:
- novels / short story collections
- omnibus editions
- non-fiction

Edited by John D. MacDonald:
- anthologies

About John D. MacDonald:
- critical / biographical

The Brass Cupcake

John D. MacDonald

1950

"Ex-cop Cliff Bartells might be the last honest man in Florence City, Florida. After quitting the force over a crisis of conscience, he takes a job at an insurance company buying back stolen jewelry. Cliff is focused on keeping the bottom line down and staying out of the spotlight. But when an affluent tourist from Boston is murdered over a hefty collection of jewelry, Cliff finds himself wrapped up in a case that's making national headlines. With the victim's beautiful niece, Melody Chance, determined to help retrieve the goods, suddenly Cliff has the partner he never knew he wanted. Now all they need is a suspect: someone capable of cold-blooded murder in the name of profit. And that could mean anyone in this crooked town."

Murder for the Bride

John D. MacDonald

1951

"Dillon Bryant, a successful engineer, is off on assignment after finishing his honeymoon. But news from home comes that his new bride, Laura, a beautiful woman whom he had met only weeks before proposing marriage, is in deep trouble. By the time he gets to her, Laura has been murdered. Filled with grief and rage, he cannot leave it up to the police to solve the case - he wants his own kind of revenge against the killer."

Judge Me Not

John D. MacDonald

1951

"One way or another, change is coming to Deron, New York. The city has long been terrorized by Lonnie Raval, a ruthless bully whose political machine carried him all the way into the mayor’s office. After suffering through years of corruption, kickbacks, and psychological torture, the people of Deron have finally achieved a wave of reforms. Bright young go-getter Teed Morrow has been hired as part of the team cleaning up city hall. There’s just one problem. Teed has his own laundry list of bad behavior—and that includes getting involved with Lonnie’s wife. He knows he’s playing with fire—but it’s not until he wakes to find her murdered that Teed realizes how badly he’s about to get burned."

Weep for Me

John D. MacDonald

1951

"When Kyle Cameron meets temptation - in the memorable shape of Emily, the new girl at the bank - his life changes. He thought he would be trapped behind bronze bars, chained to a suburban bungalow, but now he had won out: a strange, lovely woman, a fortune, and the strength to murder to keep what he had won. But, gripped by sexual obsession, he enters a world where he will never feel safe again. He puts himself in the hands and the plans of a woman who craves the contents of a very special suitcase from which even the prospect of death won't free her. And when a brutal fate pulls them into its shadows, they have known the extremes of love and hate - and neither of them is welcome any more."

Wine of the Dreamers

John D. MacDonald

1951

A science fiction novel. Some subsequent editions published as Planet of the Dreamers.

"They are the Watchers: pale laboratory creatures living in a remote, sealed-off world. Their game, their religion, their release is to dream, and their dreams carry across the galaxy to lodge in the minds of the inhabitants of another world: the planet Earth. But as the human race approaches a dream of their own—traveling beyond their own planet to other worlds—the Watchers step in. For escape from Earth is an impossible dream, one that the Watchers will go to any length to destroy."

Ballroom of the Skies

John D. MacDonald

1952

A science fiction novel.

"Here we enter an intricate future society, in which India rules the globe. The First Atomic War has just ended, and already momentum is clearly building for the second. People shrug. War is man's nature, they think. Until Drake Lorin discovers the aliens living among us, and begins to divine their sinister purpose."

The Damned

John D. MacDonald

1952

"At a ferry stop along the Rio Conchos, the line of cars waiting to cross stretches to the horizon. Because of a bureaucratic blunder, the boat has been stalled, with no relief in sight for the drivers—many of them American, many growing impatient to reach the border. That kind of tension can do funny things to a person’s head . . . to a trembling killer looking over his shoulder . . . to a married man escorting a beautiful stranger on an ill-advised sabbatical . . . to a honeymooner determined to have her love returned. Many others are waiting, too. Some are desperate for a second chance. And it’s only a matter of time until someone snaps—especially when they’ve all been pushed too far under the scorching Mexican sun."

Dead Low Tide

John D. MacDonald

1953

"A college graduate and amateur fisherman, Andy McClintock is stuck toiling in the office of a construction company. But when Andy tries to quit, his boss offers him a promotion and a raise - and then promptly kills himself with a harpoon gun. At least, that's what it looks like, until the police rule it homicide - with the murder weapon belonging to Andy. The harpoon gun had been stolen out of Andy's garage, and the boss's wife makes the outrageous claim that she and Andy were having an affair. He's been set up. To clear his name, he'll have to find the real killer. But Andy soon discovers that he's up against more than a two-bit thief - he's been targeted by absolute evil, a monster with no compassion for his fellow man."

The Neon Jungle

John D. MacDonald

1953

"The smell of warm gin hovers over a whole section of town. The threat of violence hangs in the air. And the neighborhood kids know all about drugs, knives, and back-alley beatings long before they’re pushed into high school by weary truant officers. This is simply reality for the family that runs Varaki Quality Market. Its patriarch, Gus Varaki, is doing all he can to keep his business afloat after his beloved middle child, Henry, is killed in action. But his oldest son is at a crossroads, his teenage daughter has been seduced by a rough crowd, and one of his employees is running a racket of his own. Only Henry’s despondent widow, Bonny, sees the awful truth—and the deadly plot hanging over all of their heads."

Cancel All Our Vows

John D. MacDonald

1953

"Fletcher and Jane Wyatt have been married for fifteen years. Together they have built an enviable life, complete with two wonderful children and a warm, beautiful home. Their marriage has been their own private never-ending love affair. Fletcher thinks he knows Jane completely. She has no dark secrets, no mysterious past. Then, one hot summer week, everything changes. Suddenly, brutally, Jane becomes a cold stranger. For lawless love and shattering desire have ways of infiltrating even the most seemingly perfect marriage—and bringing helpless men and women to the brink of disaster."

All These Condemned

John D. MacDonald

1954

"The head of a global cosmetics empire, Wilma Ferris became a self-made success by taking everything people had to give - and more. Mixing business with pleasure is her standard operating procedure. And she's playing the same game when she invites eight of her closest friends - all of whom owe their livelihoods to Wilma - to a weekend party at her lake house. After a late-night skinny-dipping session turns into a frantic search for the missing host, it becomes apparent that one of the guests had seen enough. Wilma's body is pulled from the cold water, but the cause of death isn't drowning - it's a blow to the head. Was it a crime of passion or premeditated murder? Neither would surprise any of Wilma's guests. Each of them has a motive - or two. In the end, all will be condemned."

Area of Suspicion

John D. MacDonald

1954

"Four years ago Gevan Dean found his fiancée Niki Webb in his brother Ken's arms and fled his hometown for a peaceful life in the Florida sun. But now Ken is dead - murdered by a thief, the police say - and Gevan is desperately needed to keep their company, Dean Products, from falling apart. Everywhere Dean turns he finds only questions and confusion. But he doesn't suspect the truth behind Ken's murder or the real goings-on at Dean Products until the stakes get too high to ignore - and the truth explodes violently in his face."

Contrary Pleasure

John D. MacDonald

1954

"For years the Delevan family image reflected only the best of everything - wealth, position, influence, and the kind of expensive good looks that take generations to cultivate. No one dared suspect that their glittering façade, their cherished privacy masked hidden lusts, furtive pleasures and twisted dreams that would soon erupt into a pattern of strange violence that threatened to destroy them all."

A Bullet for Cinderella

John D. MacDonald

1955

Subsequently also published as On The Make.

"After Tal Howard returns home from a Korean prisoner-of-war camp, he can’t help feeling that something’s missing. Desperate for a thrill as much as a big payday, Tal heads for the sleepy village in upstate New York where, a dying pal once assured him, buried treasure awaits . . . if Tal can find the girl who can lead him to it. But there’s another stranger in town, a man Tal recognizes instantly: Earl Fitzmartin, a cold, mysterious loner who terrorized him and the other POWs. Somehow Earl got here first. And now this psychopath is watching Tal’s every move—and waiting to strike."

Cry Hard, Cry Fast

John D. MacDonald

1956

"A gunman on the run, a seventeen-year-old girl on a family vacation, a jaded working girl, a guilt-stricken widower, an abandoned mistress. All heading fast down a route to sudden death. Then for one horrifying instant their lives are frozen in time, when a Cadillac drives at speed into oncoming traffic. Lives are lost, and those that survive must endure a violent sequence of events that ensure life will never be the same again - for any of them."

April Evil

John D. MacDonald

1956

"The stage was set. Harry Mullin had hit town first. But he had just made the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, and he was a little nervous about being seen. With him at the rented house where they planned to case the job was a girl named Sal. Then the Ace turned up. He'd been good in his day but had lost something in the guts department. But the last one in town was Ronnie. Ronnie had killed 12 men and two women in seven years and had gotten to like his job - maybe a little too much."

Border Town Girl

John D. MacDonald

1956

Two novellas in one volume: Border Town Girl and Linda.

"BORDER TOWN GIRL: In a different life, Lane Sanson was a famous war correspondent and a bestselling author. He had been somebody. Now he’s a nobody, bumming around Mexico, lost, lonely, hungry for hope, a pushover for a border town B-girl . . . and the perfect fall guy for a lethal frame-up. LINDA: As beautiful, as inviting, as treacherous as the sea around her, Linda is a woman who is used to getting her way. And if she doesn’t get what she wants, she has no qualms using force to take it. But this time, her betrayals have gone too far for her husband - or the law - to ignore."

Murder in the Wind

John D. MacDonald

1956

Subsequently published as Hurricane.

"A hurricane of terrifying intensity is looming over Florida. Along a state highway, a handful of foolhardy souls trying to outrun the storm are forced to seek shelter in an abandoned house. Thrown together by nothing more than chance, this disparate bunch of misfits includes an undercover agent seeking revenge for a personal tragedy, a burgeoning criminal in over his head, a beautiful young widow trying to start over, and a businessman whose life's work is crumbling before his eyes. Their refuge from the awesome power of nature becomes a sort of grand and grisly hotel - especially once the invisible hand of flying death descends."

You Live Once

John D. MacDonald

1956

Subsequently published as You Kill Me.

"Clint Sewell knew there wasn't a wife within fifty miles who didn't have reason to murder Mary Olan - because there wasn't a husband around who didn't think the grass was greener in Mary Olan's bedroom. The latest occupant was Sewell's boss, Dodd Raymond - a man not above using Sewell to cover up his sins. And maybe not above letting Clint take the rap when the fabulous Mary is found dead in Sewell's bedroom closet with his belt around her neck."

Death Trap

John D. MacDonald

1957

"In life, Jane Ann never had much use for a halo, but in her violent death she finally earned one. When they found a suspect, everyone relaxed except Hugh MacReedy. Maybe he should have stayed out of it, but MacReedy owed a big debt to the patsy they were sending to the electric chair in a week. And he would have stayed out of it, if he'd known what his chances were of coming out alive."

The Price of Murder

John D. MacDonald

1957

"On the surface, they seem like three very different people: Danny Bronson, a cunning ex-con struggling to go straight; his brother, Lee, a former Gridiron star turned college professor; and Johnny Keefler, a crooked parole officer who lives for revenge. But they all grew up in the same corner of town, a grim little slum known as 'The Sink', where life is cheap and might makes right. And a story that's just as dark unfolds when their paths cross as men - at the intersection of brutal violence, illicit liaisons, a 'foolproof' scam and the intoxicating allure of cold, hard cash."

The Empty Trap

John D. MacDonald

1957

"When Lloyd Westcott was hired to build and run the Green Oasis casino he didn't ask about the owner or where the backing came from. He didn't care, as long as the place was legit and he could run it clean as a whistle. But then the Big Man moved in."

The Deceivers

John D. MacDonald

1958

"Her name was Cindy, and she was his neighbour's wife - the woman next door in the kind of suburbia that didn't make headlines. These were real people, nice people like Cindy and Carl who fought with the desperation of the damned to keep from wanting each other. Suddenly, though, it was the right time, right place. And there was no room left for pretence. In that moment all innocence drained out of their lives. Two real people, two nice people, became creatures of passion - and guilt."

Clemmie

John D. MacDonald

1958

"Living a comfortable life in a prosperous suburb, Craig is enjoying success in business, his young family, and a happy home. All is as he thinks it should be until, uninvited, a girl called Clemmie steps dangerously into his life. She's rich and beautiful, a whirlwind of a girl who has chosen him and never accepts no for an answer. Soon, Craig's charmed life is displaced by his new drowning obsession, a physical addiction to a relationship that he can't let go. Tracing the harrowing spiral of ecstasy and shame, none of their lives will be the same again."

The Executioners

John D. MacDonald

1958

Subsequently published as Cape Fear.

"Max Cady, a brutal rapist, has been in prison for years, nursing his hatred for the man who put him away, attorney Sam Bowden. When Cady gets parole, he begins stalking Bowden's family. As Cady's campaign of terror mounts, the police are powerless to protect the family who must use their wits to survive a psychopath bent on revenge."

A Man of Affairs

John D. MacDonald

1957

"Sam Glidden owed all his success to the opportunities he'd received from Thomas McGann, president of the Harrison Corporation. But now McGann was dead, and Mike Dean, a wildly flamboyant business speculator, was looking to add the Harrison Corporation to his long list of conquests. McGann's spoiled offspring, Tommy and Louise, saw the chance to make instant big bucks by selling out their shares. But Sam Glidden couldn't stand to see everything he'd worked for gobbled up by a barracuda like Mike Dean. So he wangled an invitation to the sand-and-surf soiree Dean planned for Louise and Tommy in the Bahamas."

Soft Touch

John D. MacDonald

1958

"Jerry Jamison wants out: out of a sloppy marriage, a dull job and the empty suburban rat race. Once Jerry had a beautiful bride and a good salary at her old man's successful business - that was before his wife turned into a lush. Before the business started to go to pieces. And before the lazy afternoon when Vince Biskay, an old army buddy, rings his doorbell and makes an intriguing proposition. Vince promises to bring excitement into Jerry's life - and money - but this is a plan that leaves only death and destruction in its wake."

Deadly Welcome

John D. MacDonald

1959

"Alex Doyle is a tough man on a tough assignment in Ramona Beach, Florida - the kind of place that doesn't trust strangers and is policed by a sheriff who echoes the locals' sentiments with a billy club. But Alex isn't an outsider, exactly. He grew up in Ramona Beach - until they railroaded him out of town. 'Can't trust trash,' they said. Alex has never been back, until his employer sends him home to locate a government scientist and get him out alive. Unfortunately for Alex, Ramona Beach has a long memory. Unfortunately for Ramona Beach, so does Alex."

The Beach Girls

John D. MacDonald

1959

"Leo Rice seems like a nice enough guy, but why does he have to choose their beach? He could head ten miles up the Florida strip and everyone could just live happily ever after - no questions asked. But Leo Rice does ask questions ... and suddenly Stebbins' Marina, an oasis of easy living, hard drinking and free love for its residents, is in jeopardy. And in less than a month, their paradise will be interrupted by twisted emotions, buried hatred - and brutal murder."

Please Write for Details

John D. MacDonald

1959

"American bachelor Miles Drummond, living in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and running out of money, half-heartedly places an ad in a few US newspapers announcing a summer art workshop. Much to his surprise, thirteen students write for details, and arrive in Cuernavaca a few weeks later. The hotel Miles has rented is crumbling. The VW bus he borrowed is a disaster. The two instructors he hired hate each other on sight. But the students - young and old, single and married, rich and poor - aren't simply looking for an education. Some are fleeing private anguish. Others are seeking romance. All will find more adventure than they ever dreamed possible."

The Crossroads

John D. MacDonald

1959

"More than half a century ago, Papa Drovek opened his small grocery store at the junction of two country roads. As he bought more and more land, the roads became highways, and now the Droveks own a complex of hotels, restaurants, a truck stop, a shopping centre and two gas stations. Papa's eldest son, Charles, is president of the Crossroads Corporation. His son Leo enjoys his token job, and daughter Joan manages the commercial tenants' leases. But when younger son Pete's wife gets restless and lonely, she becomes an easy pawn in a sleazy scheme of robbery and murder. The target? Old Papa Drovek himself."

Slam the Big Door

John D. MacDonald

1960

"When Mike Rodenska, a former journalist still grieving the loss of his wife, pays his old war buddy Troy Jamison a long overdue visit in Florida, he’s shocked at what he finds. Behind the indulgent exterior of Troy’s lush beach life—the parties, the year-round suntans, the shapely women, the infectious devil-may-care attitude of Troy and his friends—Mike senses inevitable disaster. Troy surrendered his life to drink once before. But now his second marriage is failing, his career is in shambles, his stepdaughter is making passes at him, and he seems to be losing his mind. The only question is: Why? His old friend’s downfall is one story that Mike feels compelled to investigate—for Troy’s sake, and for his own."

The Only Girl in the Game

John D. MacDonald

1960

"Her employers are the high priests of Las Vegas and she is their handmaiden. Her job is to lead the lambs to the sacrifice, to keep them happy at the tables, where her partners slaughter the suckers. She longs to be free of the entertainers rubbing elbows with thugs at the craps tables, the divorcées hocking their jewels next to all-night marriage chapels, and the little white balls bouncing along the roulette wheels twenty-four hours a day. But no matter how hard she tries to escape her past, she's fated to be caught for ever backstage in the sick glitter of the infamous strip with nothing but sand and neon and money, money, everywhere."

The End of the Night

John D. MacDonald

1960

"They’re known as the notorious 'Wolf Pack': three men and a beautiful girl on a cross-country terror spree, a coast-to-coast rampage of theft, destruction, and murder. But who are they? Where have they come from? And what motivates their terrifying capacity for mayhem? Somewhere in the grotesque inner world of four drug-crazed young sadists, a violent lust lies hidden between mischief and madness . . . waiting unseen for some innocent and helpless stranger."

Where is Janice Gantry?

John D. MacDonald

1961

"Sam Brice, the perfect rugged hero, is involved with a young widow named Janice Gantry. But when she vanishes, Janice leaves behind a trail of blackmail, murder and a man at war with his own sense of duty. Sam is too curious to steer clear of the mystifying disappearances off the Florida Keys, too stubborn to avoid making enemies with a cunning criminal and killer, and perhaps too enraged to do what he knows he must to save the one woman who matters: become as cold, impersonal, and deadly as an assassin."

One Monday We Killed Them All

John D. MacDonald

1961

"Step by step, Dwight McAran built a wall of vicious hate around himself. It was easy. He was a man who could slap one woman to death because she loved him, and hum a love song to another while he raped her. Sure, he did some time in jail. He sat in a cell and simmered for five long years until his hate hardened to a core of white-hot evil. Revenge was all he craved - and a plan was what he had - a plan just cruel enough to please him, and just crazy enough to work."

A Key to the Suite

John D. MacDonald

1962

"Floyd Hubbard arrives at a convention at a busy beach-town hotel with a mission from the top brass: ax a long-time manager in the sales team who has been slacking off for too long. Hubbard's a loyal company man, but his background is engineering, not cold-blooded corporate warfare. Little does Hubbard realize that the first grenade has already been lobbed - and he's the target. Cory Barlund has heard more than her fair share of odd requests in her years as a high-class call girl, so this one's right up her alley: pose as a journalist, seduce a visiting executive, and embarrass him in front of his colleagues. But after a night with Hubbard, Cory's having second thoughts. Hubbard's a good man. She might be falling for him. And the real hustlers are the ones on the convention floor."

A Flash of Green

John D. MacDonald

1962

"The opportunists have taken over Palm City. Silent and deadly, like the snakes that infest the nearby swamps, they lay hidden from view, waiting for the right moment to strike. Political subterfuge has already eased the residents toward selling out. All that's left now is to silence a few stubborn holdouts. James Wing is only trying to help a friend's widow. At least that's what he tells himself after warning Kat Hubble that the beautiful bay she and her neighbors have struggled to save is going to be sold to developers. He knows that he shouldn't have told her anything. He's a reporter, trained to reveal nothing. But he's falling in love with her. Now cutthroats have set their sights on Kat - and they'll do anything, use anyone, to stop her from interfering in their plans."

The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything

John D. MacDonald

1962

"Once an ordinary math teacher, Omar Krepps developed a knack for gambling, amassed a fabulous fortune, and spent the rest of his life traveling the world and giving away his millions. Upon his death, however, Krepps bequeaths nothing to his nephew and only living blood relative, Kirby Winter--nothing, that is, except an antique watch and a sealed letter to be opened after one year. But Kirby has much more in his possession than he realizes. The watch has the power to manipulate time. Not only does this revelation shed light on the mystery of his uncle's life, it puts Kirby on the path to unimaginable wealth and a new lease on love . . . as well as a whole host of deadly troubles. Even in a universe where time is no issue, Kirby must tread carefully to stay one step ahead of danger. "

I Could Go On Singing

John D. MacDonald

1963

A novelization of a Judy Garland movie.

"From the sensational new Judy Garland movie comes John D. MacDonald's tender, haunting novel of a woman who is a star living in a world of spellbinding triumph - and stark, desperate need."

On the Run

John D. MacDonald

1963

"Sid Shanley couldn't stay in one place very long. He had to keep on the run, changing towns, changing jobs, changing women. He worked out the perfect setup - no attachments, no trails, no explanations. But now a girl has caught up with him. Her name was Paula - and a million dollars lay behind her strange invitation."

The Drowner

John D. MacDonald

1963

"Lucille Hanson had rid herself of the wrong man - her rich husband who lived casually and loved carelessly. Then she found another man she hoped would be right. She was putting together the pieces of her life - until all of her hopes came to rest at the bottom of a lake, where her body was found. It must have been an accident was what most people said. It might have been suicide, was what others wanted to think. But among her mourners just one person refused to believe it was anything but murder."

The Deep Blue Good-By

John D. MacDonald

1964

A Travis McGee novel. The title spelling is amended in some later editions to The Deep Blue Goodbye.

"Travis McGee isn’t particularly strapped for cash, but how can anyone say no to Cathy, a sweet girl who’s been tortured repeatedly by her manipulative ex-boyfriend Junior Allen? What Travis isn’t anticipating is just how many women Junior has torn apart and left in his wake. As Travis hunts for the ruthless man who steals women’s sensibilities and livelihoods, he can’t guess how violent his quest is soon to become. He’ll learn the hard way that there must be casualties in this game of cat and mouse."

Nightmare in Pink

John D. MacDonald

1964

A Travis McGee novel.

"Travis McGee’s old army buddy needs a favour. His sister’s fiancé has just been murdered in what the authorities claim was a standard Manhattan mugging. But Nina knows better. Her soon-to-be husband had been looking too closely at his firm’s books, and he’d found that the numbers weren’t adding up. Travis is determined to get to the bottom of things, but just as he’s closing in on the truth he finds himself taken captive. Some people will go to any lengths to make sure their secrets don’t get out."

A Purple Place for Dying

John D. MacDonald

1964

A Travis McGee novel.

"32-year-old Mona is in love with a poor, young college professor, but is trapped in a marriage with a wealthy businessman whom she is convinced is stealing from her trust fund. To get out, she does what any self-respecting woman would do: She hires someone to steal her money back so she can run away with the man she loves. Travis McGee isn’t sure he wants to help out...until he sees Mona shot dead on the cliffs near her cabin. But when he arrives at the scene, her body is gone. And there’s no trace of them ever having met. Will Travis prove that what he saw was real, and unravel a complex murder web, in time to save his own skin?"

The Quick Red Fox

John D. MacDonald

1964

A Travis McGee novel.

"Hollywood’s leading lady Lysa Dean isn’t in the business of making mistakes. But a night involving a debauched party and some naked photos turns out to be one mistake too many. If the pictures get out, Lysa’s engagement to her rich, strait-laced fiancé won’t stand a chance. She needs someone to set her life back on track. Travis McGee has his own reasons for taking the job. He soon finds himself led on a wild chase across the country, trying to track down everyone associated with the fateful evening. But just when Travis thinks he knows exactly where things are headed, one big twist shakes his very core."

A Deadly Shade of Gold

John D. MacDonald

1965

A Travis McGee novel.

"When Travis McGee picks up the phone and hears a voice from his past, he can’t help it: He has to meddle. Especially when he has the chance to reunite Sam, his reckless, restless old friend, with the woman who’s been waiting for him. But the case takes a sinister turn when Sam shows up brutally cut and lying in a pool of his own blood. Travis is left to uncover the truth in a violent chase that takes him to dark but beautiful Mexico. But when the truth is as terrifying as this, does he really want answers at all?"

Bright Orange for the Shroud

John D. MacDonald

1965

A Travis McGee novel.

"Trouble has a way of finding Travis McGee, no matter where he hides. When an old friend, conned out of his life savings by his ex-wife, unexpectedly turns up at his door, he finds himself pursuing a violently twisted hustler to get it back. What starts out as a simple job soon turns into a dangerous mission when he comes face-to-face with a quick-thinking and quicker-fisted enemy. To beat him, Travis is going to have to play him at his own game."

Darker than Amber

John D. MacDonald

1966

A Travis McGee novel.

"Travis McGee and his friend are on a fishing trip when they witness a woman being tossed from a bridge into the open sea. Travis rescues her, but Evangeline is clearly no ordinary victim. Behind her darker-than-amber eyes is a seductive woman with her own agenda. Now that he’s saved her, Travis wants to help Evangeline make a new life. But to do so he must confront a gang of murderers so terrifying they make his blood run cold."

One Fearful Yellow Eye

John D. MacDonald

1966

A Travis McGee novel.

"An ex-girlfriend of Travis McGee’s is convinced she’s being watched. Her late husband, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, converted his considerable estate into cash before he died. The trouble is nobody can find it, including her. But there are those who don’t believe her and will stop at nothing to prove it. As Travis McGee tries to untangle the mess and protect his terrified ex-lover, he discovers that the doctor’s enemies are far more determined than even he could have imagined."

The Last One Left

John D. MacDonald

1966

"When a yacht explodes in the Bahamas, apparently killing six people, Sam Boyleston, an attorney from Texas and the brother of one of the victims, is compelled to investigate the circumstances, as does Raoul Kelly, a newspaper reporter. After the disaster the yacht's burned captain was temporarily marooned on a small island, and soon it becomes apparent that one person is ruthlessly manipulating events. But for Boyleston and Kelly proving guilt appears impossible."

End of the Tiger and Other Stories

John D. MacDonald

1966

"Although renowned primarily as a noir author, these fifteen handpicked gems showcase MacDonald’s tremendous range. Written between 1947 and 1966, during the golden age of short fiction in America, and appearing in such national magazines as Cosmopolitan, The Saturday Evening Post, Collier’s, and Ladies’ Home Journal, these stories are a timeless testament to a writer at the top of his craft."

• Hangover
• The Big Blue
• The Trouble with Erica
• Long Shot
• Looie Follows Me
• Blurred View
• The Loveliest Girl in the World
• Triangle
• The Bear Trap
• A Romantic Courtesy
• The Fast Loose Money
• The Straw Witch
• End of the Tiger
• The Trap of Solid Gold
• Afternoon of the Hero

Pale Gray for Guilt

John D. MacDonald

1968

A Travis McGee novel.

"News reaches Travis McGee that Tush, an old football buddy of his, has committed suicide. But Travis suspects foul play. Tush had just discovered that his small plot of land was sat right in the middle of a highly profitable parcel of riverfront acres. Certain big-time movers and shakers had badly wanted him out of the way. But proving it suddenly looks a lot more difficult when Travis discovers a note from Tush’s wife saying she was leaving him. Travis must work fast to uncover the truth if he’s going to save what’s left of his friend’s family."

The Girl in the Plain Brown Wrapper

John D. MacDonald

1968

A Travis McGee novel.

"When Travis McGee enters the prosperous town of Fort Courtney he quickly realises that something’s not quite right. Here to rescue the suicidal daughter of a deceased friend, Travis is shocked by the string of murders and suicides that is taking over the town. Then, just when it seems that things can’t get any stranger, Travis becomes the lead suspect in the murder of a local nurse. To save the young woman, he’s going to have to save himself first."

Dress Her in Indigo

John D. MacDonald

1969

A Travis McGee novel.

"Travis McGee could never deny his old friend Meyer anything. So before he can even say please, Travis has agreed to accompany him to Mexico to look into the mysterious last months of the daughter of a rich friend. Expecting to find out that the young woman had fallen in with the usual misfits and rebels, what they actually discover is stranger, and far more deadly. The deeper Travis digs, the less accidental the death starts to seem."

The Long Lavender Look

John D. MacDonald

1970

A Travis McGee novel.

"A lovely young thing, wearing little more than a determined look, streaks out of the darkness and into Travis McGee’s headlights. McGee misses her, but lands upside down in ten feet of water – and right into the heart of a violent mystery. It turns out a local thug has just been killed, and Travis and his friend Meyer are suddenly promoted to lead suspects. To clear their names, they must gather their resources to fight against a deeply corrupt system that would rather see them dead than innocent."

A Tan and Sandy Silence

John D. MacDonald

1971

A Travis McGee novel.

"Travis McGee receives an unexpected guest, Harry Broll, who is convinced that he’s hiding his missing wife. The desperate man gets off a shot before Travis can wrestle his gun away. Worried that he’s losing his touch, Travis decides to get Harry off his case and prove he’s still in top form in one fell swoop. Travis’s search for the missing woman takes him to Grenada, where he’s soon tangling with con artists and killers. No longer wallowing in self-pity, Travis has more pressing concerns – like saving his own skin."

Seven: A Choice Fiction Selection

John D. MacDonald

1971

"Starring a cast of immoral broads, hedonistic thrill-seekers, naďve victims and profligate playboys, these seven short stories showcase the writing that propelled John D MacDonald to success."

• The Random Noise of Love
• Dear Old Friend
• The Willow Pool
• Quarrel
• Woodchuck
• Double Hannenframis
• The Annex

The Scarlet Ruse

John D. MacDonald

1973

A Travis McGee novel.

"An expert stamp collector is left frantic when he misplaces the extremely valuable collection of an important and shady client. Hirsh doesn’t know how he’s going to get it back. But fortunately for him, he’s got a friend in Travis McGee. It’s not long till Travis is hot on the trail of the missing collection. But Travis is going to have to play this game carefully – Hirsh’s client is liable to break some fingers if he doesn’t get what he’s owed."

The Turquoise Lament

John D. MacDonald

1973

A Travis McGee novel.

"The funny thing about favours: sometimes they come back to haunt you. And Travis McGee owes a friend a big one. Little surprise that he finds himself on a trip to Hawaii to help out his friend’s daughter, who is convinced her husband is trying to kill her. But Travis can’t find a single thing wrong and puts her paranoia down to simple anxiety. It’s not until he’s back home that he realises he may have overlooked a clue or two. And that she might be in very real danger."

The Dreadful Lemon Sky

John D. MacDonald

1975

A Travis McGee novel.

"Around four in the morning, Travis McGee is jarred awake by a ghost from his past: an old flame who needs a place to stash a package full of cash. He agrees to help. Two weeks later she’s dead. Left with a hundred grand and a nagging conscience, Travis goes to a seedy little town to look into Carrie’s previous life. But what Travis finds only pushes him further into the corrupt world she was trying to escape."

Condominium

John D. MacDonald

1977

"Welcome to Florida's Golden Sands, the dream condominium complex built on a weak foundation and a thousand dirty secrets. The real estate was a steal - literally. The maintenance charges run high as the locals are run out. It's the home of shortcuts, crackdowns, breakups, oversights, and payoffs. Add it all up, and the new coastline community doesn't stand a chance against the ever-present specter of disaster: the dreaded hurricane. The big one is coming. Golden Sands is right in its path. And only a few brave souls have the power to stop this towering eyesore from going underwater for good."

The Empty Copper Sea

John D. MacDonald

1978

A Travis McGee novel.

"As a boat captain, Van Harder’s reputation is his most valuable possession. But his wealthy employer has gone missing, presumed dead, and people are pointing the finger. They say he was drunk at the helm when his employer went overboard. But Harder insists he doesn’t drink . . . at least, not any more. And he wants his reputation back. But who would believe him? To help him, Travis McGee must do the impossible: prove that a dead man is actually alive."

Other Times, Other Worlds

John D. MacDonald

1978

A collection of science fiction short stories originally published between 1948 and 1968. The contents are:

• Introduction (Martin H. Greenberg)
• The Mechanical Answer
• Dance of a New World
• Ring Around the Redhead
• A Child Is Crying
• Flaw
• But Not to Dream
• The Miniature
• Spectator Sport
• Half-Past Eternity
• The Big Contest
• Susceptibility
• Common Denominator
• Game for Blondes
• Labor Supply
• The Legend of Joe Lee
• The Annex
• Afterword
• Bibliography (Len J. & June Moffatt)

The Green Ripper

John D. MacDonald

1979

A Travis McGee novel.

"Travis McGee has known his share of beautiful girls, but true love always passed him by – until Gretel. But suddenly, the woman who stole his heart dies of an unidentified illness. Convinced that she has been murdered, McGee finds himself pursuing a less-than-noble cause: revenge. Obsessed with his crusade, he becomes more and more unhinged. He has spent his life saving other people, but now he’ll need to find the strength to save himself - before he loses his mind."

Free Fall in Crimson

John D. MacDonald

1981

A Travis McGee novel.

"Ellis Esterland was rich, mean, and slowly succumbing to cancer – until someone hastened the inevitable by beating him to death. His son wants Travis McGee to find out who killed his estranged father. The ‘why’ seems obvious: his hotly contested, multimillion-dollar estate. McGee’s quest takes him from Hollywood to the Midwest, from prostitution rings to drug deals gone wrong. In the haze of violence surrounding him, McGee is in danger of losing himself. But one thing remains crystal clear: he is on the trail of a killer conjured from his worst nightmares."

Cinnamon Skin

John D. MacDonald

1982

A Travis McGee novel.

"In the Florida Keys, a houseboat explodes in a giant white flash, instantly killing those on board. The boat belonged to Travis McGee’s friend Meyer. But it’s not Meyer who’s dead – he’d lent it to his just-married niece, Norma, and her husband, hoping to give them the perfect honeymoon. When a group of Colombian terrorists take responsibility for the brutal act, Meyer and McGee travel to Mexico to seek justice. And Meyer, normally content in McGee’s shadow, is determined to avenge the one family member he had left . . . or die trying."

The Good Old Stuff

John D. MacDonald

1982

"Written at the beginning of his career and originally published in American magazines only, these stories give us a taste of MacDonald's early achievements and show the range of his skill in the realm of mystery and thriller writing."

• Murder For Money
• Death Writes The Answer
• Miranda
• They Let Me Live
• Breathe No More
• From Some Hidden Grave
• A Time For Dying
• Noose For A Tigress
• Murder In Mind
• Check Out At Dawn
• She Cannot Die
• Dead On The Pin
• A Trap For The Careless

Two

John D. MacDonald

1983

One More Sunday

John D. MacDonald

1984

"Welcome to the Eternal Church of the Believer, where devout workers operate state-of-the-art computer equipment to process the thousands of dollars that pour in daily and where hundreds of prayers are offered by armies of believers. Roy Owens arrives there after his journalist wife disappears while doing an exposé on the Eternal Church of the Believer. Embroiled in a desperate search for her, it is not long before he uncovers a multimillion-dollar organization that hides the vices and human failings of the people behind the church."

More Good Old Stuff

John D. MacDonald

1984

"These fourteen tales of crime and corruption, of sleuthing and suspense, of treachery, intrigue, and revenge, by the incomparable John D. MacDonald, were selected from the hundreds that originally appeared in the immensely popular pulp magazines of the late 1940s."

• Deadly Damsel
• State Police Report That ...
• Death For Sale
• A Corpse In His Dreams
• I Accuse Myself
• A Place To Live
• Neighborly Interest
• The Night Is Over
• Secret Stain
• Even Up The Odds
• Verdict
• The High Gray Walls Of Hate
• Unmarried Widow
• You Remember Jeanie

Barrier Island

John D. MacDonald

1986

"Tucker Loomis is a hard and dangerous man with a ruthlessness all West Bay fears and respects, and an improbable amount of money. Wade Rowley is a common man who aspires to honour but gets caught up in the footwork of a skilled swindler. In a pitiless game, with a few harsh rules and just one way of keeping score, the wrong man will die. And another will get away with more than murder."

The Lonely Silver Rain

John D. MacDonald

1985

A Travis McGee novel.

"McGee knows the dangerous link between Florida boatjackings and the drug trade, and he’s vowed never to swim with the sharks. But when Billy Ingraham, a self-made tycoon, bets that McGee can locate his $700,000 custom cruiser, he decides to jump straight in. After a friend leads him to the stolen vessel, McGee immediately regrets not going with his gut. The yacht is no longer an ordinary boat. It’s a slaughterhouse. Shortly followed by the return of a ghost from his past, Travis realises that this case may be his last."

The Annex and Other Stories

John D. MacDonald

1987

A limited edition selection of short stories. The contents are:

• The Annex
• Hangover
• End Of The Tiger
• The Bear Trap

Two Complete Science Adventure Books: Silent Victory / Ballroom of the Skies

Poul Anderson / John D. MacDonald

1953

A magazine style paperback that includes one John D. MacDonald novel.

Time And Tommorrow

John D. MacDonald

1979

An omnibus edition that brings together the three John D. MacDonald science fiction novels: Wine of the Dreamers; The Girl, The Gold Watch, And Everything; and Ballroom of the Skies.

A Travis McGee Omnibus

John D. MacDonald

1982

An omnibus edition that brings together the three novels: The Quick Red Fox; A Deadly Shade of Gold; and Bright Orange for the Shroud.

Three Complete Novels

John D. MacDonald

1985

An omnibus edition that brings together the three novels: The Quick Red Fox; A Deadly Shade of Gold; and Bright Orange for the Shroud.

Five Complete Travis McGee Novels

John D. MacDonald

1985

An omnibus edition that brings together the five novels:

• The Dreadful Lemon Sky
• The Empty Copper Sea
• Free Fall in Crimson
• The Green Ripper
• A Tan And Sandy Silence

Buy from amazon.co.uk

Pulp Masters

Editor: Ed Gorman & Martin H. Greenberg

2001

"Celebrates American pulp fiction, compiling five novellas and one complete novel from the first half of the twentieth century, including crime authors John D. MacDonald, Lawrence Block, and James M. Cain."

• The Embezzler (James M. Cain)
• Ordo (Donald E. Westlake)
• Stag Party Girl (Lawrence Block)
• College-Cut Kill (John D. MacDonald)
• Everybody's Watching Me (Mickey Spillane)
• So Dead My Love (Harry Whittington)

The House Guests

John D. MacDonald

1965

"In The House Guests, John D. MacDonald tells the story of his family’s unforgettable pets: tomcats Roger and Geoffrey, two mischievous boys whose zany habits and remarkable senses of humor endeared them to everyone they met, and an extraordinary goose called Knees. Both a rare peek inside MacDonald’s private life and a fascinating compendium of information about the animal kingdom, The House Guests is by turns touching, hilarious, and absorbing, sure to mesmerize MacDonald fans and pet lovers alike."

No Deadly Drug: The Anatomy of A Celebrity Murder Trial

John D. MacDonald

1968

"Indicted by the state of New Jersey for the murder of retired Colonel William Farber. Dr Carl Coppolino had been having an affair with Farber's wife, Marjorie. Did he kill Marjorie's husband and his own wife so he could marry Marjorie? If he did, he may have regretted it, for Marjorie Farber became the prosecution's star witness, claiming her former lover had hypnotized her into becoming an unwilling accomplice in the death of her husband. Famed attorney F. Lee Bailey led the defense and concluded that Marjorie Farber was a classic case of a woman scorned. But did the jury agree?"

Nothing Can Go Wrong

Captain John H. Kilpack with John D. MacDonald &

1981

Original writing credits are as above. Subsequent editions have credits: John D. MacDonald & Captain John H. Kilpack.

"Packed with adventure, full of laughs - the true account of a world cruise on a fabulous passenger ship."

The Official Travis McGee Quiz Book

Compiled by John Brogan

Introduction by John D. MacDonald

1984

A Friendship: The Letters of Dan Rowan and John D. MacDonald 1967-1974

Dan Rowan / John D. MacDonald

1986

"Gathers letters written between Dan Rowan, the popular TV comedian, and John D. MacDonald, the mystery writer."

Reading for Survival

John D. MacDonald

1987

"An essay sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Florida Center for the Book."

The Lethal Sex

An Anthology Of The Year's Best By The Mystery Writers of America

Editor: John D. Macdonald

1959

John D. MacDonald

David Geherin

1982

The Red Hot Typewriter: The Life and Times of John D. MacDonald

Hugh Merril

2000

From the paperback edition:

"John D. MacDonald created the tremendously popular Travis McGee series. This is the single, most complete biography of MacDonald thus far, available for the first time in paperback. Also included in this new edition is a comprehensive bibliography, updated from the original hardback edition, plus two new afterwords that highlight some of MacDonald’s 66 books."

Cracking the Hard-Boiled Detective: A Critical History from the 1920s to the Present

Lewis D. Moore

2006

"This critical study analyzes the character of the hard-boiled detective, from literary antecedents through the early 21st century. It follows change in the novels through three main periods: the Early (roughly 1927-1955), during which the character was defined by such writers as Carroll John Daly, Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler; the Transitional, evident by 1964 in the works of John D. MacDonald and Michael Collins, and continuing to around 1977 via Joseph Hansen, Bill Pronzini and others; and the Modern, since the late 1970s, during which such writers as Loren D. Estleman, Liza Cody, Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton and many others have expanded the genre and the detective character. Themes such as violence, love and sexuality, friendship, space and place, and work are examined throughout the text."

Travis McGee & Me

D.R. Martin

2016

"Travis McGee & Me is D. R. Martin’s book-by-book personal take on the famous boat bum hero created by John D. MacDonald. The twenty-one McGee novels have been continuously in print since their original publication dates, from 1964 to 1985. Not only have they been tremendously popular with readers, they have inspired generations of crime fiction writers. These essays are partly book reports, and partly Martin’s analyses of McGee and his adventures. They originally appeared—sometimes in slightly different versions—in Martin’s blog, Travis McGee & Me."