‘Cape Fear’ gets both soapier and more violent in miniseries
First episode impressions (TV review): The third adaptation of John D. MacDonald’s novel is poised to go into even darker corners than before.
John D. MacDonald
‘Cape Fear’ gets both soapier and more violent in miniseries
‘Executioners’ (1957), ‘Cape Fear’ (1962, 1991) explore limits of modern law
Throwback Thursday (Book and movie reviews): MacDonald’s novel is surprisingly tame, the first movie keeps the censors occupied, and Scorsese’s version finally delivers the shocks.
‘Darker Than Amber’ (1966, 1970) is first McGee novel to darken screens
Sleuthing Sunday (Book and movie reviews): The plot’s relative simplicity makes it a good choice, and the casting is solid. But MacDonald’s introspection can’t be mimicked.
‘Bright Orange for the Shroud’ (1965) dominated by dark villain
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): In a novel criticizing the attempted “taming” of Florida, MacDonald shows how scary an untamed man can be.
MacDonald goes all-in on McGee with double-length ‘Deadly Shade of Gold’ (1965)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): After the four 1964 novels introduce the unorthodox sleuth, the fifth tome is an international epic.
Twists come at a fast draw in ‘A Purple Place for Dying’ (1964)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Travis McGee finds things aren’t so civilized out West in the third adventure of John D. MacDonald’s series.
McGee’s ‘Nightmare in Pink’ (1964) only partly comes from juggling women
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): The second McGee novel especially reveals the secret that these are men’s romance novels.
‘Deep Blue Good-by’ (1964) a confident, rollicking hello to Travis McGee
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Already well-established with standalones, John D. MacDonald confidently segues to a series character.
McGee series cleanses itself in ‘The Lonely Silver Rain’ (1985)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): John D. MacDonald didn’t intend for this to be his last Travis McGee novel, but it has a fitting coda.
‘Cinnamon Skin’ (1982) blows up into a good quest novel
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): MacDonald crafts one of his most psychologically interesting villains in the penultimate McGee yarn.