A review by kurtwombat
The Quick Red Fox by John D. MacDonald

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Marvelous entry in the Travis McGee series. Here the mystery is a seedy affair of illicit photos and blackmail. Lives will be lost and reputations put at risk but all that is just frosting. Baked into the cake underneath is the usual Travis McGee flair for character development and commentary that dances between romantic and dour. Writing in general often succumbs to the age it was written in and this series can be like a time capsule with a touch of mid 20th century American intolerance, but the quality of the material, the punchy eloquent prose keeps it’s head up. And ultimately, McGee’s aim is always towards personal freedom—while not hindering that of others. In this light, with the central mystery solved and in the background, the central relationship of the book takes it’s own turn—beautiful, poignant and just right.