| Private Investigator Travis McGee is back in one of several novels by John D. MacDonald, that contain a color in the title. The girl referred to is Maureen Pearson, a woman who keeps trying to commit suicide. He met the girl's mother years ago and upon her deathbed, she asks McGee to check in on her daughter now in her 30s and try to find out why she wants to kill herself. He visits Maureen and her husband and her young sister in a small coastal Florida town. At first there seems to be nothing he can do--Maureen is quiet, forgetful, impulsive, and distant. She can't remember where she is from one day to the next. Then, while staying at a local hotel, an acquaintance comes up dead. The girl was seen talking to McGee because he caught her and her partner in his hotel room. It seems she was killed to keep her from revealing important information. About what? Is there something more behind Maureen's suicide attempts than just depression over her miscarriage? Or did the dead girl know something that proved another unrelated suicide was actually a murder? McGee finds that he has unravel both threads in order to keep himself out of the hands of the law, while trying to respect the last wishes of his old friend. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - Dry-cynical Time/era of story: Misc. Murder Plotlets - local police w/ IQ of a houseplant - "All in the family" murder - solving long-past murder Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot? descript. of violence and chases - 50 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - power The antagonists are: - big business leader(s) How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting United States Yes The US: - Southeast Ice Caps/Sea? Yes Small town? Yes Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Unusual forms of death - dropped from large heights Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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