Why this book: I was ready for another Travis McGee novel – as a break from more “serious” reading. I like th author’s style and the character McGee and the other characters in his books.

Summary in 3 Sentences: A very famous movie actress has been blackmailed and continues to get blackmail threats based on indiscrete pictures taken at a sexually uninhibited party, and McGee is requested to find out how this happened, who is doing the blackmail and to stop it. It is an awkward process in part because McGee doesn’t care for the actress who has hired him, and because he does begin to care for the actresses executive assistant who is tasked with helping him. As usual, it becomes a fairly complicated story as McGee finds himself wandering into some of society’s less respectable and more pretentious sub-cultures, and as usual, finds that the culprits are not who he expected.

My Impressions: As usual, a fun and engaging read. If you like MacDonald’s Travis McGee series this is a good one. It is one of his earlier novels, published in 1964 – and I’ve found I’m a bit partial to his earlier novels – that more reflect the culture of America in the 50s early 60s when I was growong up.

McGee’s main client in this novel is a Hollywood super star sex-symbol actress – Lysa Dean – representing perhaps Ava Gardner, Lana Turner, or Elizabeth Taylor from that era. When McGee meets Ms Dean to work out the details of his contract with her, she throws her charm and beauty at him and McGee resists. At that initial meeting we see McGee expressing MacDonald’s disdain for the culture of the super rich Hollywood stars and McGee doesn’t allow himself to be manipulated by the starlet’s sexual appeal and charisma. That he keeps his distance from her and doesn’t respond to her flirtations, of course intrigues her and she subtly sees him as a challenge.

The story requires McGee to peek into and explore some of what surrounds the sexual licentiousness of that libertine, pleasure seeking subculture in Southern California, how it draws in and seduces young and old libertines, and self-centered pleasure seekers from all classes. Such a group will naturally include some who see a chance for exploiting their access to the star, and so blackmail her with pictures of her “inflagrante.”

To assist McGee with his task of unravelling the mystery of who took the pictures and how, who then was behind the blackmail, and then putting an end to it, Lysa Dean loans McGee her very efficient, cold and impersonal executive assistant Dana Holzer to help him with investigation. The relationship between McGee and Holzer then slowly takes center stage in the story, as his honesty and competence, and his caring and respecatful treatment of her break down Holzer’s cold and distant demeanor. They eventually develop a trusting and intimate relationship, as the mystery of the blackmail unfolds and uncovers violence and ohter sordid aspects.

After having recently read Frank Sinatra’s long-form biography, and the insights it gave of the life-style and culture of wealthy Hollywood celebrities of that era, I appreciated how MacDonald (through McGee) responded to it – with a bit of prurient interest, but also disgust. I also enjoyed his comments and insights about “love” – and how sexual intimacy is enhanced by affection, respect, and love, and how his experience has taught him that sex without at least affection and respect is very hollow and usually not worth the trouble.