Pale Gray for Guilt

A Travis McGee Novel, Book 9

By: John D. MacDonald

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

The men who killed Tush Bannon knew he was a nice guy with a nice wife and three nice kids - trying to run a small marina on the Florida coast. They also knew he was in the way of a big land development scheme. Once they killed him, they figured they were on easy street. But Tush Bannon was Travis McGee's friend, and McGee could be one tough adversary when protecting a widow and her kids.

©1968 John D. MacDonald Publishing, Inc. (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Always Brilliant

Where does Pale Gray for Guilt rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best books in my all-time favorite series of mysteries.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Meyer is always a favorite of mine.

What does Robert Petkoff bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Petkoff brings great skill as a reader but also an actor's insight into individual character. He does a superb job of bringing this cast of characters to life.

Any additional comments?

Thanks to audible for presenting the entire Travis McGee series in excellent audio productions --and for getting the whole series done and made available so quickly! Bravo!

this is likely my favorite Travis book.

it's a good balance between humor and darkness. introduces a couple of great characters. Meyer takes on a bigger role here and gives great balance to McGee.

great book

love this series! well narrated and great for road trips. John MacDonald is a mater story teller.

A long story that is overly described

Trav is a different fellow. I'm enjoying the references to the 1960s and the things that are so similar to current times.

This is certainly written during the sexual revolution.

Classic Travis McGee

Travis loses a friend, wreaks havoc on the bad guys, and collects new scars, all the while treating us to his sardonic view of 1960s America. Nothing is safe from his acid wit, from the Detroit automakers and high-rolling "investors" to hippies and macho-men, Travis tells it like it is - in his opinion.

No One Like Travis McGee

It is a fine thing to hear Travis tell his story, and Mr. Petkoff does a reasonable job with the various voices. Unfortunately, he does not bring the gravitas; the wry, cynical irony; the hard-won wisdom that the late, great Darren McGavin brought to the original, albeit abridged original recordings. I am spoiled…
Nonetheless, I'm pleased that Audible saw fit to record these full leg versions

Hooray! Travis McGee is back!

Would you listen to Pale Gray for Guilt again? Why?

It's a joy to find John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series available on Audible. I first read Pale Gray for Guilt in the 60s when the book turned up in my Peace Corps book locker. Immediately, I was hooked on Trav, his philosophy and adventures. I collected and read all the novels more than once. Dog-eared paperbacks still have a place in my library. Later when the stories emerged on tape read by Darren McGavin, I collected those, too, and wore them out. Pale Gray for Guilt still remains a favorite for the intricacies of the plot, the fun of taking down the con men, and the fact that Travis' friend Meyer has a nice role. Always loved Meyer. The story stands up surprisingly well after all the years.

What other book might you compare Pale Gray for Guilt to and why?

If you've enjoyed the stories of Carl Hiaasen, you'll probably enjoy Travis McGee's adventures. Hiaasen has stated that John D. MacDonald's series influenced his writing.

What does Robert Petkoff bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Robert Petkoff does a fine job of narrating the stories as if he were McGee telling the tales as opposed to reading a book written in the first person. He's a fine successor to the late Darren McGavin.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's easy to listen to this book all at once. Audiobooks accompany me while I do chores, yard work or exercise and the plot and characters of this one will keep you motivated. The story is interesting; there's plenty of action and strong writing. Best of all are the characters. You like them and care what happens to them.

Any additional comments?

In an age where we are urged to work longer hours and for more years, Travis' philosophy of taking his retirement a bit at a time instead of grasping for more and more money may seem strange or out of step. His way of thinking caused me to think seriously about what I wanted and how much money I needed to achieve it. I've applied it to my own life without regrets. Enjoy.

John D. the great one.

Outstanding- but then most of his are. Excellent ending to boot. It feels like this story is where Travis McGee came to fruition, the character fully formed. Great work on John D’s part.

MacDonald is reaching his stride

McGee investigates and seeks revenge for the murder of an old friend. It involves an old boy network trying to make a fast buck on a land deal. Travis's relation to women is a bit more nuanced. It of course involves Travis trying to make a narrow escape from a desperate situation.

Outstanding!

One of the more interesting Teavis McGee plots. believable yet great imagination. And you cannot go wrong with the Busted Flush. 👍