The Scarlet Ruse (Mass Market Paperback)

by John D. MacDonald (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Travis McGee is too busy with his houseboat to pay attention to the little old man with the missing postage stamps. Except these are no ordinary stamps. They are rare stamps. Four hundred thousand dollars worth of rare. And if McGee doesn't recognize their value, perhaps Mary Alice McDermit does, a six-foot knockout who knows all the ways to a boat bum's heart. Only it's not McGee's heart that's in danger. Because a syndicate killer has put a contract on McGee. A killer who knows something about stamps . . . and even more about McGee.


From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher
6 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (March 9, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449224775
• ISBN-13: 978-0449224779
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,531 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 14 in The Travis McGee Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars After the Fall, April 9, 2000

By	Rolfe Windward "swindward" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

A more pessimistic MacDonald (and McGee) emerges after a writing hiatus of some years. The difference between earlier McGee stories and the 'new' series beginning with Scarlet Ruse is palpable to the devoted fan but not necessarily objectionable: McGee is growing older and so are we; not simply closer to the bone now (McDonald could always take us there) but closer to the end. Yet McDonald's exploration of a free life amidst its war with self and the criminal mind still entertains and instructs. We are not through yet and neither is our favorite beach-bum. See you in Lauderdale.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Complex, June 1, 2005

By	Erika Mitchell (E. Calais, VT USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a Travis McGee mystery. McGee is lured off his boat by a friend whose stamp dealer friend is in trouble. The dealer constructs stamp collections as investments for rich clients. One day, the dealer noticed that the stamps in one of his client's collections had been switched with low grade specimens, significantly downgrading the value of the collection. He's terrified that the client will ask to cash in the collection, leaving him with an overwhelming financial liability. He asks McGee to help him figure out how the stamps were switched, and who did it. Complicating the matter is the dealer's secretary, who McGee finds himself mysteriously attracted to.

This story is rich with detail, and it can be hard at times to keep it all straight. The plot goes over the edge of plausibility in places, and the ending has an odd twist that I still can't figure out. Nevertheless, the story remains engaging throughout, and can provide a bit of entertainment or distraction for a little while.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Story, July 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Scarlet Ruse (Price-Less Audio Series) (Audio Cassette)

I wasn't sure about Darren McGavin reading these books. I thought he was too different from who I thought Travis McGee was. Jimmy Buffett maybe, but Darren McGavin? I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed Mr. McGavin's interpretation of my favorite beach bum sailor. And any book by John D. is miles above the rest, so I had to give it FIVE stars, even if it isn't my favorite MrGee novel!