Travis McGee books in order

The Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald follows a Florida-based 'salvage consultant' through 21 color-coded crime novels. See all books in reading order.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Deep Blue Good-By 1964 John D. MacDonald Buy
2 Nightmare in Pink 1964 John D. MacDonald Buy
3 A Purple Place for Dying 1964 John D. MacDonald Buy
4 The Quick Red Fox 1964 John D. MacDonald Buy
5 A Deadly Shade of Gold 1965 John D. MacDonald Buy
6 Bright Orange for the Shroud 1965 John D. MacDonald Buy
7 Darker Than Amber 1966 John D. MacDonald Buy
8 One Fearful Yellow Eye 1966 John D. MacDonald Buy
9 Pale Gray for Guilt 1968 John D. MacDonald Buy
10 The Girl in the Plain Brown Wrapper 1968 John D. MacDonald Buy
11 Dress Her in Indigo 1969 John D. MacDonald Buy
12 The Long Lavender Look 1970 John D. MacDonald Buy
13 A Tan and Sandy Silence 1971 John D. MacDonald Buy
14 The Scarlet Ruse 1972 John D. MacDonald Buy
15 The Turquoise Lament 1973 John D. MacDonald Buy
16 The Dreadful Lemon Sky 1974 John D. MacDonald Buy
17 The Empty Copper Sea 1978 John D. MacDonald Buy
18 The Green Ripper 1979 John D. MacDonald Buy
19 Free Fall in Crimson 1981 John D. MacDonald Buy
20 Cinnamon Skin 1982 John D. MacDonald Buy
21 The Lonely Silver Rain 1984 John D. MacDonald Buy

The Travis McGee series is a 21-book crime fiction saga by John D. MacDonald, running from The Deep Blue Good-By (1964) to The Lonely Silver Rain (1984). McGee is a self-described “salvage consultant” who lives on a houseboat called the Busted Flush in Fort Lauderdale. He recovers lost or stolen property for clients, keeping half the value as his fee.

Each novel has a color in its title, from blue and pink through lavender and silver. The books follow McGee as he takes on cases that pull him into the darker corners of Florida and beyond. His friend Meyer, an economist who lives on a nearby boat, is a recurring character and sounding board throughout the series.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Travis McGee series?

There are 21 books in the Travis McGee series, published between 1964 and 1984.

What is the first book in the Travis McGee series?

The first book in the Travis McGee series is The Deep Blue Good-By, published in 1964.

Why does every Travis McGee title include a color?

MacDonald gave each book a color-coded title as a unifying theme for the series. The colors have no deeper meaning but make the series instantly recognizable.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy