Category: Z-View

“Prince of Darkness” (1987) written & directed by John Carpenter; starring Donald Pleasence / Z-View

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Prince of Darkness (1987)

Director:  John Carpenter

Screenplay: John Carpenter as Martin Quatermass

Stars: Donald Pleasence, Lisa Blount, Jameson Parker, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun, Susan Blanchard, Anne Marie Howard, Dirk Blocker, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, Peter Jason, Thom Bray, Joanna Merlin and Alice Cooper.

Tagline: Before man walked the earth… it slept for centuries. It is evil. It is real. It is awakening.

The Plot…

A priest (Pleasence) discovers a large cylinder of green bubbling liquid hidden in a church.  The priest can sense that the container holds something evil.  In an effort to discover exactly what the substance is, the priest brings in Professor Howard Birack (Wong) and several of his best students.  The team begins running tests to determine the age, make-up and other properties of the green liquid.  At the same time others work to decipher the ancient manuscripts found with the cylinder.

The unknown substance is at least 7 million years old, made of pre-biotic material and is quickly evolving.  The priest feels the increasing power of the substance and fears that it may be Satan or some other ancient god.  Soon homeless people begin showing up outside the church.  They stand a stare as if waiting for something.  Then the team members begin to experience the same dream – a menacing dark figure coming towards them.

Soon the team will know the truth…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a John Carpenter fan, but I feel that Prince of Darkness falls far short of Carpenter’s best work.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Prince of Darkness (1987) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Background to Danger” (1943) directed by Raul Walsh; starring George Raft, Sydney Greenstreet & Peter Lorre / Z-View

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Background to Danger (1943)

Director:  Raoul Walsh

Screenplay: W.R. Burnett; based on UNCOMMON DANGER by Eric Ambler

Stars: George Raft, Brenda Marshall, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Osa Massen, Willard Robertson,
Kurt Katch and Turhan Bey.

Tagline: GEORGE RAFT Rougher and tougher than ever! FIGHTS THE FAT MAN SYDNEY GREENSTREET You can trust him as far as you can throw him!

The Plot…

1942.  World War II rages.  Because Turkey is neutral, the United States, Russia and Germany have embassies trying to sway the country.  Spies are everywhere.

Joe Barton (Raft) is traveling by train in Turkey when he meets a pretty woman.  Barton sees a man staring at the woman.  He asks if she needs help.  She asks Barton to hold some papers for her.  They will meet at her hotel once they arrive at their destination.  Barton agrees.

Barton is followed to his hotel.  In his room he is searched but the papers aren’t found.  Later, after he’s made sure he wasn’t tailed, Barton heads to the hotel where the woman is staying.  When he goes to her room, he discovers she’s been murdered.  Barton hides when another man enters the room.  As the man goes through the woman’s things, Barton escapes.  He’s followed by the man who entered behind him.

Barton realizes the papers are valuable.  But to which country?  Barton has been set-up as the woman’s murderer.  The authorities, Russian and German spies want the information in Barton’s possession.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In the source novel, the character George Raft plays was a salesman.  Raft demanded that his character be changed to an undercover FBI agent using the salesman job as a cover.

The last scene in this film shows an airplane taking off.  The scene was taken from Casablanca.  Interestingly enough, George Raft was offered the starring role in Casablanca, but turned it down.  It became one of Humphrey Bogart’s most popular roles and the film is considered a classic.

Background to Danger (1943) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Nightmare” (1956) written & directed by Maxwell Shane; starring Edward G. Robinson & Kevin McCarthy / Z-View

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Nightmare (1956)

Director:  Maxwell Shane

Screenplay: Maxwell Shane; based on And So to Death by Cornell Woolrich

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie Russell, Virginia Christine, Gage Clarke, Marian Carr,
Barry Atwater, John Mitchum, Cosmo Sardo and Rhys Williams.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Stan Grayson (McCarthy) wakes from a restless night.  Stan dreamed he had a fought and killed a man.  When Stan notices strangle marks on his neck, blood on his wrist and a key that he’s never seen before, he begins to believe it wasn’t a dream.

Wracked with guilt and confusion, Stan tells his brother-in-law, New Orleans Detective Rene Bressard (Robinson) about the situation.  Bressard assures Stan it was just a dream.  Stan probably scratched himself as he was tossing and turning.  Stan isn’t so sure.

Things take a turn for the worse when it is discovered that a man was killed where Stan’s “dream” took place. Only the man wasn’t the only one murdered!  Is Stan a killer?  Has he been set up?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Nightmare features a creative opening and a great mystery set-up.  Along the way we get a couple of unexpected turns.

If you’re a fan of mystery movies of this era, you should enjoy Nightmare.

Nightmare (1956) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Broken Darkness” (2017) written & directed by Christopher-Lee dos Santos / Z-View

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Broken Darkness (2017)

Director:  Christopher-Lee dos Santos

Screenplay: Christopher-Lee dos Santos

Stars: Sean Cameron Michael, Suraya Rose Santos, Brandon Auret, Ryan Kruger and Jonathan Pienaar.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Years ago massive world-wide meteor showers forced survivors into an underground existence.  Tunnels now connect “stations” where groups survive.  Although each station is self-sufficient, there is little power for lights, heat, or any modern convenience. Survivors have been reduced to living in the dark and existing on little.

When the Kentucky station’s water supply is cut due to a leak, Sam, Troy and Rose are sent to find and repair the problem.  This will take them far from the station and into dangerous areas where mutants and cannibals roam.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Broken Darkness has an interesting set-up and the plot sounds exciting.  Sadly the end result doesn’t live up to expectations.  I found Broken Darkness to be slow and when the action did start, not exciting enough to keep me interested.  I tapped out at 59 minutes.

Broken Darkness (2017) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“Nosferatu the Vampyre” (1979) written & directed by Werner Herzog; starring Klaus Kinski & Isabelle Adjani / Z-View

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Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Director:  Werner Herzog

Screenplay: Werner Herzog; based on Nosferatu by F. W. Murnau; and DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz.

Tagline: Nosferatu…he who is doomed to wander alone in darkness. Nosferatu…he who is condemned to destroy even those whom he loves. Nosferatu…a tale of seduction in the dark night of the soul.

The Plot…

Jonathan Harker (Ganz) is sent to Transylvania to finalize an estate purchase with Count Dracula (Kinski).  Harker is unaware that Dracula is a vampire that will soon become infatuated with his wife, Lucy (Adjani).

Dracula intends to leave Transylvania for his new manor in Wismar, Germany. In this new metropolis Dracula will be able to feed without fear of discovery.  Dracula will also take possession of Lucy.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Nosferatu the Vampyre is a melding of Dracula (1931) and the 1922 film Nosferatu.   For my money, Dracula (1931) is by far the better of the three.  (And of the four if we include 2024’s Nosferatu.)

Much of Nosferatu the Vampyre is filmed during the day which isn’t the best time for a vampire movie.  The character design of Nosferatu and his portrayal wasn’t frightening or intimidating.  The still photos from the film were creepy, but lost something on screen.

I did like the idea that much of what happens to Harker and what he sees in Dracula’s castle might just be in his mind.  Is the castle a ruin or fully intact?  Is the boy who plays the violin real?  I also liked the ending’s twist.  Still, the movie overall fell short for me.  I was expecting much more.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) rates 2 of 5 stars.

THE DRUMMER by Anthony Neil Smith / Z-View

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THE DRUMMER by Anthony Neil Smith

First sentence…

The bleach-blonde fancy boy stood in the doorway of this small bar at the edge of the French Quarter hoping to be recognized, but those days were long gone.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Fourteen years ago Cal Christopher disappeared.  Cal was the drummer of Savage Nights. The popular heavy metal band wasn’t top tier.  It was just below.  But outside the group’s inner circle, no one knew the in- fighting. Or that the band was facing bankruptcy.  Cal saw the writing on the wall.  He moved enough of his assets to live comfortably for life, burned down his mansion and vanished.

Cal moved to New Orleans.  He became Merle Johnson.

Merle is happy.  New Orleans is home.  All is good.  Then one day Merle is confronted by Todd Delacroix, the formed lead singer of Savage Nights.  Todd threatens to expose Cal if he doesn’t out himself.  Delacroix wants the group back together for a reunion tour.  A last chance to cash in on the group’s fame.

Merle has many reasons not to come back as Cal.  The IRS and the fact that he burned down his mansion are two.  Merle says he’ll consider and agrees to meet Delacroix later.  When Merle shows up at Delacroix’s hotel room he finds him unconscious, surrounded by empty booze bottles.  A suicide note outing Merle as Cal rests beside Delacroix.  Merle panics and makes two bad decisions.  One is taking the note…

Now the police, reporters, his former band mates and others are on Merle’s trail.

Rating:

“Operation: Rainfall” (2020) written & directed by Luke Sparke / Z-View

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Operation: Rainfall (2020)

Director:  Luke Sparke

Screenplay: Luke Sparke; additional dialogue by Dale Dye, Felix Williamson

Stars: Dan Ewing, Temuera Morrison, Lawrence Makoare, Jet Tranter and Ken Jeong.

Tagline: Invasion was just the beginning.

The Plot…

Two years into an alien invasion, the resistance learns of an alien plan called “Rainfall”.  A battle-scarred vet, a young idealistic kid who wants to be a warrior and an alien sympathetic to the human fight, set out on a mission to take down the alien operation before it is too late.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Operation: Rainfall is a sequel to the 2018 film Occupation.

If you’re a fan of low-budget sci-fi, then Operation: Rainfall is for you.  It reminded me of something you’d see on Saturday mornings in the early 80s when there were attempts to cash in on the Star Wars craze.

Operation: Rainfall (2020) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“No One Lives” starring Luke Evans / Z-View

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No One Lives (2012)

Director:  Ryuhei Kitamura

Screenplay: David Cohen

Stars: Luke Evans, Gary Grubbs, Lee Tergesen, America Olivo, Beau Knapp, Rob Steinberg, Laura Ramsey, Michael ‘Mick’ Harrity and Tyrus.

Tagline: Everyone Runs. Everyone Hides. No One Lives.

The Plot…

While driving in a remote area on a cross-country moving trip, a couple is kidnapped by a gang of thieves.  The thugs plan to rob the couple and steal their trailer.  Everything changes when they discover something unexpected in the couple’s car trunk.

The thieves learn the meaning of “sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.”

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The discovery in the trunk is a great plot twist.  Unfortunately the movie then becomes very predictable.

No One Lives (2012) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Nosferatu” (2024) written & directed by Robert Eggers; starring Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgård / Z-View

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Nosferatu (2024)

Director:  Robert Eggers

Screenplay: Robert Eggers; based on Nosferatu by Henrik Galeen; inspired by DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Ralph Ineson and Willem Dafoe.

Tagline: Succumb to the darkness.

The Plot…

Thomas Hutter (Hoult) is sent to Transylvania to finalize an estate purchase with Count Orlok (Skarsgård).  Hutter is unaware that his employer is involved in the occult and that Orlok is a vampire infatuated with Hutter’s wife, Ellen (Depp).

Orlok intends to leave Transylvania for his new manor in Wisborg, Germany. In this new metropolis Orlok will be able to feed without fear of discovery.  Orlok will also take possession of Ellen.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The exteriors of Orlok’s castle are an actual Transylvanian castle.  Vlad Dracula was once imprisoned behind the castle’s walls.

Count Orlok is often surrounded by rats.  Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz (Dafoe) and Ellen (Depp) are often seen with cats.  Cats kill rats.

This is Willem Dafoe’s second movie in regard to Nosferatu.  In Shadow of the Vampire (2000) he played Max Schreck, the actor who played Nosferatu in the original film.

Eggers’ Nosferatu has the feel of a creepy old black and white film thanks to use of a computer to remove the red and yellow color spectrums.

I like the idea of keeping Orlok/Nosferatu’s appearance a mystery in ads and much of the movie.  Sadly, I was disappointed in the look of Orlok/Nosferatu when we finally see him.  The big bushy mustache makes no sense if the rest of his body is decaying.

The solution to killing Orlok is found in an ancient text.  If the method to his demise is so well known, how come Orlok isn’t aware?

Eggers’ Nosferatu is a scary character study that slowly builds tension.  Settle back and enjoy the ride.

Nosferatu (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Smile 2” (2024) written & directed by Parker Finn; starring Naomi Scott / Z-View

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Smile 2 (2024)

Director: Parker Finn

Screenplay: Parker Finn

Stars: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Roberts Jekabsons, Sean Stolzen, Jon Rua, Christopher Bailey and Drew Barrymore.

Tagline: It’s the last thing you’ll see.

The Plot…

Skye Riley (Scott) is just days away from her comeback concert.  A year ago Skye was in a car crash that killed her boyfriend and left her badly injured.  The crash led to public knowledge that Skye was suffering from substance abuse.  The path back was long and hard.  Now Skye is clean.  Everything rides on the upcoming concert.

When Skye re-injures her back during rehearsal, she reaches out to an old friend for some painkillers.  She sneaks away to her friend’s apartment.  When Skye arrives, her friend appears to be on something.  He’s having terrible hallucinations.  Suddenly he stands and smiles at Skye.  He picks up a weight and beats himself to death.  Skye quickly leaves.  She tells no one what she witnessed.

Over the next few days Skye begins to have memory loss and horrible visions.  People around Skye worry that she’s using again.  A stranger contacts Skye and describes the episodes she’s having.  He tells her she’s been cursed…

But he has a plan that could save her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

As Skye thumbs through her cell phone contacts the names include: Adele, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.

Naomi Scott is excellent as the famous pop star on the comeback trail.  Naomi Scott co-wrote several of Skye Riley’s songs with producer Alexis Idarose Kesselman.  A “Skye Riley” mini-album was released in conjunction with the film.

Writer/director Parker Finn comes up with an ending that I have to applaud.

Smile 2 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Killing Them Softly” (2008) written & directed by Andrew Dominik; starring Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn & James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Killing Them Softly (2008)

Director: Andrew Dominik

Screenplay: Andrew Dominik based on COOGAN’S TRADE by George V. Higgins

Stars: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, James Gandolfini, Vincent Curatola, Trevor Long, Max Casella, George Carroll, Linara Washington, Ross Brodar, Wade Allen, Christopher Berry, Dared Wright, Garret Dillahunt and Sam Shepard.

Tagline: In America you’re on your own.

The Plot…

Markie Trattman (Liotta) runs illegal poker nights for mobsters.  Trattman got the smart idea to rob his own game.  He hired two thugs to come in with guns and take down the cash only casino.  Although it worked, Trattman was suspected.  Since it was never confirmed that Tratman was behind the heist, he skated.  It took a while, but Trattman brought the poker nights back.

Johnny “Squirrel” Amato (Curatola) has the bright idea to follow Trattman’s lead.  Amato figures if the poker game is robbed, the mobsters will think Trattman decided to do it again.  They’ll bump off Trattman without looking too deeply.  Amato hires to low-life criminals to execute the robbery.  Against all odds they succeed.

Just like Amato thought, Trattman is the main suspect.  What Amato didn’t count on is the mobsters to bring in hitman and problem solver, Jackie Coogan (Pitt).  Coogan is ordered to find out who pulled off the heist and do what he does best.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Killing Them Softly is perfectly cast.  Even the smaller parts have memorable actors.  Garret Dillahunt appears uncredited.

I enjoy this movie more with every re-watch.

Killing Them Softly (2008) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Best of 2024: FILMS / BOOKS / Posts

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As we start 2025, let’s take a look at the BEST OF 2024. I hope you see something that you enjoyed or gets you interested to check out. Here we go…

Movies and Television Series

In 2024, I watched 396 movies and tv series. That number is down 13 from last year. My favorite films and limited series released in 2024 included (in alpha order):

  • American Nightmare
  • Apollo 13: Survival
  • Arnold
  • Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons
  • Carry-On, The
  • Cross: Season 1
  • Fargo: Season 5
  • From Darkness to Light
  • Greatest Night in Pop, The
  • Interview with the Vampire: Season 2
  • Mayor of Kingstown: Season 3 (A)
  • Mr. McMahon
  • Reacher: Season 2
  • Rebel Ridge
  • Shogun
  • Stallone Family, The Season 2
  • Sugar: Season 1

Books

In 2024, I read 46 books (up 25 from last year) My favorites from this year included (in the order I read them):

  • A Seance for Wicked King Death by Coy Hall
  • Racing the Light by Robert Crais
  • Ways of the Wolfe, The by James Carlos Blake
  • There and Back by Eric Beetner
  • The Wake-Up by Robert Ferrigno
  • The Amateurs by Marcus Sakey
  • Blood Grove by Walter Mosley
  • Scarecrow Returns by Matthew Reilly
  • The Man Who Came Uptown by George Pelecanos
  • Bright Orange for the Shroud by John D. McDonald
  • Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker

My Most Popular Posts of the Year

I continue to find some surprises in what became my most popular posts each year. Here are the top ten for 2024 and some thoughts for each…

  • 10. SYFY’s 2023/2024 Twilight Zone New Year’s Eve Marathon Schedule is Up! -– Who doesn’t love the Twilight Zone?
  • 09. Top 10 Most Iconic Horror Movie Villains – After two years in the 10th spot, it moves into 9th place.
  • 08. Dracula Through the Ages – Fell from the #3 spot last year.
  • 07. Steranko’s Concept Art for “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” – New to the list!
  • 06. Philip Marlowe – Who Played Him Best? Ranking the Actors Who Played Him! – New to the list.
  • 05. “Arcadian” starring Nicholas Cage – The Poster and Trailer are Here! – New to the list.
  • 04. Louis Meyers: Evidence He was the Zodiac Killer. – Same spot as last year (and the year before.)
  • 03. Batman – “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night” by Snoopy (Charles Schulz), Len Wein & Walt Simonson! – Came in at #3 for the first time on the list.
  • 02. New Evidence Points to Gary Francis Poste as The Zodiac Killer! – Jumped to the #2 spot in for the first appearance on the list.
  • 01. Schwarzenegger in “King Lear” & Robin Williams in “Jack and the Beanstalk”. – Returned to the #1 spot. It was #2 last year.

My All-Time Most Popular Posts

  • 10. Joel Osteen in Jacksonville – held on to the 10th spot for three years in a row.
  • 09. Gadot & The Rock Strike a Pose – in the 9th spot for the last four years.
  • 08. Steve Reeves as Superman – No change.
  • 07. TOP 10 MOST ICONIC HORROR MOVIE VILLAINS! – No change.
  • 06. New Billy the Kid Photo Discovered – Moves down from 5th.
  • 05. Dracula Through the Ages – Moves up to the 5th spot.
  • 04. SYFY’s 2023/2024 TWILIGHT ZONE New Year’s Eve Marathon is Up! – No change.
  • 03. Zodiac Killer Code Cracked? – No change!
  • 02. Louis Meyers: Evidence He Was the Zodiac Killer – No change!
  • 01. Schwarzenegger in “King Lear” & Robin Williams in “Jack and the Beanstalk” – was #1 for the last two years and continues to be our most popular post of all-time.

It’s always interesting to see which topics resonate with fans and continue to be popular long after their initial post.

“Taken” (2008) starring Liam Neeson / Z-View

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Taken (2008)

Director: Pierre Morel

Screenplay:  Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Olivier Rabourdin, Arben Bajraktaraj, Radivoje Bukvic and Leland Orser.

Tagline: They took his daughter. He’ll take their lives.

The Plot…

Bryan Mills (Neeson) is a retired Green Beret, CIA operative who provides security for celebrities.  Mills is on the phone talking to his teenage daughter when she is kidnapped by sex traffickers.  One of the kidnappers takes the phone.

Mills tells him:  “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

The kidnapper responds by saying: “Good luck.”

Big mistake.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Pierre Morel was on a roll.  He directed District B13, followed that with Taken and then helmed From Paris With Love.

Jeff Bridges was originally set to play Bryan Mills.  When he dropped out, Liam Neeson got the role.  Neeson thought the film might go direct to video, instead it became a huge hit.  Taken spawned two sequels.  Following the success of Taken, Neeson’s career leaned into action roles.

Taken (2008) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Monster” (2016) written and directed by Bryan Bertino / Z-View

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The Monster (2016)

Director:  Bryan Bertino

Screenplay:  Bryan Bertino

Stars: Zoe Kazan, Ella Ballentine, Aaron Douglas, Christine Ebadi and Scott Speedman.

Tagline: Stay in the light.

The Plot…

A divorced mother and her young daughter are driving through remote woods one stormy evening.  When a wolf crosses their path, they wreck.  The wolf is killed.  The car axel is busted.  Stranded and alone, they call for a tow truck.

They don’t know that a monster is watching and ready for his next meal.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Monster was originally titled There Are Monsters.

I made it through the film.  Barely.  I’m giving it a two star rating for that reason, but it almost earned a 1.  As always, your mileage may vary.

The Monster (2016) rates 2 of 5 stars.

BRIGHT ORANGE FOR THE SHROUD: A TRAVIS MCGEE NOVEL by John D. MacDonald / Z-View

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BRIGHT ORANGE FOR THE SHROUD: A TRAVIS MCGEE NOVEL by John D. MacDonald

First sentence…

Another season was ending.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Travis McGee is shocked when Arthur Wilkinson shows up unannounced.  Arthur is near death.

A year ago Arthur was on top of the world.  He was part of the Florida beach crowd partying the nights away.  Arthur wasn’t a playboy.  Most thought him odd.  But Arthur was a nice guy with a considerable inheritance.  That made Arthur the perfect target for Wilma Ferner.  She was a looker.  Soon enough Wilma and Arthur were married and moved away.

In less than a year Wilma had drained Arthur’s bank account.  She got Arthur to invest in what turned out to be a scam. Once the money was gone so was Wilma.

McGee plans to nurse Arthur back to health.  Then he’s going to find Wilma and her scam artists… and make them pay.

Rating: