One Fearful Yellow Eye
One Fearful Yellow Eye (1966) is the eighth novel in the Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald. The plot revolves around McGee's attempts to aid his longtime friend Glory Doyle in her quest to uncover the truth about her late husband and the blackmail which made over half a million dollars of his fortune disappear. It is largely set in Chicago, rather than the usual McGee haunt of Florida. When Fortner Geis dies, it becomes clear that his fortune was swindled out of him in his last months. McGee tracks down the money and eventually builds a romantic relationship with Fortner's daughter, Heidi Trumbill.
 First edition cover | |
| Author | John D. MacDonald |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Travis McGee |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Publisher | Fawcett Publications |
Publication date | 1966 |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Preceded by | Darker than Amber |
| Followed by | Pale Gray for Guilt |
Themes
The title phrase, "One Fearful Yellow Eye" refers to the look of the eye of one of the characters after he has died. It is found on page 174 of the first edition. McGee's sidekick Meyer is mentioned in the book, but does not play a central role. McGee recovers $187,650 from Saul Gorba when he moves to a small town of Bureau, Illinois. He receives about 10% ($18,750) from one of the rightful heirs, Heidi Trumbill.
References
- Merril, Hugh (2000). The Red Hot Typewriter: The Life and Times of John D. MacDonald. Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Minotaur. ISBN 978-0-312-20905-6.
- Geherin, David (1982). John D. MacDonald. F. Ungar Pub. Co. ISBN 978-0-8044-2232-1.