''A Tan and Sandy Silence'' (1971) is the thirteenth novel in the

Travis McGee John Dann MacDonald (July 24, 1916December 28, 1986) was an American writer of novels and short stories. He is known for his thrillers. MacDonald was a prolific author of crime and suspense novels, many set in his adopted home of Florida. On ...

series by John D. MacDonald. The plot begins with Harry Broll, husband of McGee's longtime friend Mary, shows up at his houseboat ''The Busted Flush'' with a gun, threatening McGee and accusing him of hiding Mary aboard. The rest of the novel involves McGee's search for Mary.

Themes

The title phase, "A Tan and Sandy Silence" is not mentioned verbatim in the book. However, the title is referenced on Page 191 of the first edition, "...a message without sound. A sandy, tan farewell." McGee's sidekick, Meyer, plays a frequent, but small part in this book as McGee assumes a different identity, "Gavin Lee" while spending most of the book away from his normal home in Slip F-18 at Bahia Mar Yacht Basin in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in favor of the hot April climate of the island nation of

Grenada Grenada ( ; Grenadian Creole French: ) is an island country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain. Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Pe ...

near Grand Anse Beach.

References

* * 1971 American novels Travis McGee (novel series) {{1970s-crime-novel-stub