I always forget how FRIKKEN DEPRESSING they are.
Seriously, the Travis McGee novels make Leonard Cohen look positively perky.
Incredibly well written, incredibly characterized, incredibly atmospheric... And darker than Tarantinos nightmares.
I'm seven books through, and I've got to take a break; read something mindless and fun.
I think I'm going to re-read the Conrad Stargard series (Leo Frankowski, I've written about the books before here). Utterly and completely Marty Stu, but fun.
