Slam the Big Door

That aptly descriptive phrase is taken from the introduction to the hardcover edition of Slam the Big Door. An introduction written by none other than the book's author, John D. MacDonald himself. This well crafted novel contains a number of fully fleshed out characters, all of whom are quite believable. It would be wrong to classify Slam the Big Door as a mystery; all the important events that go to make up the plot take place right out in the open, in full view of the reader. Nor is it a crime story; DUI is just about the most serious violation of the legal system described in its pages. This is a book about relationships, complex human relationships that bind the characters together and, at times, wrench them apart. Mike Rodenska having recently lost his beloved wife, travels to Florida's gulfcoast ostensibly for a relaxing visit with his friend Troy Jamison and Troy's wife Mary. Once there, it becomes abundantly apparent that Troy needs Mike's help a lot more than Mike needs Troy's hospitality. The Jamisons' marriage is very much on the rocks and Troy's latest business venture is about to go belly up. With the use of very detailed and evocative descriptions, MacDonald succeeds in bringing to life the characters who together compose the circle of family, friends and acquaintances inhabiting the Jamisons' not so idyllic world. This is a thoughtfully written novel about friendship, love, self loathing, human fraility and the emptiness of affluence too easily obtained. Recommended to readers interested in exploring the psychological underpinnings of human behavior.

Investigating the lives and the psyches of his characters, John D. MacDonald makes "Slam the Big Door" as engaging as one of his Travis McGee novels. Just like McGee, Mike Rodenska, our protagonist, steps right into someone else's mess. And like any reliable friend, Mike has to try fix things up. Mike's war buddy and good friend, Troy Jamison, is a repeat offender; after trashing his life once, a decade before, Troy's got to try and destroy another marriage and a throw potentially successful business venture out the window. Mike Rodenska is already facing the loss of his wife to cancer, but just the same he's dealing with a damaged friend, mainly because his friend's wife is a good woman who deserves better. And the good wife is also saddled with a young newly divorced daughter as well. A daughter who is happily complicating matters just for `kicks.' Money, madness, adultery and the decay of friendship are almost more than Mike Rodenska can or wants to handle, but John D. MacDonald likes to punish his main characters. He wants them to be human so he makes them bleed a little.

I have read or own every jd macdonald novel and short story collection. As with any author, some of his books are great, some merely good, and some are even not so good. "Slam the Big Door" is a fairly good one. But don't miss the greats: "The Empty Trap," "The Girl, the Gold Watch and Everything," every Travis McGee (possible exception of "Freefall in Crimson"), "April Evil," "The Good Old Stuff," "More Good Old Stuff," "Linda"-- found in a two-novella collection called "Border Town Girl." So many more very good ones, but might want to avoid "The Last One Left," and "Barrier Island." More personal favorites: "On the Run," "A Bullet for Cinderella," "Clemmie," "The Only Girl in the Game."

John D. MacDonald scored again with this atmospheric, deeply moving novel about a man both coming to terms with the death of his wife and the wilful self-destruction of his best friend. As usual with John D., the sentiments expressed about life, people and the state of the world in the last half of the millenium are timeless. Why aren't these books more readily available? We are in desperate need of classics like this.