Slam the Big Door A Novel

Is it possible to save a man from himself? Acclaimed novelist John D. MacDonald unfolds the dramatic story of two friends who go their separate ways—and who may be unable to stop themselves from repeating fatal mistakes.

Introduction by Dean Koontz

When Mike Rodenska, a former journalist still grieving the loss of his wife, pays his old war buddy Troy Jamison a long overdue visit in Florida, he’s shocked at what he finds. Behind the indulgent exterior of Troy’s lush beach life—the parties, the year-round suntans, the shapely women, the infectious devil-may-care attitude of Troy and his friends—Mike senses inevitable disaster.

Troy surrendered his life to drink once before. But now his second marriage is failing, his career is in shambles, his stepdaughter is making passes at him, and he seems to be losing his mind. The only question is: Why? His old friend’s downfall is one story that Mike feels compelled to investigate—for Troy’s sake, and for his own.

Praise for John D. MacDonald

“John D. MacDonald was the great entertainer of our age, and a mesmerizing storyteller.”—Stephen King

“John D. MacDonald is a shining example for all of us in the field. Talk about the best.”—Mary Higgins Clark

“John D. MacDonald created a staggering quantity of wonderful books, each rich with characterization, suspense, and an almost intoxicating sense of place.”—Jonathan Kellerman

John D. MacDonald was an American novelist and short-story writer. His works include the Travis McGee series and the novel The Executioners, which was adapted into the film Cape Fear. In 1962 MacDonald was named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America; in 1980, he won a National Book Award. In print he delighted in smashing the bad guys, deflating the pompous, and exposing the venal. In life, he was a truly empathetic man; his friends, family, and colleagues found him to be loyal, generous, and practical. In business, he was fastidiously ethical. About being a writer, he once expressed with gleeful astonishment, “They pay me to do this! They don’t realize, I would pay them.” He spent the later part of his life in Florida with his wife and son. He died in 1986.