by Ross McDonald, originally published in 1959, Vintage Crime/Black Lizard; Reprint edition (November 26, 1996)

This is another crime story featuring the detective, Lew Archer.  Unlike many of the detective shows on TV these days, Lew Archer has a dark side that comes out sometimes, typical of the Noir fiction genre.  The characters in the book aren’t very likable and there are some passages of violence where the author doesn’t hold back.

This novel has an interesting plot, but the resolution of the mystery depends on a pretty far-fetched coincidence which is also typical of many mystery stories.  Even though it’s a bit dated, it is enjoyable to read and, if one is into crime stories, this book is certainly one that suffices.