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lgpiper's review
4.0
For some reason, I stumbled across an article on my telephone, from The New Repbulic, about how Ross Macdonald was every bit as good, if not better, than Raymond Chandler, when it came to writing hard-boiled, noir detective fiction. So, I had to find me some Ross Macdonald. I have a vague feeling I'd tried doing this before, and none was to be found in my local library. But, the Boston Public Library did have a few Macdonald's available for us Kindle folk. So, I began my Macdonald investigations with this particular book.
So, we're in Hollywood in the 1950s. Lew Archer is called to The Channel Club to meet with Clarence Bassett, the club's manager. It seems Bassett wants Archer to "dispose of" an annoyance, one George Wall. Wall, who claims to be married to Hester Campbell, claims she's run out on him, in Toronto, and is likely back in Southern California, and likely with one of the Channel Club's richest, most influential members, Simon Graff, the movie mogul. On his way into the club, Archer had already run into Wall. On the way out, he tries to chase Wall off, but Wall begs Archer to find his wife. Archer agrees to do that.
So, Archer begins looking for the wife, and along the way runs into a variety of weird occurrences: some folks seem suddenly to have garnered magic movie contracts, despite having no prior skill; some folks, who were thriving, suddenly find themselves on the down-hill slide; floozies and drunks wander into and out of the scenes; etc. Along the way, bodies start piling up, gangsters drift in and out, Archer and others get the crap beaten out of them, and so forth. All the good stuff of hard-boiled, noir novels. The one thing missing is that Archer doesn't appear to live on a steady diet of whiskey, unlike Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade.
Anyway, this is quite good, albeit a bit convoluted. I'll definitely be hunting me some more Archer.
Interestingly, I just discovered that one can take a class at an Ivy League college in Hard-Boiled and Noir Crime Fiction. Who knew life's gutter creatures had ascended the ivory towers of academia?
So, we're in Hollywood in the 1950s. Lew Archer is called to The Channel Club to meet with Clarence Bassett, the club's manager. It seems Bassett wants Archer to "dispose of" an annoyance, one George Wall. Wall, who claims to be married to Hester Campbell, claims she's run out on him, in Toronto, and is likely back in Southern California, and likely with one of the Channel Club's richest, most influential members, Simon Graff, the movie mogul. On his way into the club, Archer had already run into Wall. On the way out, he tries to chase Wall off, but Wall begs Archer to find his wife. Archer agrees to do that.
So, Archer begins looking for the wife, and along the way runs into a variety of weird occurrences: some folks seem suddenly to have garnered magic movie contracts, despite having no prior skill; some folks, who were thriving, suddenly find themselves on the down-hill slide; floozies and drunks wander into and out of the scenes; etc. Along the way, bodies start piling up, gangsters drift in and out, Archer and others get the crap beaten out of them, and so forth. All the good stuff of hard-boiled, noir novels. The one thing missing is that Archer doesn't appear to live on a steady diet of whiskey, unlike Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade.
Anyway, this is quite good, albeit a bit convoluted. I'll definitely be hunting me some more Archer.
Interestingly, I just discovered that one can take a class at an Ivy League college in Hard-Boiled and Noir Crime Fiction. Who knew life's gutter creatures had ascended the ivory towers of academia?
essjay2023's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jimmypat's review against another edition
3.0
I found this to be a harder book to get through than previous Lew Archer novels. However, there were moments where the writing was very good and the ending saved the book. There were generally too many characters in the book and made it hard to follow, but it’s my understanding that the series turns a decisive corner into greatnes after this book, so I’m ready for the next one.
roshk99's review against another edition
4.0
Archer investigates a very complicated mystery at Malibu. The ending is very unexpected and surprising, and still satisfying.
johnnyb1954's review against another edition
4.0
All the best elements of MacDonald’s writing - classic our PI tale with Archer’s educated, sharp, tough, and relentless character. The language is elevated and spare.
James Bond should be incapable of doing his job as much as he drinks - likewise already Archer with s much as he gets beat up and concussed. And it’s always a mystery to me why bad guys don’t kill him when they have the chance.
But I enjoy this series a lot.
James Bond should be incapable of doing his job as much as he drinks - likewise already Archer with s much as he gets beat up and concussed. And it’s always a mystery to me why bad guys don’t kill him when they have the chance.
But I enjoy this series a lot.
doctortdm's review against another edition
3.0
The book started out and ended well but a huge chunk in the middle went no where.
markfeltskog's review against another edition
This is one of the stronger novels in this series.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Ross Macdonald's Lew Archer series is perfectly designed for me: a well-crafted mystery, a good PI that isn't Superman and doesn't constantly mention his battles with alcohol/women/The War, a setting that feels tangible without clever description, comments about society that don't sermonize, and great dialogue. The Barbarous Coast hits the same beats as the other three I read, and hopefully the others I will read. Perhaps that kind of repetition would bother some, and maybe it will grow old when I've nearly completed the series. But for now, it feels so refreshing to read a solid private eye series that doesn't make me OD on testosterone.