Part of Lew Archer, book 6
First published 1990
A stunning blonde diver with Hollywood ambitions vanishes without warning. Her volatile husband and her alcoholic uncle hire private detective Lew Archer to find her. Archer's investigation leads him through Malibu's glittering surface into a cesspool of corruption. He encounters crooked police officers, a former boxer turned movie star, and a powerful studio executive harboring lethal secrets. Each lead reveals another layer of blackmail and blood money. The missing woman's trail connects to a brutal killing that someone desperately wants buried. Archer must navigate the treacherous waters where California wealth meets violence. The detective faces mounting danger as he closes in on the truth about both the disappearance and the murder. In this world of privilege and obsession, Archer discovers that Hollywood dreams often end in nightmare.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, investigation
Setting: Malibu, California
Period: 20th-century
240 pages · Paperback · Warner Books (NY)
Content warnings: violence