First published 1988
Terry Lennox staggers into Philip Marlowe's life broke, desperate, and running from trouble. His wealthy wife lies dead, and he needs to escape Los Angeles immediately. Marlowe agrees to help his down-and-out friend, but Lennox soon dies by suicide in Mexico, leaving the private investigator with more questions than answers. The police pressure Marlowe to talk. Wealthy residents of Idle Valley drag him into their world of affairs and drinking. Bodies start piling up around the original murder. Marlowe refuses to believe Lennox killed his wife, despite the evidence. He pushes deeper into the case, navigating through lies told by the rich and powerful. Each new lead brings more danger and reveals the corruption beneath LA's glamorous surface. Marlowe must decide how far he will go to clear a dead man's name and find the real killer.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Idle Valley, Los Angeles, Mexico
Period: 20th-century
379 pages · Paperback · Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
Content warnings: death, murder, violence