The Barbarous Coast — Part Two

And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. — T. S. Eliot Macdonald’s books are road books.  His detective is often on the move, especially in the early books.  Even after The Moving Target, where...

The Barbarous Coast — Part One

                                  THE BARBAROUS COAST                                                                                      What The Critics Say    \“Rich in character, setting and style, Coast is a strong book, But its strength lacks...

Find a Victim — Part Eleven

SPOILER ALERT   “It is the murderer rather than the detective who must be the center of attention if the mystery is to have a genuine tragic interest.” –Ross Macdonald, 1953                                     Macdonald Loses His Way The last...

Find a Victim — Part Ten

                            Thoughts on Macdonald’s Research     Macdonald was a professional crime writer and in many respects he took his calling very seriously. He and his wife so regularly attended trials that they were well-known to the courthouse...

Find a Victim — Part Nine

SPOILER ALERT                                        It Hits the Fan     Chapter 31 has a no-nonsense opening.  Archer arrives at the Church residence.  When Hilda says that her husband is not home, Archer forces his way inside. Before he begins, he regards...