Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Author Neil Albert Crime Novels ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://neilalbertauthor.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [The Three Roads Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/04/17/the-three-roads-part-two-2/) - THE THREE ROADS - [The Three Roads Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/04/12/the-three-roads-part-one-2/) - THE THREE ROADS APPROACHING THE THREE ROADS - [Blue City Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/04/07/blue-city-part-five-2/) - BLUE CITY - [Blue City Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/04/02/blue-city-part-four-2/) - BLUE CITY Spoiler Alert THE END OF - [Blue City Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/03/26/blue-city-part-three-2/) - BLUE CITY - [Blue City Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/03/16/blue-city-part-one-2/) - BLUE CITY - [Trouble Follows Me Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/03/11/trouble-follows-me-part-seven-2/) - REVISING THE NOVEL I have just concluded my review of Trouble Follows Me and concluded that, although it’s a failed book, it didn’t have to be. There was nothing so flawed in the manuscript that - [Trouble Follows Me Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/03/06/trouble-follows-me-part-six-2/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Spoiler Alert THE SUMMING - [Trouble Follows Me Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/03/01/trouble-follows-me-part-five-2/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME - [Trouble Follows Me Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/02/25/trouble-follows-me-part-four-2/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Some Evaluation Drake is a - [Trouble Follows Me Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/02/20/trouble-follows-me-part-three-2/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME “A tragedy is a representation of an action that is whole and complete and of a certain magnitude. A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end.” --Aristotle, The - [Trouble Follows me Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/02/15/trouble-follows-me-part-two-2/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME - [Trouble Follows Me Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/02/10/trouble-follows-me-part-one-2/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME PART ONE - [The Dark Tunnel](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/02/05/the-dark-tunnel-4/) - THE DARK TUNNEL Spoiler Alert - [The Dark Tunnel](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/02/05/the-dark-tunnel-3/) - THE DARK TUNNEL Spoiler Alert Cover of the Seventies paperback edition The Preliminaries This is as briefly as I can summarize a very complicated plot. For those who want a more detailed - [The Dark Tunnel](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/01/30/the-dark-tunnel-2/) - THE DARK TUNNEL What do the critics have to say? Peter Wolfe, in Dreamers - [The Dark Tunnel](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/01/25/the-dark-tunnel/) - BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING: THE DARK TUNNEL “Everyone has a mass of bad work in him that he will have to work off and get rid of before he can do better and indeed the more lasting a man’s good work, the more sure - [Introduction--Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/01/15/introduction-part-three/) - AN INTRODUCTION Part Three--Towards a Balanced View Macdonald was unquestionably a great mystery writer - [Introduction--The Work](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/01/10/introduction-the-work/) - AN INTRODUCTION Part Two--His Work If Ross Macdonald - [Introduction--The Man](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/01/05/introduction-the-man/) - The title of his book Trouble Follows Me, is From His Own Life Part One—The Man A child is just three when - [Finding Ross Macdonald](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/01/20/finding-ross-macdonald/) - FINDING ROSS MACDONALD - [New Blog Format](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2024/01/01/new-blog-format/) - ANNOUNCING THE NEW, IMPROVED BLOG Fewer Calories and Still Tastes Great For two years I have been following a long-form approach, devoting between ten and - [Blog Update News](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/06/29/blog-update-news/) - BLOG NEWS - [The Dark Tunnel Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2020/12/09/begin-at-the-beginning/) - BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING: THE DARK TUNNEL “Everyone has a mass of bad work in him that he will have to work off and get rid of before he can do better and indeed the more lasting a - [The Dark Tunnel--Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2020/12/19/the-dark-tunnel-part-two/) - THE DARK TUNNEL - [The Dark Tunnel--Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2020/12/24/the-dark-tunnel-part-three/) - THE DARK TUNNEL - [The Dark Tunnel--Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2020/12/29/the-dark-tunnel-part-four/) - THE DARK TUNNEL Part Four - [The Dark Tunnel--Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/01/03/the-dark-tunnel-part-five/) - THE DARK TUNNEL - [The Dark Tunnel--Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/01/08/the-dark-tunnel-part-six/) - THE DARK TUNNEL - [The Dark Tunnel--Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/01/15/the-dark-tunnel-part-seven/) - THE DARK TUNNEL - [The Dark Tunnel--Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/01/23/the-dark-tunnel-part-eight/) - The Dark Tunnel - [The Dark Tunnel--Spoiler Alert--Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/01/30/the-dark-tunnel-spoiler-alert-part-nine/) - THE DARK TUNNEL - [The Dark Tunnel--Spoiler Alert--Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/02/05/the-dark-tunnel-spoiler-alert-part-ten/) - THE DARK TUNNEL - [The Way Some People Die Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/01/30/the-way-some-people-die-part-eleven/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART ELEVEN - [The Way Some People Die Part Twelve](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/02/05/the-way-some-people-die-part-twelve/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART TWELVE - [The Dark Tunnel--Spoiler Alert--Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/02/10/the-dark-tunnel-spoiler-alert-part-eleven/) - THE DARK TUNNEL Part Eleven Do You Know What Time it is? Trans women now model for Victoria's Secret - [Trouble Follows Me--Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/02/16/trouble-follows-me-part-one/) - Trouble Follows Me Part One - [Trouble Follows Me-- Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/02/20/trouble-follows-me-part-two/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Part Two - [Trouble Follows Me--Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/02/27/trouble-follows-me-part-three/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Part Three “A tragedy - [Trouble Follows Me--Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/03/04/trouble-follows-me-part-four/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Part Four - [Trouble Follows Me--Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/03/09/trouble-follows-me-part-five/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Part Five - [Trouble Follows Me--Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/03/14/trouble-follows-me-part-six/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME - [Trouble Follows me--Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/03/19/trouble-follows-me-part-seven/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Part Seven - [Trouble Follows Me--Part Eight--Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/03/24/trouble-follows-me-part-eight-spoiler-alert/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Part Eight - [Trouble Follows Me--Part Nine--Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/03/30/trouble-follows-me-part-nine-spoiler-alert/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Part Nine - [Trouble Follows Me--Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/04/03/trouble-follows-me-part-ten/) - REVISING THE NOVEL Thoughts from a Working Writer I have just concluded my review of Trouble Follows Me and concluded that, although it’s - [Trouble Follows Me--Part Eleven--Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/04/08/trouble-follows-me-part-eleven-spoiler-albert/) - TROUBLE FOLLOWS ME Part Eleven - [Blue City Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/04/14/blue-city-part-one/) - BLUE CITY PART ONE - [Blue City Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/04/20/blue-city-part-two/) - BLUE CITY Part Two - [Blue City Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/04/27/blue-city-part-three/) - BLUE CITY Part Three - [Blue City Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/05/04/blue-city-part-four/) - BLUE CITY Part Four - [Blue City Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/05/09/blue-city-part-five/) - BLUE CITY - [Blue City Part Six Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/05/14/blue-city-part-six-spoiler-alert/) - BLUE CITY—Spoiler Alert Part Six - [Blue City Part Seven Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/05/19/blue-city-part-seven-spoiler-alert/) - BLUE CITY - [Blue City Part Eight Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/05/23/blue-city-part-eight-spoiler-alert/) - BLUE CITY Spoiler Alert - [Blue City Part Nine Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/05/28/blue-city-part-nine-spoiler-alert/) - BLUE CITY - [Blue City Part Ten Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/06/05/blue-city-part-ten-spoiler-alert/) - BLUE CITY - [The Three Roads--Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/06/11/the-three-roads-part-one/) - THE THREE ROADS Part One APPROACHING THE THREE ROADS - [The Three Roads--Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/06/16/the-three-roads-part-two/) - THE THREE ROADS Part Two - [The Three Roads-- Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/06/22/the-three-roads-part-three/) - THE THREE ROADS - [The Three Roads--Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/06/29/the-three-roads-part-four/) - THE THREE ROADS - [The Three Roads--Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/07/05/the-three-roads-part-five/) - THE THREE ROADS Part Five - [The Three Roads--Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/07/14/the-three-roads-part-six/) - THE THREE ROADS Part Six - [The Three Roads--Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/07/22/the-three-roads-part-seven/) - THE THREE ROADS Part Seven - [The Three Roads--Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/07/27/the-three-roads-part-eight/) - THE THREE ROADS Part Eight - [The Three Roads--Part Nine--Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/08/08/the-three-roads-part-nine-spoiler-alert/) - THE THREE ROADS Spoiler Alert - [The Three Roads--Part Ten--Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/08/18/the-three-roads-part-ten-spoiler-alert/) - THE THREE ROADS Spoiler Alert Part Ten TROUBLING DISCLOSURES AND BAD DECISIONS The concluding - [The Three Roads--Part Eleven--Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/08/28/the-three-roads-part-eleven-spoiler-alert/) - THE THREE ROADS Spoiler Alert Part Eleven THE - [The Moving Target Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/09/03/the-moving-target-part-one/) - THE MOVING TARGET - [The Moving Target Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/09/07/the-moving-target-part-two/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Two - [The Moving Target Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/09/11/the-moving-target-part-three/) - THE MOVING TARGET PART THREE - [The Moving Target Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/09/15/the-moving-target-part-four/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Four - [The Moving Target Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/09/20/the-moving-target-part-five/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Five - [The Moving Target Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/09/24/the-moving-target-part-six/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Six - [The Moving Target Part Seven Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/09/29/the-moving-target-part-seven-spoiler-alert/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Seven Spoiler Alert - [The Moving Target Part Eight Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/10/04/the-moving-target-part-eight-spoiler-alert/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Eight - [The Moving Target Part Nine Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/10/09/the-moving-target-part-nine-spoiler-alert/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Nine - [The Moving Target Part Ten Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/10/14/the-moving-target-part-ten-spoiler-alert/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Ten - [The Moving Target Part Eleven Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/10/19/the-moving-target-part-eleven-spoiler-alert/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part Eleven - [The Moving Target Part Twelve](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/10/24/the-moving-target-part-twelve/) - THE MOVING TARGET Part - [The Drowning Pool Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/10/29/the-drowning-pool-part-one/) - THE DROWNING POOL Part One - [The Drowning Pool Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/11/03/the-drowning-pool-part-two/) - THE DROWNING POOL Part Two - [The Drowning Pool Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/11/08/the-drowning-pool-part-three/) - THE DROWNING POOL Part Three - [The Drowning Pool Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/11/13/the-drowning-pool-part-four/) - THE DROWNING POOL Part Four - [The Drowning Pool Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/11/18/the-drowning-pool-part-five/) - THE DROWNING POOL Part Five THE HUNT FOR REAVIS Although Archer has no instructions from his client (he has not spoken to her since the death of her mother-in-law) he takes - [The Drowning Pool Part Six--Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/11/23/the-drowning-pool-part-six-spoiler-alert/) - THE DROWNING POOL Spoiler Alert Part Six - [The Drowning Pool Part Seven Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/11/28/the-drowning-pool-part-seven-spoiler-alert/) - THE DROWNING POOL Spoiler Alert Part Seven Water Sports When Archer comes to (an expression I am going to be using many times before we are through) he is in a straitjacket in Melliotes’ clinic. The doctor is in, along with a - [The Drowning Pool Part Eight Spoiler Alert](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/12/03/the-drowning-pool-part-eight-spoiler-alert/) - THE DROWNING POOL Spoiler Alert Part Eight WHAT HATH ROSS WROUGHT? - [The Way Some People Die Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/12/13/the-way-some-people-die-part-one/) - The Way Some People Die PART ONE What The Critics Think - [The Way Some People Die Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/12/18/the-way-some-people-die-part-two/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE PART TWO - [The Way Some People Die Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/12/23/the-way-some-people-die-part-three/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE PART THREE - [The Way Some People Die Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/12/28/the-way-some-people-die-part-four/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE PART FOUR - [The Way Some People Die Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/01/01/the-way-some-people-die-part-five/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE PART FIVE - [The Way Some People Die Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/01/05/the-way-some-people-die-part-six/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE PART SIX A Lull in the Action In Hollywood Archer slips into the studio where Jane Hammond, Dalling’s ex-lover, works. She is a bright and highly - [The Way Some People Die Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/01/10/the-way-some-people-die-part-seven/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE PART SEVEN - [The Way Some People Die Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/01/15/the-way-some-people-die-part-eight/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART EIGHT - [The Way Some People Die Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/01/20/the-way-some-people-die-part-nine/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART NINE - [The Way Some People Die Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/01/25/the-way-some-people-die-part-ten/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART TEN - [The Way Some People Die Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/01/30/the-way-some-people-die-part-eleven-2/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART ELEVEN - [The Way Some People Die Part Twelve](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/02/05/the-way-some-people-die-part-twelve-2/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART TWELVE - [The Way Some People Die Part Thirteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/02/10/the-way-some-people-die-part-thirteen/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART THIRTEEN - [The Way Some People Die Part Fourteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/02/15/the-way-some-people-die-part-fourteen/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert - [The Way Some People Die Part Fifteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/02/20/the-way-some-people-die-part-fifteen/) - THE WAY SOME PEOPLE DIE Spoiler Alert PART FIFTEEN - [The Ivory Grin -- Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/02/25/the-ivory-grin-part-one/) - THE IVORY GRIN PART ONE - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/03/01/the-ivory-grin-part-two/) - THE IVORY GRIN PART TWO LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED Archer - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/03/05/the-ivory-grin-part-three/) - THE IVORY GRIN PART THREE - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/03/10/the-ivory-grin-part-four/) - THE IVORY GRIN PART FOUR - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/03/15/the-ivory-grin-part-five/) - THE IVORY GRIN PART FIVE - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/03/20/the-ivory-grin-part-six/) - THE IVORY GRIN - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/03/25/the-ivory-grin-part-seven/) - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/03/30/the-ivory-grin-part-eight/) - Spoiler Alert - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/04/05/the-ivory-grin-part-nine/) - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/04/10/the-ivory-grin-part-ten/) - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/04/15/the-ivory-grin-part-eleven/) - Lew Archer’s Love Life in One Paragraph Between 1949 and 1976, Macdonald published 19 Lew Archer novels and one book of Lew Archer short stories, plus - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Twelve](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/04/20/the-ivory-grin-part-twelve/) - BORROWINGS AND FORESHADOWINGS One of the pleasures of reading a mystery series is tracing material from one source to another. Macdonald lived in a world where regular and frequent publication was essential to his financial survival. His method of writing out - [The Ivory Grin -- Part Thirteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/04/25/the-ivory-grin-part-thirteen/) - Spoiler Alert Summing up - [MEET ME AT THE MOURGE Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/05/06/meet-me-at-the-mourge-part-one/) - A SERIOUSLY UNDERAPPRECIATED BOOK - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/05/11/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-two/) - A STRONG BEGINNING The Opening Line is, “I met the boy on the morning of the kidnapping.” Nobody can stop reading at that point The narrator, Howard Cross, a probation officer, - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/05/16/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-three/) - Late to the Party Chapter Two opens with the appearance at the courthouse of Amy Miner, Fred’s wife. She is highly upset but Cross manages to get out of her that a ransom demand of fifty - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/05/21/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-four/) - An Encounter with Tiresias Following the instructions in the ransom note, Cross goes to the drop off point at the train station next to the newsstand. A lesser writer would have obtained a lead from the newsstand - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/05/26/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-five/) - Running Down the Clues Using the card from the detective agency as well as a label from the dead man’s clothes, Cross moves the investigation along. Although he has no investigative training, he could give Archer a run for his - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/05/31/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-six/) - Closing in on the Kidnappers at Last Cross rushes to the Johnson home; our favorite lawyer, Larry Steifel is there, drunk and making moves on the new widow. Steifel makes himself annoying to everyone in the house except Abel Johnson, who is already - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/06/04/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-seven/) - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/06/09/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-eight/) - SPOILER ALERT Wrapping it Up The reader will no doubt have a sense of relief that the trip from Pacific Point to San Diego was not at gunpoint. Helen has been through enough for one week. More practically, if Amy could simply talk Helen - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/06/14/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-nine/) - SPOILER ALERT Masterful But not Perfect Plotting Peter Wolfe, in Dreamers Who Live Their Dreams, rightly calls this a “tightly built novel.” Everyone who is important to the resolution of - [MEET ME AT THE MORGUE Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/06/19/meet-me-at-the-morgue-part-ten/) - SPOILER ALERT Macdonald Sidelined Archer Without a Good Reason Meet Me at the Morgue is a fine mystery. Technically, it shows a solid advance over the preceding Archer books. But the book sold poorly, and is little discussed today, because of a couple of what I - [Find a Victim -- Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/06/24/find-a-victim-part-one/) - WHAT THE CRITICS SAY “Find a Victim is the noir-est of Macdonald’s early Archer novels . . . the bottom line of Find a Victim is negative . . . Macdonald finds the penal code next - [Find a Victim -- Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/06/29/find-a-victim-part-two/) - “Great Starts Can Lead to Muddled Middles” --Ross Macdonald, speaking of Find a Victim Macdonald was always sensitive to the importance of his first - [Find a Victim -- Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/07/04/find-a-victim-part-three/) - I Swear I Had a Client Around Here Somewhere In all the Archer books, Macdonald is careful to provide Archer with a client, no matter how far afield the investigation strays from the original assignment. Sometimes Archer foregoes a written agreement, but he always makes the financial - [Find a Victim -- Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/07/09/find-a-victim-part-four/) - Working the Edges Nothing happens by accident in a Ross Macdonald book, and the car ride with Hilda Church is no exception. Hilda has issues with men, partly based on her own negative - [Find a Victim -- Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/07/14/find-a-victim-part-five/) - I’ve Got Friends in Low Places A few slaps with the Sheriff’s automatic have apparently shaken the stupid out of Archer, because his next move, to Kerrigan’s bar, the Golden Slipper, is a good idea. The bar boasts very few customers, a bored bartender, and several - [Find a Victim -- Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/07/19/find-a-victim-part-six/) - The Worst Motel Stay Ever The lights are on in the office of Kerrigan’s motel, giving Archer a clear view of the owners’ brains. Kerrigan had been shot once, between the eyes, with a gun - [Find a Victim -- Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/07/24/find-a-victim-part-seven/) - An Odd Conversation After the strange fumblings of Chapter 18, it’s good to get back to the action in Chapter 19. Well, not so much; the fumblings in this chapter are logical rather than physical. - [Find a Victim -- Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/07/29/find-a-victim-part-eight/) - [Find a Victim -- Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/08/04/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 - [Find a Victim -- Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/08/09/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 staff. A homicide case - [Find a Victim -- Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/08/14/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 - [The Barbarous Coast -- Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/08/25/the-barbarous-coast-part-one/) - THE BARBAROUS COAST What The Critics Say \“Rich in character, - [The Barbarous Coast -- Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/08/30/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 life focusses in California, there are - [The Barbarous Coast -- Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/09/04/the-barbarous-coast-part-three/) - Although Tony Torres had been looking for Wall to escort him to Basset’s office, Wall had taken matters into his own hands and scaled the wall, cutting himself and his clothing in the process. It’s a small point but it’ a good introduction to his impulsive character. Wall can be relied on to ignore - [The Barbarous Coast -- Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/09/09/the-barbarous-coast-part-four/) - On The Road Again Although Archer could have gone directly to Anton’s Ballet, he decides - [THE BARBAROUS COAST -- Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/09/14/the-barbarous-coast-part-five/) - The House of Broken Dreams Macdonald doesn’t reveal what Archer thinks about the story of sudden good fortune of Hester and her mother, but whatever credit he gave it, doesn’t last long. Teeny Campbell, Hester’s - [THE BARBAROUS COAST -- Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/09/19/the-barbarous-coast-part-six/) - Spoiler Alert - [THE BARBAROUS COAST -- Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/09/23/the-barbarous-coast-part-seven/) - Spoiler Alert - [THE BARBAROUS COAST -- Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/09/27/the-barbarous-coast-part-eight/) - Spoiler Alert - [THE BARBAROUS COAST -- Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/10/02/the-barbarous-coast-part-nine/) - Spoiler Alert If That’s - [THE BARBAROUS COAST -- Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/10/07/the-barbarous-coast-part-ten/) - Spoiler Alert The Good and the Bad - [The Doomsters Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/10/17/the-doomsters-part-one/) - WHAT THE COMMENATORS HAVE TO SAY A lot, and for several reasons. Anyone familiar with Macdonald knows that he came into his artistic maturity with The Galton Case. It wasn’t his best-selling book and perhaps it wasn’t his best, but The - [The Doomsters Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/10/22/the-doomsters-part-two/) - WE HAVEN’T FINISHED WITH THE COMMENTATORS A Comment from the Author “It is out of character for Archer to provide autobiography because his own life - [The Barbarous Coast--Special Post](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/11/15/the-barbarous-coast-special-post/) - A Special Post on the Macdonald—Chandler Relationship One of my favorite followers, Neoklis Galanopoulis, recently posted on how in The Barbarous Coast Macdonald created an unattractive character, Clarence Bassett, and gave him many of the physical and personal characteristics of Raymond Chandler. Although a character was necessary to fulfill the - [The Doomsters Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/10/27/the-doomsters-part-three/) - AN UNCONVENTIONAL BEGINNING Macdonald takes his starting point from his short story, “The Angry Man,” with Archer being confronted at his home in the early hours of the morning by a stranger demanding help. But unlike - [The Doomsters Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/11/01/the-doomsters-part-four/) - LET’S MEET MILDRED HALLMAN Archer’s next stop, via a cab, is a visit to Carl’s wife—the task he’d promised before Carl stole his car. Archer’s visit to the hospital was a good narrative move, because his conversations there give him some suspicion - [The Doomsters Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/11/06/the-doomsters-part-five/) - INTO THE PAST Dr. Grantland leaves with Zinnie - [The Doomsters Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/11/11/the-doomsters-part-six/) - A MEDICAL VISIT WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT, PROOF OF INSURANCE OR A CO-PAY Macdonald always tried to make his stories accessible for future generations and went out of his way to avoid current slang terms, but - [The Doomsters Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/11/16/the-doomsters-part-seven/) - THE WORST DATE EVER Spoiler Alert When Mildred arrives at her home, she is annoyed to find Archer’s car - [The Doomsters Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/11/21/the-doomsters-part-eight/) - THE PAST IS NOT DEAD OR EVEN PAST: IT’S AT FOURTEEN CHESTNUT STREET Archer and Parish drive to the home of Mrs. Hutchinson, leaving Mildred - [The Doomsters Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/11/26/the-doomsters-part-nine/) - MACDONOLD AND FATALISM Spoiler Alert “She Blamed it all on the Doomsters” Mrs. - [The Doomsters Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/12/01/the-doomsters-part-ten/) - MACDONALD DEMONSTRATES HIS MASTERY - [The Doomsters Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/12/06/the-doomsters-part-eleven/) - THINGS CAN HAPPEN FAST IN A CLOSED MEDICAL CLINIC - [The Doomsters Part Twelve](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/12/11/the-doomsters-part-twelve/) - WE’VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE - [The Doomsters Part Thirteeen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/12/16/the-doomsters-part-thirteeen/) - “THE LONGEST CONFESSION IN ROSS MACDONALD” - [The Galton Case Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/12/31/the-galton-case-part-one/) - The Galton Case—Something Very Special Macdonald wisely described The Galton Case as “a breakthrough book.” As commentators have noted, the addition of the article showed a recognition that, no matter how important the book was, it was still only a step towards his full - [The Galton Case Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/01/04/the-galton-case-part-two/) - WHAT THE COMMENTATORS SAY Universal Acclaim, - [The Galton Case Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/01/09/the-galton-case-part-three/) - ROSS MACDONALD CAN BE VERY FUNNY A Brisk and Entertaining Start When we think of humor in the detective story, - [The Galton Case Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/01/14/the-galton-case-part-four/) - “A RATHER HOPELESS CASE” In his study, Sable outlines the task to Archer: Sable represents Maria Galton, the matriarch of the Galton family, now 73, widowed, and in poor health. (Fun fact—according to Michael Kreyling, the family - [The Galton Case Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/01/19/the-galton-case-part-five/) - LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES (And Not in a Fun Way) Mrs. Galton is what we expect—imperious, manipulative, self-centered and willful. And those are only her good qualities. - [The Galton Case Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/01/24/the-galton-case-part-six/) - SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR—LITERALLY The first five chapters have moved along briskly, and in a relatively few pages Macdonald has laid out the mystery. But it’s been relatively static. The plot has been advanced by a series of conversations, all about events - [The Galton Case Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/01/29/the-galton-case-part-seven/) - “IT’S ALL ONE CASE” This quote from Macdonald reminds us of how he viewed his mature fiction. It was more than a matter of economy. In his best work, everything is related. Diversions and dead ends are not what they seem; - [The Galton Case Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/02/04/the-galton-case-part-eight/) - LUNA BAY THE ENDING AND THE BEGINNING In the thirties, when Anthony Galton lived there, Luna Bay was a sleepy fishing village, so remote it was a good landing - [The Galton Case Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/02/09/the-galton-case-part-nine/) - FILL HER UP AND CHECK THE OIL A Gas Station--The Quintessential California Venue The boy pumping gas can’t find the dipstick for the oil, which gives Archer a chance - [The Galton Case Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/02/14/the-galton-case-part-ten/) - SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING OLD Follow That Car! Archer telephones the sheriff in Santa Teresa, where - [The Galton Case Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/02/19/the-galton-case-part-eleven/) - CHRISTMAS MEMORIES OF 1936 The Police Lend a Hand—Reluctantly Archer stops by the sheriff’s substation; the deputy handling the Galton case is - [The Galton Case Part Twelve](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/02/24/the-galton-case-part-twelve/) - Spoiler Alert - [The Galton Case Part Thirteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/03/01/the-galton-cast-part-thirteen/) - Spoiler Alert - [The Galton Case Part Fourteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/03/06/the-galton-case-part-fourteen/) - Spoiler Alert WHAT A DIFFERENCE A COUPLE OF WEEKS MAKES When we last saw the boy, he was packing up a pathetic handful of belongings in a shabby rooming house. Now, when Archer arrives at the Galton mansion he is greeted by Cassie Hildreth - [The Galton Case Part Fifteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/03/11/the-galton-case-part-fifteen/) - Spoiler Alert THE BEST VIEW OF PITT, ONTARIO IS IN YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR Ada had - [The Galton Case Part Sixteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/03/16/the-galton-case-part-sixteen/) - Spoiler - [The Galton Case Part Seventeen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/03/21/the-galton-case-part-seventeen/) - Spoiler Alert - [The Galton Case Part Eighteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/03/26/the-galton-case-part-eighteen/) - Spoiler Alert STILL THINKING ABOUT THE GALTON CASE As we have seen, the book does not follow the classic structure of a mystery. If it did, Archer would follow clues here and there, journey to Pitt, and find the Galton heir - [The Galton Case Part Nineteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/04/01/the-galton-case-part-nineteen/) - Spoiler - [The Galton Case Part Twenty](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/04/06/the-galton-case-part-twenty/) - Spoiler Alert - [The Wycherly Woman Part Thirteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/07/24/the-wycherly-woman-part-thirteen/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Thirteen “It Was a Rough Night, and it Got No Smoother” Nothing summarizes the action - [The Wycherly Woman Part Fourteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/07/29/the-wycherly-woman-part-fourteen/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Fourteen The Answers Begin in Palo Alto, Just Not Right Away Archer learns that the call to Bobby - [The Wycherly Woman Part Fifteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/08/04/the-wycherly-woman-part-fifteen/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Fifteen - [The Wycherly Woman Part Sixteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/08/09/the-wycherly-woman-part-sixteen/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Sixteen - [September](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/06/16/september/) - AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR September Wars, The Ninth Book in the Dave Garrett Series is Out! Garrett’s toughest - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Fifteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/11/13/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-fifteen/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Fourteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/11/08/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-fourteen/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/04/11/the-ferguson-affair-part-one/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR -- Part One WHAT THE CRITICS SAY - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/04/16/the-ferguson-affair-part-two/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR – Part Two MEET BILL GUNNARSON The story opens at the county jail where - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/04/21/the-ferguson-affair-part-three/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR – Part Three - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/04/26/the-ferguson-affair-part-four/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR – Part Four GUNNARSON TRIES AGAIN Gunnarson awakes; he is fortunate that his wife is still - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/05/01/the-ferguson-affair-part-five-2/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR –Part Five Mild Spoiler Alert AND THEN THINGS GET BOGGED DOWN Having fed Ferguson several drinks, Gunnarson now insists that he see a doctor. - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/05/06/the-ferguson-affair-part-five/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR – Part Six SPOILER ALERT MOUNTAIN VIEW - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/05/11/the-ferguson-affair-part-seven/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR – Part Seven SPOILER ALERT Gunnarson Matches Wits with the Stupidest - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/05/16/the-ferguson-affair-part-eight/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR – Part Eight SPOILER ALERT WRAPPING UP THE LOOSE ENDS—AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM Even Peter Wolfe, a strong admirer of the book, had to concede that the ending was “clogged and contrived.” It does not lend - [The Ferguson Affair -- Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/05/21/the-ferguson-affair-part-nine/) - THE FERGUSON AFFAIR – Part Nine SPOILER ALERT Some Necessary - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Thirteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/11/03/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-thirteen/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Thirteen - [THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/05/26/the-wycherly-woman-part-one/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part One WHAT THE COMMENTATORS HAVE TO SAY - [The Wycherly Woman Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/05/31/the-wycherly-woman-part-two/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Two LET’S SAY HELLO TO HOMER WYCHERLY The - [The Wycherly Woman Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/06/04/the-wycherly-woman-part-three/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Three - [The Wycherly Woman Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/06/09/the-wycherly-woman-part-four/) - [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Four A CLIENT IS SOMEONE WHO HOLDS OUT ON YOU - [The Wycherly Woman Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/06/14/the-wycherly-woman-part-five/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Five WHAT’S THE POINT OF A CALIFORNIA STORY WITHOUT REAL ESTATE? Merriman, the realtor, isn’t in, but his wife Sally is. When Archer - [The Wycherly Woman Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/06/19/the-wycherly-woman-part-six/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Six - [THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/06/24/the-wycherly-woman-part-seven/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Seven Archer Has Had Enough of the High Life, and Tire Irons When he comes to, - [THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/06/29/the-wycherly-woman-part-eight/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Eight - [The Wycherly Woman Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/07/04/the-wycherly-woman-part-nine/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Nine Letters, We Get Letters, We Get Stacks and Stacks of Letters . . . My apologies to any - [The Wycherly Woman Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/07/09/the-wycherly-woman-part-ten/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Ten The Place Where Something Important Happened, Maybe Archer drives his car and follows - [The Wycherly Woman Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/07/14/the-wycherly-woman-part-eleven/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Eleven These Walls Don’t Talk - [The Wycherly Woman Part Twelve](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/07/19/the-wycherly-woman-part-twelve/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Twelve WHEN YOU'RE LOST, KEEP - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Twelve](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/10/28/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-twelve/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Twelve - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Eleven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/10/23/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-eleven/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Eleven - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Ten](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/10/17/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-ten/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Ten - [The Wycherly Woman Part Twenty](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/08/29/the-wycherly-woman-part-twenty/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Twenty - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Nine](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/10/12/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-nine/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Nine - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Eight](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/10/08/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-eight/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Eight - [The Wycherly Woman Part Seventeen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/08/14/the-wycherly-woman-part-seventeen/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Seventeen - [The Wycherly Woman Part Eighteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/08/19/the-wycherly-woman-part-eighteen/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Eighteen - [The Wycherly Woman Part Nineteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/08/24/the-wycherly-woman-part-nineteen/) - THE WYCHERLY WOMAN Part Nineteen Spoiler Alert IT’S NOT UNBEIEVALBLE; IT REALLY HAPPENENED - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Seven](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/10/03/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-seven/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Seven - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Six](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/09/29/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-six/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Six By Whatever Name, Bruce Campion is a Jerk Chapter Nineteen starts with Archer’s - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Four](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/09/19/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-four/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Four Mexico, The Land of Unfailing Virtue Archer follows some leads from - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Five](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/09/24/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-five/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Five Archer Closes In - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Three](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/09/14/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-three/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Three Things Fall Apart - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part Two](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/09/08/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-two/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part Two WE START WITH A PRE-MEETING “All great literature is one of two stories; - [The Zebra-Striped Hearse Part One](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2023/09/03/the-zebra-striped-hearse-part-one/) - THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE Part One WHAT THE COMMENATORS SAY “Ross Macdonald did well to rank The - [The Doomsters Part Fifteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/12/26/the-doomsters-part-fifteen/) - SUMMING UP - [The Doomsters Part Fourteen](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/12/21/the-doomsters-part-fourteen/) - THE REST OF THE STORY - [A Note on Linda Millar](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/10/12/a-note-on-linda-millar/) - Tom Nolan has written a first-class biography of Macdonald and it is not my aim to compete with him. I hope that my own work, which focusses almost exclusively on Macdonald’s books, is a useful supplement to Nolan, who discusses the books only as necessary to tell the story of Macdonald’s life. But understanding the - [Failing to Progress](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2022/05/01/failing-to-progress/) - Writer’s Block I am reading Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life, by - [Promotional](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2021/12/08/promotional/) - We interrupt this Blog For a Word From Our Sponsor. . . It is very possible that some of you come directly to the blog and are not aware that it is a part of my author’s website. As much as I enjoy this labor of love for its own sake, it is also - [Welcome to the Ross Macdonald Blog](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2020/12/07/welcome-to-the-ross-macdonald-blog/) - Why Ross Macdonald? Because he is one of the three greatest writers in the genre of the hardboiled private eye, along with Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chander. We can leave the exact ranking for another day. And because I once read a Ray Bradbury short story with the premise that so long as a writer - [The title of his book, Trouble Follows Me, is From Life](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2019/03/08/sample-post-1/) - The title of his book Trouble Follows Me, is From His Own Life A child is just three when his father abandons him and his mother. His father fails to provide support. His mother, weakened by both physical and mental illness, is often bedridden. When he is six, his mother - [Finding Ross MacDonald](https://neilalbertauthor.com/2019/03/01/sample-post-2/) - The Marple Township Library, 1973 I was a first-year law student, living near a public library in a Philadelphia suburb. I hadn’t used a public library since I was in grade school, but I was broke, and it was a block from my apartment. I hadn’t read any mysteries at that point, either. 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