The Way Some People Die
Encyclopedia
The Way Some People Die is a detective mystery written in 1951
by Ross Macdonald
, the third book featuring his private eye, Lew Archer
.
, San Francisco, and back again, trying to tie together details that seem as random as they are violent.
"Some of my colleagues think that The Way Some People Die is the best of my twenty books." – Ross Macdonald.
"The best novel in the tough tradition I've read since Farewell, My Lovely
and possibly since The Maltese Falcon." - Anthony Boucher
, New York Times book review, August 5, 1951.
1951 in literature
The year 1951 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*E. E. Cummings and Rachel Carson are awarded Guggenheim Fellowships.*Flannery O'Connor is diagnosed with lupus....
by Ross Macdonald
Ross Macdonald
Not to be confused with John D. MacDonaldRoss Macdonald is the pseudonym of the American-Canadian writer of crime fiction Kenneth Millar...
, the third book featuring his private eye, Lew Archer
Lew Archer
Lew Archer is a fictional character created by Ross Macdonald. Archer is a private detective working in Southern California.-Profile:Initially, Lew Archer was similar to Philip Marlowe. However, he eventually broke from that mold, though some similarities remain...
.
Plot introduction
Mrs. Samuel Lawrence gives Lew Archer 50 dollars for one day of his time to find her daughter Galatea (a.k.a. Galley). Archer soon discovers she was married to a small-time mobster named Joe Tarantine. And shortly after that, a big-time mobster offers him five thousand to find Tarantine. The investigation quickly gains a body count and Lew is constantly drawn from Los Angeles to Pacific Point, Palm SpringsPalm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
, San Francisco, and back again, trying to tie together details that seem as random as they are violent.
Facts and quotations
This book introduces the second of two cities Ross invented and was to use commonly in his work, Pacific Point, located south of Los Angeles."Some of my colleagues think that The Way Some People Die is the best of my twenty books." – Ross Macdonald.
"The best novel in the tough tradition I've read since Farewell, My Lovely
Farewell, My Lovely
Farewell, My Lovely is a 1940 novel by Raymond Chandler, the second novel he wrote featuring Los Angeles private eye Philip Marlowe. It was adapted for the screen three times.-Plot summary:...
and possibly since The Maltese Falcon." - Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher was an American science fiction editor and author of mystery novels and short stories. He was particularly influential as an editor. Between 1942 and 1947 he acted as reviewer of mostly mystery fiction for the San Francisco Chronicle...
, New York Times book review, August 5, 1951.