Last FFB I reviewed Ross Macdonald’s The Far Side of the Dollar. I decided to go back and reread another Lew Archer mystery. Black Money was published in 1965. Lew Archer is hired by a rich man’s son to investigate his ex-girl friend’s new boyfriend. From this simple beginning, Macdonald weaves a complex plot that includes three murders. Black Money explores the usual Ross Macdonald themes of family secrets that impact the Present. Although not as good as The Galton Case or The Chill, Black Money is still first-rate Ross Macdonald.
After The Chiill this is my second favourite Macdonald actually though there is such strong cometition form the like of The Far Side of the Dollar and The Underground Manl that it’s hardly worth trying to make the case too strenuously in my view – as you say, wonderful, wonderful books all. Love that cover for the audiobook – I never listen to straight reading though love audio dramatisations for radio (still very common here in the UK thankfully with the BBC still generating vast amouns of radio boradcasts). Great choice George.
Sergio, I really got into audio books while recovering from my knee replacement surgeries (the pain medication affected my concentration). BLACK MONEY is top-notch Ross Macdonald.
This is another I haven’t read yet. I used to have that Fontana edition. Now I have the Bantam. RSN
Jeff, you’re going to love BLACK MONEY. It’s one of Ross Macdonald’s best books.
I like this one a lot. Definitely in my top 5 Macdonald books.
Bill, you’re right about BLACK MONEY. It’s a TOP 5 Macdonald book for sure.
I’ve always liked THE DOOMSTERS, myself.
RJR
Bob, I may have to reread THE DOOMSTERS next! Thanks for the recommendation.
You did what I wanted to do…read another one right away. If I didn’t have this overwhelming Stack ‘O’ Books I need to read first… sigh…
Ha, Rick. I’ll match my stacks of books against yours any day!
On the good news side, I HAVE read a story a day so far this month.
Rick, Jeff Meyerson inspired me to start reading a short story a day back in the 1990s. I’ve stayed with it all this time. It’s just part of my daily routine.
Rick, here’s a way to really pad your reading stats with short stories: Get Barry Gifford’s THE ROY STORIES (from the library). Most of the stories are only a couple of pages long.
I tried it last year and only got through a month and a half. I started again this month and am just aiming for the rest of the year (two months) at this stage. I haven’t made it a part of my routine, I start the day with newspaper (on line these days), breakfast (such as it is), then check blogs and ‘net and maybe try to get outside for a while, weather permitting. Then if there are any errands I like to get those done in the morning though it’s usually 11:00 or after by then. So reading becomes an afternoon or evening thing. Still, I’ve read 20 short stories, and some of them have been novelettes, so I’m doing okay. I have three or four books of ss I’m trying to rotate through.
I’m glad to see MacDonald continuing to get so much post-FFB coverage. It just shows what a good pick he was for a featured slot when so many of us want to keep writing about him.
Kelly, I binged on Ross Macdonald back in the Seventies. I read all his novels in chronological order. Then, I sort of forgot about Lew Archer until Patti’s FFB. And once I read one book, I felt like reading more!