Bob Randisi commented on last week’s Black Money FFB post that he really liked Ross Macdonald’s The Doomsters from 1958. I figured I might as well complete the Lew Archer trifecta by doing three Ross Macdonald books in a row for FFB. Like most of Ross Macdonald’s mysteries, The Doomsters presents a dysfunctional family with plenty of secrets. Lew Archer has to explore the past in order to solve a murder in the present. Ross Macdonald sprinkles in some Oedipus references, but long-time readers of the Archer series know all about troubled father-son relationships. Along with The Chill, The Galton Case, and Black Money, The Doomsters is one of the best books in the series.
I quite agree – this is a very strong title and arguably signalled, along with The Galton Case that immediately followed it, the moment when Macdonald’s books really started to reach their maturity of style, theme and content.
Great epigraph from Stephen Crane, too, right?
Sergio, you’re right about Ross Macdonald’s work reaching new heights with THE DOOMSTERS and THE GALTON CASE.
Are you thinking of FIND A VICTIM, Bill?
That cover of the Bantam paperback is the best I’ve seen gracing a Millar/Macdonald book – and there have been some truly great ones.
Brian, Bantam had a flair for covers during the Sixties. This is one of my favorites.
Another good one. I read this last year in Florida.
Jeff, I read THE DOOMSTERS about 40 years ago. It’s one of Ross Macdonald’s best books.
George, good job doing three RM books in a row. When I read your comments on the book, I thought, but he didn’t say anything about THIS book, as opposed to the Archer series. But then I read your comment that you read it 40 years ago. I assume you re-read it recently? It’s one of the ones I haven’t yet read, what with so many books here and “out there”.