博客來錢德勒一九三九年震撼偵探小說世界的成名之作，亦是漢子私探馬羅的首部長篇。
馬羅應一位退休老將軍之聘，，負責料理將軍小女兒的勒索事件。年邁、富裕而粗暴的老將軍，有兩個漂亮但狂野的女兒，以及一個眼神憂傷的女婿，這個女婿稍前不告而別……
Chandler's first novel, published in 1939, introduces Philip Marlowe, a 38-year-old P.I. moving through the seamy side of Los Angeles in the 1930s. This classic case includes as characters a paralyzed California millionaire, his two psychotic daughters, plus blackmail, murder, corrupt wealth, secret vices, family scandal, and more.
"Chandler [writes] like a slumming angel and invest[s] the sun-blinded streets of Los Angeles with a romantic presence."-Ross Macdonald
