The Private Detective: Lew Archer

By Russ Gifford

Sam Spade. Philip Marlowe. Nero Wolfe. All of the Private Eyes we have discussed so far had instant name recognition, even if you had not read their books. But Lew Archer? Not so much. And yet, the Lew Archer series of books obviously reached beyond the mystery genre to mainstream interest. After a solid and skilled 1950s, with the 1960s, author Ross Macdonald would reach the New York Times’ Bestseller lists precisely because the stories meshed well with the era. And he did it again in the 1970s before his death. As we read these books, we learn why Lew Archer and his creator, Ross Macdonald are the perfect choice for our look at the actual society of the times as mirrored by their books.

Macdonald’s books embrace a style that combines the feeling of his times but is told by an observer who tries desperately to remain impartial. Yet Archer not only sees the grimy touches of the murder room’s dirty paint job but also adds the vivid colors of the sundown. The result is a fresh look at the grim reality of an era, seen through tired eyes. Archer is a detective that wants to believe there is still good to be found – but his experiences say otherwise. In that, we come to realize he is all-too-accurately capturing the feelings of many as the calendar changed from the 1960s to the 1970s.

Join Russ Gifford as we examine the history of Lew Archer and the events that brought his books to the bestseller list.