The Drowning Pool

Maude Slocum is in trouble. But luckily trouble is Investigator Lew Archer's business.
A well-dressed, wealthy woman has arrived at Archer's L.A. office, having intercepted a poison pen letter accusing her of adultery. Reluctantly agreeing to help her find the culprit, he dives into the Slocums' moneyed, oil-rich California world. But when Maude's mother-in-law is found dead in the swimming pool, secrets come to the surface too. For the urbane, world-weary Archer, a case of blackmail soon becomes murder.

Ross Macdonald (1915–1983) was an American-Canadian crime writer renowned for his influential detective novels featuring the private investigator Lew Archer. Often set in Southern California, Macdonald’s novels delve deeply into psychological and familial conflicts, blending hard-boiled crime storytelling with literary depth. His most acclaimed works, such as The Chill (1964) and The Underground Man (1971), are noted for their complex plots, exploration of personal trauma, and social critique. Known as a master of the mystery genre, Macdonald elevated detective fiction, influencing writers like Raymond Chandler and later authors in the genre.