The Zebra-Striped Hearse
The Zebra-Striped Hearse is a detective mystery written in 1962 by American author Ross Macdonald, the tenth book featuring his private eye, Lew Archer.
 First edition | |
| Author | Ross Macdonald |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Lew Archer |
| Genre | Detective, Mystery novel |
| Publisher | Knopf |
Publication date | 1962 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback) |
| Preceded by | The Wycherly Woman |
| Followed by | The Chill |
Plot
In the beginning of this novel, Archer is hired by a man to investigate the man who is recently engaged to his daughter, fearing that the man is only interested in his daughter's money. Soon afterwards the daughter and fiancé disappear, and the plot turns into a manhunt. The search takes Archer to San Francisco, Mexico, Nevada, and back to California, finding dead bodies linked to the fiancé along the way.[1][2]
Reception
The Zebra-Striped Hearse was praised by some critics, stating, for example that it had a "fantastic plot" and that "Lew Archer fit into the PI mold while still being his own unique creation".[1] Terry Teachout's appraisal was more negative; he found the Archer books "repetitive and often dully written" and The Zebra-Striped Hearse in particular was "perfectly readable" but marred by "dime-store psychologizing".[3]
References
- Berrett, Trevor (April 20, 2016). "Ross Macdonald: The Zebra-Striped Hearse – The Mookse and the Gripes". mookseandgripes.com. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- Caviness, Rochelle. "The Zebra-Striped Hearse". www.largeprintreviews.com. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- Teachout, Terry (March 14, 1999). "The Coleridge Scholar Who Took On Marlowe". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved August 8, 2017.