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The Chill: A Lew Archer Novel [Large Print] (Hardcover)

by Ross MacDonald (Author)

4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)

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1 new from CDN$ 111.56 3 used from CDN$ 36.95

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Product Details

Hardcover: 423 pages
Publisher: Thorndike Pr; Lrg edition (June 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786204613
ISBN-13: 978-0786204618
Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.7 x 2.8 cm
Shipping Weight: 636 g

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)

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This is item 12 in The Lew Archer Series.

Product Description

From Amazon.com

"The surprise with which a detective novel concludes should set up tragic vibrations which run backward through the entire structure," wrote Ross Macdonald in his 1981 Self-Portrait. Nowhere in his work does he better demonstrate this principle than in The Chill, first published in 1964. The plot is one of Macdonald's most masterfully constructed. Private detective Lew Archer is engaged to trace a missing spouse, who has vanished--apparently of her own free will--only a day into her honeymoon. Archer begins pulling at the threads of the case, and by page 25 they're already starting to reveal a deeper, darker story involving two murders 20 years apart. As usual, Macdonald's economical prose propels the reader forward from one action-packed scene to another, while the scenes in turn pile up to paint a rich, complex picture of buried memories, anguished relations between parents and children, the arrogance of the rich, and the search for identity. Then, at the end, one of the author's best surprise reversals changes the picture's colors entirely. Even if you're one of those discerning readers who find Macdonald's lesser work superior to most other mystery writing (as does this reviewer), The Chill stands out among his books. --Nicholas H. Allison --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Published in 1965, 1963, and 1950, respectively, this trio feature Macdonald's hard-boiled private detective Lew Archer. The plots involve murder, deceit, blackmail, sex, and all those other goodies that make for great crime stories.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Customer Reviews

21 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)

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Most helpful customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Complicated, tragic puzzle with a hint of daring, Jul 22 2003

By	Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Chill (Paperback)

Noir fiction often has tested barriers and taboos. This Lew Archer novel is in that tradition in that it doesn't break any taboos, but it does hint at it. If THE CHILL were written today, I think it would have been a bit more direct.

As with many Lew Archer cases, this one starts innocently enough with his being hired to find a missing newlywed who's disappeared after an encounter with a mysterious visitor. In a short period of time, he's involved in a murder case, one in which he feels a vague sense of being responsible. There are the usual twists, the usual questions of identity, the interconnection of characters which doesn't at first meet the eye.

MacDonald characters are difficult to pigeonhole into "good" or "bad" categories. The motivations often come from deeply within the psyches of the characters.

The emphasis in this story as well as most in the series is on the puzzle. There are seldom recurring characters in these novels, and little interaction other than investigative betwee Archer and the other characters. And as always, the dark corners of human nature are well probed.

Definitely highly recommended.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Deservedly a classic., Mar 15 2003

By	nobizinfla "nobizinfla" (Windermere, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chill (Paperback)

Along with Hammett, Cain and Chandler, Ross Macdonald is a pioneer of the literate mystery novel.

In "The Chill" (written in 1963), Lew Archer has a missing persons case that leads to three murders committed over a twenty year period that he must tie together.

There is plenty of action, twists, reversals and suspense throughout...adultery, cons, frame-ups, blackmail.

The plot is complicated and complex; filled with plentiful characters (many with aliases). You have to pay attention and keep score.

The ending is a major surprise.

It is easy to see why it is among the IMBA's "100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century."

Well worth a second read.

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5.0 out of 5 stars great book, Oct 25 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Chill (Paperback)

I picked this book up from a friend. My edition was copyrighted in 1963. This is a great pure mystery. Pay close attention to the characters you will be surprised how this book ends. If you love to read a good mystery (who dun it) this is the book for you.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars great book
I picked this book up from a friend. My edition was copyrighted in 1963. This is a great pure mystery. Read more

Published on Oct 25 2002 by Tina

4.0 out of 5 stars The Chill
It's complicated--it may have you flipping back through pages with a furrowed brow in order to get it all straightened out--but it does straighten out nicely. Read more

Published on Aug 20 2002 by sleeping sheepsnake

5.0 out of 5 stars His best book
Moody, creepy, complex, and sad, this is MacDonald's best book. I think its as good as Chandler (and that is very good indeed). Read more

Published on Feb 12 2002 by K. Braithwaite