Derace Kingsley's wife is missing. She sent a note saying she'd run away to Mexico with a hunk of meat called Chris Lavery. Only Lavery isn't game : he denies all knowledge of it. Pl Philip Marlowe's working the case. But it's getting complicated. Between the corrupt cops, the bodies lying at the bottom of lakes or under dripping showers, and his encounters with liars, operators and drunks, there's probably some truth to be found.
As long as he can stay alive long enough to find it...
