Tag: john ross macdonald

THE FIRST LEW ARCHER

1949 Knopf hardcover – cover illustration by Bill English

first in the long-running and deservedly respected Lew Archer series by Kenneth Millar, aka Ross Macdonald. After using his father’s name as the pen name for this novel, he was forced by John D. MacDonald to alter it for future novels, and Ross Macdonald was born.

March 1950 Pocket paperback, first printing

cover painting by Harvey Kidder

British 1951 Cassell hardcover

1954 Pan reissue – cover by Sax

better image than previously posted

1959 Pocket reissue, third printing – cover art by Jerry Allison (owner’s copy)

1966 Fontana movie tie-in edition

British 1971 Fontana reissue

1974 Bantam reissue

1977 Bantam reissue – cover art by Mitchell Hooks

British 1978 Fontana reissue

1984 Bantam reissue – cover art by James Marsh

1998 Vintage/Black Lizard reissue

1990 Warner edition – cover art by Gary Kelley (owner’s copy)

[updated 9/6/25, 8/27/26]