
cover art by John A. Coughlin

March 1950 Pocket paperback, first printing
cover painting by Harvey Kidder

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.
1959, third printing
cover art by Jerry Allison

1990 Warner edition
cover art by Gary Kelley
[updated 9/6/25 ~ all copies mine]

1953 Dutton hardcover, this the later Signet reissue
cover art by Robert Maguire
better image than previously posted

watercolor and gouache on board, 14.875 x 12.375 in. (sight)
signed lower right
Ace Double D-469, 1960 – both covers
better image than previously posted

the flip side of this Ace Double paperback

