"I'd looked down the round blue mouth of death too often to fear it. I lived in a world where women had what-the-hell eyes, where men spread-eagled Ferraris across fast roads and the big blue dollar sign pointed to murder. I'm Lew Archer, the private detective, and a slip of a schoolgirl had chinked my armor. Her story was good and her terror was real. So was her bogeyman. He wore a Smith and Wesson and a much-wanted face. My juices stirring, I sallied forth in the errant night world of Hollywood and Vine to slay me a dragon..." --