The Barbarous Coast    by Ross Macdonald Order:  USA  Can Vintage, 2007 (2007) Softcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Lew Archer is back again - in a novel newly published but not updated, printed as it first appeared. Good writing then. Good writing now. One of author Ross Macdonald's numerous crime noir novels, The Barbarous Coast is exciting, suspenseful, and full of life's observations, as Macdonald looked at the world and its happenings. Incidentally, it's also a darn good read. Archer is hired by a hotheaded husband to find his runaway wife. A courtesy uncle is also curious as to her whereabouts. An award-winning high-diver, the beautiful blonde wife wants the bright lights and glitter associated with Hollywood. Her country husband can't supply that. Not able to achieve her goal on her own, she ends up mixing with the glitterati of the movie scene with all the money she could want. Archer decides to follow the money trail and uncovers more than anyone suspected. Bodies appear at regular intervals - with various means of extermination. Archer keeps getting punched or hit over the head. He manages to get to his feet time and time again. And, of course, also manages to solve the mystery. The solution may not be to everyone's liking but it is believable. For a hard-hitting, fast-paced crime novel, the reader can't go wrong with The Barbarous Coast. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews