Poodle Springs

When Chandler ( The Big Sleep ) died in 1959, he left only the first four chapters of L.A. private eye Philip Marlowe's seventh caper. Parker earns high marks for picking up the story from the slim opener and writing a thriller to rival his bestsellers on Spenser, Boston PI. Here Marlowe is newly wed to wealthy Linda and at home in her luxurious house in Poodle Springs (pseudonym for Palm Springs), but refuses to be a kept man. Hired by a local gambler to trace Les Valentine, a photographer who has welshed on a $100,000 bet, the detective questions the missing man's bibulous wife Muffy, daughter of a multi-millionaire. Muffy's vague answers give nothing away, so Marlowe drives back to L.A.'s grubby streets, looking for information. Acting on a tip, he visits the office of ``Larry Victor,'' and finds it vacant except for the body of a blonde model. Marlowe knows Larry is Les and suspects he was framed for murder, probably by the gambler's mob bosses, so the investigator stays on the case in the city at the risk of his life and marriage. Sustaining tensions, writing in tune with the period and delivering a knockout finale, Parker does nobly by the great Chandler. 200,000 first printing; $150,000 ad/promo; Mystery Guild main selection; Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club alternate; author tour. (Oct.)