Although Raymond Chandler's books are perennial classics and his hardboiled novels have been frequently adapted for the silver screen, much of his pre-writing life has remained shrouded in mystery. Visiting Chandler's many homes and apartments, Judith Freeman seeks vestiges of the Los Angeles that served as his inspiration, and uncovers the life of Cissy Pascal, the older, twice-divorced woman Chandler married in 1924. Offering a portrait of an unconventional marriage that was a wellspring of need, illusion, and creativity, this biography fills in vital gaps in Chandler's guarded private life.

"A beautiful and original book…. Freeman's identification with her subject is so complete we feel we're there with Chandler too."—LATimes