Heir to Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler as the master of American "hard boiled" mysteries, his writing built on the pithy style of his predecessors by adding psychological depth and insights into the motivations of his characters.
Heir to Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler as the master of American "pot boiler" mysteries, Macdonald's writing was hailed by genre fans and literary critics alike. His writing built on the pithy style of his predecessors by adding psychological depth and insights into the motivations of his characters.