Ross Macdonald - Tom Nolan

This 400 pages biography of Ross Macdonald is very extensive and detailed story of famous writer life, from his childhood to old age and death. Author tell us how Ross was troubled kid, on a verge to become a criminal but when he discovered Hammett and Chandler he went to university and finished it, then tried his luck at writing detective novels. Although some chapters are little tedious (like when his new book comes out and then author list a handful of good reviews, and his generally ordinary life), for the most part is interesting, especially Macdonald love for the ocean, his relationship with fellow writer Margaret Millar, his troubled daughter and her long escape where he tracked her down through United States to her ultimate death at 31. It is  a bit sad that Macdonald got Alzheimer disease in his old age and quickly died. But for anyone seriously interested in crime fiction in general and for Macdonald fans, this is a must read book.