Earlier this year I read two excellent crime novels written by Newton Thornburg – To Die in California (1973) and Cutter and Bone (1976) – both of them set in Santa Barbara, California. The experience reminded me of just how much good crime fiction has been set in Santa Barbara, or some fictionalized version thereof, over the years, books by the likes of Sue Grafton, Margaret Millar, and Ross Macdonald (aka Kenneth Millar, Margaret’s husband). Ten or fifteen years ago I read Tom Nolan’s 1999 biography of Kenneth Millar and discovered that rock-n-roller Warren Zevon was a huge fan of the Lew Archer books, knew them all back and forth. He actually met Millar a couple of times. The first meeting took place in Santa Barbara, where Millar lived, and didn’t go particularly well. Zevon, as was his wont, acted casually and overly familiar with Millar from the beginning. Millar, older and more reserved, was put off by the talky young singer-songwriter. But a few years later, in 1979, at a time when Zevon was in horrible shape because of his alcohol and drug addictions, Paul Nelson, a freelance writer who knew both men, asked Millar if he might be willing to visit Zevon and try to pick up his spirits a bit. By this time, Zevon was living in Montecito, an uber-expensive celebrity enclave located about ten minutes from the city of Santa Barbara. Millar, who lived in Hope Ranch, another expensive suburb of Santa Barbara, agreed to meet Zevon. An account of that meeting is contained in Tom Nolan’s book Ross Macdonald: a Biography. Naturally, Nolan’s book also contains a lot of details about the tragic life and death of Macdonald’s only child, Linda. Back in 2017, I wrote a short story about the meeting of the two men. It contains a lot of factual information gleaned from Nolan’s book and other sources. Some of the dialog comes verbatim from Nolan’s book. The fatal hit-and-run incident in my story is not made up. Nonetheless, this is a work of fiction. My narrator is fictional and is not meant to represent Paul Nelson. I hope you enjoy it.
I don't know if this old friend of mine is still alive, but George P. from Charlotte went through rehab with Warren. He attnded his funeral. Lost touch with George 15+ years ago.
Wow. This was a gripping and very emotional read. I’m a transplanted Californian, and although having recently moving out of state was the right call in a lot of ways, I miss California very much. Particularly the vibe and beauty of my home state. I was blessed to grow up there, and not that I’m well-traveled, but I can’t imagine there are many places in the world that have the same feel. Your tale transported me back there.
And you’re right! A lot of detective stories use California as their setting. I never really thought about that before. I love Sue Grafton’s books, and after reading your tale I will be diving into some Ross McDonald ones to see how I like him. I knew his nom de plume and recall seeing his books in bookstores when I was younger, but never read any. Not sure why.
I was especially captivated that Warren Zevon was one of the people in your retelling of this nexus moment between the two men. I’ve been a fan girl of his since Excitable Boy came out. No other musician I’ve enjoyed over the years had quite the same ability to write songs of biting wit or longing and despair like he could. He lives on forever in the music and words he left us.
This was a riveting tale, and you told it so beautifully. So much tragedy, yet grace notes come unexpectedly. And the mystery not being fully resolved is haunting. Thank you for crafting this. I won’t soon forget it.
I don't know if this old friend of mine is still alive, but George P. from Charlotte went through rehab with Warren. He attnded his funeral. Lost touch with George 15+ years ago.
Wow. This was a gripping and very emotional read. I’m a transplanted Californian, and although having recently moving out of state was the right call in a lot of ways, I miss California very much. Particularly the vibe and beauty of my home state. I was blessed to grow up there, and not that I’m well-traveled, but I can’t imagine there are many places in the world that have the same feel. Your tale transported me back there.
And you’re right! A lot of detective stories use California as their setting. I never really thought about that before. I love Sue Grafton’s books, and after reading your tale I will be diving into some Ross McDonald ones to see how I like him. I knew his nom de plume and recall seeing his books in bookstores when I was younger, but never read any. Not sure why.
I was especially captivated that Warren Zevon was one of the people in your retelling of this nexus moment between the two men. I’ve been a fan girl of his since Excitable Boy came out. No other musician I’ve enjoyed over the years had quite the same ability to write songs of biting wit or longing and despair like he could. He lives on forever in the music and words he left us.
This was a riveting tale, and you told it so beautifully. So much tragedy, yet grace notes come unexpectedly. And the mystery not being fully resolved is haunting. Thank you for crafting this. I won’t soon forget it.