Recommended reading - The Moving Target / aka Harper (1949):

The Moving Target / aka Harper (1949).

By Ross MacDonald.

ISBN-10: 037570146X

ISBN-13: 978-0375701467

Back cover description:

CRIME FICTION

“Ross Macdonald remains the grandmaster, taking the crime novel to new heights by imbuing it with psychological resonance, complexity of story, and richness of style that remain awe-inspiring. Those of us in his wake owe a debt that can never be paid. – Jonathan Kellerman.

Like many Southern California millionaires, Ralph Sampson keeps odd company. There's the sun-worshipping holy man whom Sampson once gave his very own mountain; the fading actress with sidelines in astrology and S&M. Now one of Sampson's friends may have arranged his kidnapping. And as Lew Archer follows the clues from the canyon sanctuaries of the megarich to jazz joints where you get beaten up between sets, The Moving Target blends sex, greed, and family hatred into an explosively readable crime novel.

“Macdonald is one of a handful of writers in the [mystery] genre whose worth and quality surpass the limitations of the form.” – Los Angeles Times.

If any writer can be said to have inherited the mantle of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, it was Ross Macdonald. Between the later 1940s and his death in 1983, he gave the American crime novel a psychological depth and moral complexity that his predecessors had only hinted at. And in the character of Lew Archer, Macdonald redefined the private eye as a roving conscience whop walks the treacherous frontier between criminal guilt and human sin.

VINTAGE CRIME / BLACK LIZARD

Ann Patchett, on writing:

I made a startling discovery.

Time spent writing = output of work.

Amazing.

- Ann Patchett

On this day in movie history - Barbie (2023):

Barbie,

directed by Greta Gerwig,

written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach,

was released in the United States on July 9, 2023.
Music by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt.
Narrated by Helen Mirren.

Cast:
Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Sharon Rooney, Ana Cruz Kayne, Ritu Arya, Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, Emerald Fennell, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans, John Cena, Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Rhea Perlman, Helen Mirren, Will Ferrell, Connor Swindells, Jamie Demetriou, Andrew Leung, Will Merrick, Zheng Xi Yong, Asim Chaudhry, Ray Fearon, Erica Ford, Hannah Khalique-Brown, Mette Narrative, Marisa Abela, Lucy Boynton, Rob Brydon, Tom Stourton, Chris Taylor, David Mumeni, Olivia Brody, Isla Ashworth, Eire Farrell, Daisy Duczmal, Genvieve Toussaint, Isabella Nightingale Mercado, Millie-Rose Crossley, Anvita Nehru, Kayla-Mai Alvares, Luke Mullen, Patrick Luwis, Mac Brandt, Paul Jurewicz, Oraldo Austin, Benjamin Arthur, Carlos Jacott, Adam Ray, George Basil, Ptolemy Slocum, Deb Hiett, James Leon, Oliver Vaquer, Tony Noto, Christopher T. Wood, Ann Roth, Annie Mumolo, Elise Gallup, McKenna Roberts, Brylee Hsu, Sasha Milstein, Lauren Holt, Sterling Jones, Ryan Piers Williams, Jamaal Lewis, Kathryn Akin, Grace Jabbari, Ira Mandela Siobhan, Lisa Spencer, Naomi Weijand, Tom Clark, Ireanne Abenoja, Davide Albonetti, Charlotte Anderson, Michael Anderson, Rico Bakker, James Bamford, William John Banks, Callum Bell, Adam Blaug, Mason Boyce, Taylor Bradshaw, Alex Brown, Miekaile Browne, Lewis Calcutt, Nikkita Chadha, Oliver Chapman, Megan Charles, Callum Clack, Danny Coburn, Kat Collings, Adam Crossley, Sia Dauda, Gustave Die, Grace Durkin, Joelle Dyson, Lewis Easter, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Cameron Everitt, Luke Field-Wright, Sasha Flesch, Adam Fogarty, Michael John French, Anna-Kay Gayle, Charlie Goddard, Marlie Goddard, Ellis Harman, Yasmin Harrison, Josh Hawkins, James Healy, Tim Hodges, Mira Jebari, Beccy Jones, Thomas Kalek, Lily Laight, Maiya Leeke, Cristian Liberti, Prodromos Marneros, Nahum McLean, Jordan Melchor, Ramzan Miah, Andy Monaghan, Florivaldo Mossi, Hannah Nazareth, Grant Neal, Freja Nicole, Shaun Niles, Ella Nonini, Jack William Parry, Josie Pocock, Barnaby Quarendon, Redmand Rance, Zara Richards, Liam Riddick, Alana Rixon, Adam Paul Robertson, Kingdom Sibanda, Sebastian Skov Andersen, Aaron J. Smith, Joshua Smith, Lucia-Rose Sokolowski, Janine Somcio, Callum Sterling, Alex Sturman, Todd Talbot, Charles Tatman, Grant Thresh, Connor Tidman, Wahchi Vong, Jerry Wan, Sasha Wareham, Stan West, Oliver Wheeler, Josh Wild, Joe Wolstenholme, Richard Womersley, Ashley Young, Rocky Brower, Sergi Cervera, Jennifer Chan, Jasmine Clark, Nicholas de Graffenreid, Mike Dickman, Tanner Kerrins, Geoff Kinns, Noor Labelle, Kim Manning, Manuela Mora, Cadence Murray, Jordan Saria Oram, Tracy Pacana, Kourosh Parsapour, Justin Price, Richard Price, Kelly Rian Sanson, Evan Shafran, Chanel Stewart, Kelsey Toussant, Molly Peyton White, Brian Whitehill, Caroline Wilde.

On this day in music history - Sacred Alliance, by Anima (2015):

The album Sacred Alliance, 

by Anima, 

was released on July 9, 2015.

On this day in music history - Walk in the Sun, by Sue Foley (1996):

The album Walk in the Sun,

by Sue Foley,

was released on July 9, 1996.

Born on this day – Lisa Banes:

Lisa Banes

Actress

July 9, 1955 – June 14, 2021

Credits:

A Cure for Wellness (2016); A Family Torn Apart (1993); A Good Day for Ted Schmetterling (2005); A Killer Among Us (1990); American Dreamer (1990); Battle in the Erogenous Zone (1992); Borderline Talent (2018); Boston Legal (2005); Brothel (2008); China Beach (1989); Close Encounters (1990); Cocktail (1988); Combustion (2004); Cries from the Heart (1994); Desperate Housewives (2006); Dragonfly (2002); Frasier (1996); Freedom Writers (2007); Girls Club (2002); Gloria Vane (1993); Gone Girl (2014); Hemingway (1988); High Society (1995); How to Be a Gentleman (2011); Howard Stern (2000); In Justice (2006); It's All Relative (2004); Jake in Progress (2005); Kane & Abel (1985); Killzone: Shadow Fall (2013); L.A. Law (1993); Last Exit to Earth (1996); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2011); Leg Work (1987); Legacy (1999); Legally Blondes (2009); Lieberman in Love (1995); Life Goes On (1989); Lifestories (1990); Look Back in Anger (1985); Madam Secretary (2016); Marie (1985); Masters of Sex (2016); Miami Rhapsody (1995); Michael Hayes (1998); Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? (1996); Murder One (1996); Murder, She Wrote (1995); My Son Is Innocent (1996); Nashville (2018); NCIS (2015); NYPD Blue (2004); Once Upon a Time (2016); One Life to Live (2004); One Police Plaza (1986); Out of Practice (2005); Perception (2012); Philly (2002); Psych (2007); Pumpkin (2002); Revenge on the Highway (1992); Roseanne (1994); Rosewood (2016); Royal Pains (2010–2016); Saved (2006); Sisters (1993); Six Feet Under (2005); Six Women (2017); Son of the Beach (2000–2001); Spenser: For Hire (1985); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1994); The 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2022); The Avenging Angel (1995); The Equalizer (1986); The Good Wife (2010); The Hotel New Hampshire (1984); The Jackal (1997); The King of Queens (2004); The Orville (2022); The Practice (2002); The Presence (1992); The Queen Latifah Show (2014); The Strongest Man (2015); The Test (2001); The Trials of Rosie O'Neill (1990–1992); The Unit (2006); Them (2021); Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke (1999); Without Limits (1998); Young Guns (1988).

Born on this day – Richard Roundtree:

Richard Roundtree

Actor

July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023

Credits:

1 a Minute (2010); 13th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards (1998); 16th Annual Trumpet Awards (2008); 1-800-Missing (2003); 1994 MTV Movie Awards (1994); 19th Annual Trumpet Awards (2011); 2003 Trumpet Awards (2003); 2019: A Year in the Life of a Year (2020); 21 Jump Street (1990); 29th NAACP Image Awards (1998); 413 Hope St. (1997–1998); A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks (2021); A Complicated Man: The 'Shaft' Legacy (2019); A Different World (1989); A Family Reunion Christmas (2019); A Time to Die (1991); A.D. (1985); ABC Afterschool Specials (1988); ABC World News Tonight with David Muir (2023); AFI Movie Club (2020); Akuji the Heartless (1998); Alias (2003–2004); All the Days Before Tomorrow (2007); Amen (1989); America's Top Sleuths (2006); Amityville: A New Generation (1993); An Eye for an Eye (1981); Angel III: The Final Chapter (1988); Antitrust (2001); Any Place But Home (1997); Ari Global show (2022); As the World Turns (1956–2010); Baadasssss Cinema (2002); Bad Jim (1990); Ballistic (1995); Beauty and the Beast (1989); Being Mary Jane (2013–2019); BET Awards 2013 (2013); Beverly Hills, 90210 (1991); Black Hollywood (1984); Black Pop: Celebrating the Power of Black Culture (2023); Blade: The Series (2006); Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight (1991); Boat Trip (2002); Body of Influence (1993); Bonanza: The Return (1993); Bonanza: Under Attack (1995); Breast Cancer: An African American Perspective (2009); Brick (2005); Buddies (1996); Cadets (1988); Capone's Boys (2002); CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell (2023); CBS News Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley (2023); Celebrity Bowling (1976); Celebrity Page (2019); Celebrity Tennis (1975); Charley-One-Eye (1973); Cherish the Day (2022); Chicago Fire (2015); CHiPs (1981); Christmas in Connecticut (1992); Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (2012); Circus of the Stars #2 (1977); City Heat (1984); Classified X (2007); Close to Home (2006); COC Elite (2009); Collar - Directors Cut (2023); Collar (2015); Cop Files (1995); Corky Romano (2001); Crack House (1989); Day of the Assassin (1979); Deadly Rivals (1993); Desperate Housewives (2004–2005); Diamonds (1975); Diary of a Single Mom (2009–2011); Dinah! (1974–1976); Donahue (1972); Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1998); Dream On (1995); Duke (2019); E! True Hollywood Story (1999); Earthquake (1974); Ebony Fashion Fair: 50 Years of Style (2008); Ebony/Jet Showcase (1986); Embassy (1972); Entertainment Tonight (2019–2024); Escape to Athena (1979); Family Reunion (2019–2022); Final Approach (2007); Firehouse (1973); Freedom Is (1976); Game for Vultures (1979); Game On! A Comedy Crossover Event (2020); Generations (1990); George of the Jungle (1997); Getting Even (1989); Go Beyond the Lens (2011); Good Morning America (2023); Grey's Anatomy (2006); Gypsy Angels (1990); Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992–1994); Harlem to Hollywood (2018); Haunting of the Mary Celeste (2020); Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (1999); Hawaiian Gardens (2001); Hearts Are Wild (1992); Hell Up in Hollywood: Soul Cinema and the 1970s (2003); Heroes (2006–2007); Hollywood Beat (1985); I Love 1970's (2000); Inchon (1981); Intimate Portrait (1999); It's a Knockout (1988); Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (1973); Jocks (1986); Joe and Max (2002); Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater (1994–1995); Just an Overnight Guest (1983); Killpoint (1984); Knight Rider (2009); L.A. Law (1992); Ladies of the House (2008); Lethal Weapon (2018); Lincoln Heights (2007–2009); Linc's (1999); MacGyver (1990); Made in Hollywood (2019); Magnum, P.I. (1983); Man Friday (1975); Maniac Cop (1988); Masquerade (1983); Maury (1992); Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon (2004); Meet the Browns (2010); Men Cry in the Dark (2003); Miami Cops (1989); Mind Twister (1993); Miss Universe Pageant (1980); Missing Reel (2014); Moscacieca (1993); Movie Night Extravaganza (2022); Moving On (2022); Murder, She Wrote (1988); Nationtime (1972); NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (2023); Negermagasinet (2005); Nero come il cuore (1994); New York, New York (1972); Night Visitor (1989); Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995); One Down, Two to go (1982); Opposing Force (1986); Original Gangstas (1996); Outlaws (1986–1987); Painkiller Jane (2005); Parachute to Paradise (1972); Party Line (1988); Point of Entry (2007); Portrait of a Hitman (1979); Private Practice (2012); Profiler (1997); Q: The Winged Serpent (1982); Renegade (1994); Rescue 77 (1999); Resurrection Blvd. (2001); Retreat! (2016); Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular (2002); Roc (1991–1994); Roots (1977); Roots: Celebrating 25 Years (2002); Sacrifice (2021); Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006); Se7en (1995); Set Apart (2009); Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003); Shadows of Desire (1994); Shaft (1973–1974); Shaft (1971 / 2019 / 2000); Shaft in Africa (1973); Shaft's Big Score! (1972); Shoot! (2001); Short Fuse: A Collection of Explosive Shorts (2004); Sins of the Night (1993); Soul Brothers (2013); Soul Brothers 2 (2013); Soul Comes Home (2003); Soul Food (2000–2001); Soul in Cinema: Filming Shaft on Location (1971); Speed Racer (2008); Speed Racer: Wonderful World of Racing - The Amazing Racer Family (2008); Star (2017–2018); Steel (1997); Tavis Smiley (2008); TCM Remembers 2023 (2023); The 12nd Annual Black Achievement Awards (1991); The 18th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Preshow (2003); The 44th Annual Academy Awards (1972); The 47th NAACP Image Awards (2016); The Arsenio Hall Show (2014); The Banker (1989); The Baron and the Kid (1984); The Big Score (1983); The Closer (2005); The Confidant (2010); The David Frost Show (1972); The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Telly Savalas (1974); The Dean Martin Show (1973); The Fifth Missile (1986); The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996); The Green Fog (2017); The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1972–1976); The John H. Johnson Story (2005); The Love Boat (1980); The Marsha Warfield Show (1990); The Mentalist (2011); The Merv Griffin Show (1972–1973); The Mike Douglas Show (1972–1977); The Ms. Moviefone Show (2019); The New Hollywood Squares (1987); The Player (2015); The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow (2002); The Sin Choice (2020); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1971); The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2002); The Trial of Ben Barry (2012); The Turn On (2007); The Wayans Bros. (1995); The Young Riders (1991); Thelma (2024); Theodore Rex (1995); This Bitter Earth (2012); Tilmon Tempo (1972–1976); Today (2019); Touched by an Angel (1996); Ultimate Film Fanatic (2004–2005); Undercover Brother (2002); Unsung Hollywood (2015–2016); Unsung Presents: Best in Black (2023); Vegas Vampires (2007); Veil (2010); Vicki! (1992–1993); Vixen Highway 2006: It Came from Uranus! (2010); WGN Morning News (2019); What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1970); What Men Want (2019); Whatever She Wants (2014); Wild On... (1997–2009); Wild Seven (2006); Without Walls (1994); Young Warriors (1983).