The Moving Target

When the reclusive and immensely wealthy industrialist Ralph Sampson vanishes without a trace, his estranged wife, Stella, hires private investigator Lew Archer to find him. Sampson's disappearance is shrouded in mystery, with an eclectic cast of characters surrounding him, from a charismatic cult leader who received a mountain as a gift to a fading movie star dabbling in astrology and S&M. As Archer delves into the opulent yet morally ambiguous world of Southern California's elite, he uncovers a tangled web of family secrets, illicit desires, and long-buried betrayals. His investigation leads him from sun-drenched canyons and exclusive enclaves to the seedy underbelly of jazz clubs and criminal haunts. Archer must navigate a labyrinth of greed, lust, and violence, where every clue reveals another layer of deceit, ultimately forcing him to confront the dark psychological complexities that drive the rich and powerful, all while the 'moving target' of the truth constantly shifts.