The Dark Tunnel

By: Ross MacDonald

Narrated by: Tom Parker

Doctor Robert Branch was a university professor, not a secret agent. But his best friend was dead, and Branch knew that it couldn't have been suicide. He was also certain that the murder had been arranged by a Nazi espionage group operating on campus. The only trouble was, no one would believe him. Branch knew that the Nazis would have him eliminated as soon as it was convenient. He'd even narrowed his choice of executioner down to three: a psychotic homosexual, a respected educator, and the woman he loved.

The Dark Tunnel was originally published in 1944 under Ross Macdonald's real name, Kenneth Millar.

More mayhem? Listen to our other Ross Macdonald mysteries.©1944 Kenneth Millar (P)1998 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Ross Macdonald gives to the detective story that accent of class that the late Raymond Chandler did." (Chicago Tribune)

College is Murder

Nazi spies infiltrate a college staff during WWII. A college professor helps the FBI bring them to justice. Lots of twists, a MacDonald trademark.

RM at his early best

Loved the twists of this novel with a university setting. Not a spoiler, but except for the barn square dance sequence, it is very solid structurally.

surprisingly great

I highly recommend anything by Ken Millar / Ross Macdonald. The Narrator is an alias for the great Grover Gardner. Story was gritty and fast paced.

Better than expected

The reviews were not good, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The reader was perfect for creating the time period. His voice itself helped set the scene. I got so angsty listening to no one believe the main character, but was also frustrated when he refused to give the full story to the FBI. It was well done and suspenseful. I would have enjoyed a more thorough denouement.

Great first novel

This is Ross MacDonald's first novel, before he started his Lew Archer series. It's a good start. The main character uncovers a possible German spy scandal in a university town in the late in 1937. Overall, excellent, though the second half of the book gets increasingly complicated. And of course, some parts are a bit outdated. Still very worthwhile. MacDonald taught at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor which helps him with the setting and politics of a university environment.