Ask for Me Tomorrow

Ask for Me Tomorrow follows attorney Tom Aragon as he searches for a missing Mexican immigrant in Los Angeles. When a wealthy woman hires him to locate her former daughter-in-law, what begins as a routine missing persons case becomes more complex. The investigation leads Aragon through the social divisions of 1970s Southern California, from elite neighborhoods to immigrant communities. His quest reveals a web of relationships and hidden motives among the various people connected to the missing woman. The book combines elements of legal drama and detective fiction while exploring issues of class, identity, and cultural barriers. Set against the backdrop of changing social dynamics in post-1960s America, it examines how people navigate between different worlds and the secrets they keep to survive.

Readers find this an above-average mystery novel that maintains suspense, with several calling it "lesser Millar" compared to her other works. The Mexican setting and atmosphere create an effective backdrop for the story. Liked: - Strong character development, particularly the protagonist Tom Aragon - Unpredictable plot twists - Rich descriptions of Mexico's landscape and culture - Complex family dynamics at the heart of the mystery Disliked: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Some find the ending unsatisfying - Less psychologically intense than Millar's other novels Goodreads: 3.82/5 (45 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for reliable rating Reader comment highlights: "The Mexican scenery steals the show" - Goodreads reviewer "Tom Aragon makes a compelling lead, but the story drags" - Mystery Reader forum "Not her best work but still has Millar's trademark character insights" - Vintage Mystery blog

The Moving Target by Ross Macdonald A private detective works through family secrets and lies in sun-bleached Southern California while searching for a missing millionaire.

Beast in View by Margaret Millar A woman's life unravels as she receives threatening phone calls that connect to dark secrets from her past and lead to murder.

Laura by Vera Caspary A detective becomes entangled in the investigation of a murdered woman whose portrait haunts him as he uncovers contradictions in the accounts of those who knew her.

In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes A serial killer stalks post-war Los Angeles while maintaining a facade of normalcy among his unsuspecting friends.

Die a Little by Megan Abbot A schoolteacher investigates her brother's new wife and gets pulled into the underbelly of 1950s Los Angeles through a web of murder and deception.

🔍 Margaret Millar wrote this 1976 mystery novel while battling severe writer's block, completing most of the manuscript in just six weeks after months of struggling. 🌟 The book's Mexican setting was inspired by Millar's frequent trips to the country with her husband Kenneth Millar (better known as crime writer Ross Macdonald). 📚 This was one of the first mainstream mystery novels to feature a protagonist with a physical disability, as lawyer Tom Aragon uses a prosthetic leg. 🏆 The novel helped establish Margaret Millar's reputation for psychological depth in crime fiction, earning praise from The New York Times for its "penetrating study of human nature under stress." 🔎 Many of the legal procedures described in the book came from Millar's research with California private investigators and her experience as the wife of a lawyer-turned-writer.