Private-eye Philip Marlowe is hired to keep an eye on General Sternwood's youngest daughter, Carmen, who has fallen into bad company and is likely to do some damage to herself and her family before long. He soon finds himself falling in love with her older sister, Vivien, who initially takes a deep dislike to Mr Marlowe. Marlowe is asked to deal with several problems that are troubling the family, including a blackmail attempt. He finds that each problem centers about the disappearance of Sternwood's favoured employee who has left with a mobster's wife. As he probes, he follows a trail peopled with murderers, pornographers, nightclub rogues and the spoiled rich.