In The Long Way Home, private detective Philip Marlowe is drawn into a perplexing case involving the disappearance of Amy Harper. The story begins with Marlowe's arrival at the Harper residence, where he meets Enos Harper, a mild-mannered man who is clearly distraught over his wife's absence. Amy left for the laundromat two days prior, and since then, there has been no sign of her. Enos, who has recently moved from New Jersey to California with Amy, expresses his concern but seems to lack information about her whereabouts or connections in the area.