Chapter 1: Section 5: Page 37: Line 31 (613)

 Women in intimidating hats glared at him with revulsion.

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Even the guy who sang that song about how much the Grinch sucked didn't go on this long! And he really let that jerk have it.

I suppose the point isn't what Lew did. I think the point is that anybody can lose their reputation as long as a certain amount of people will buy into it. It's like that episode of Black Mirror where the main character's social media rating tanks in one crappy day and pretty soon everybody thinks they're the worst person in the world. Lew either did something so incredibly shitty he deserves to be an outcast or he simply pissed off the wrong person with all the right contacts.

But how all of this answers the question about how he became a detective, I don't know! Maybe it's common knowledge that detectives become detectives because they're unsavory, unlikable jerks? I hope I don't have to have any knowledge of noir pop culture because I don't have any.

"Women in intimidating hats"
I can only imagine this means big, ornate hats with loads of feathers and other dingle-boppers. I doubt it means hats with spikes and cleavers hanging from the rim.

Chapter 1: Section 5: Page 37: Line 30 (612)

 Newsboys made up lurid headlines about him, which they shouted all through the civic mobilities morning and evening, making a point of pronouncing his name disrespectfully.

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How does somebody become such a pariah?! Fucking newsboys. The Twitter of 1893. These newsboys just invented the clickbait!

Chapter 1: Section 5: Page 37: Line 29 (611)

 He was denounced in the local newspapers.

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Who hasn't been?!

Chapter 1: Section 5: Page 37: Line 28 (610)

 Those who did claim to remember, all too well, kept giving him sad looks which soon—it being Illinois—soured into what was known as moral horror.

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What is it about Illinois that turns "sad looks" into "moral horror"? Is this one of the reasons the area is known as The Bible Belt? I grew up in California where if we remembered somebody's sin, we'd probably invite them to our next party. I don't believe I ever encountered "moral horror" growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s. Oh, but the 1980s changed that. Thanks a lot, Reagan and your demonizing of those infected with HIV and AIDS. But that was less a "moral horror" originating in the Bay Area and more of an American moral horror targeted at our national neighborhood.

"moral horror"
This phrase just intrigues me all the more! What sin did Lew Basnight commit?! Is this what's called a "plot hook"?! Or am I just being titillated by small town gossip?! Either way, I'm all atwitter!