No list of crime novels would be complete without this dazzling tour de force by Raymond Chandler, introducing his laconic and hard-bitten PI Marlowe. Much parodied but never bettered, plot is not the strongest aspect of the book (a convoluted tail of blackmail, pornography, murder, and the wealthy Sternwood family), the book drips with dangerous broads, sinister henchmen, strong scotch, and smoking guns. There is even a large plot hole that was only identified when the book was adapated into the famous film. Chandler simply forgot to fill it.
You should read it: for the inventive, often hilarious use of metaphor; for its fun with words; to understand where the conventions of the noir/PI sub-genre come from; to see if you can spot the plot hole.
Leave a Reply