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almondson's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
gingerwhale's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
His best in my opinion.
emilia_v's review against another edition
2.0
i didn't expect the humour in this book, roasts from marlowe just kept coming
tmvallehoag's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve said enough about my love of Chandler in previous reviews. This is among his best works, though. So many twists and turns. It’s a truly great read.
bioniclib's review against another edition
5.0
Mr. Chandler has a knack for presenting many magnificent turns of phrase. His style makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. This plot, Marlowe is hired to find a woman's daughter-in-law because she's expected to have stolen a rare coin, almost doesn't matter.
The characters bob and weave throughout the tale, connecting in seemingly tangential ways. But Mr. Chandler ties everything together in the end. The solution tends to break the golden rule of mystery writing: make sure the audience has all the info it needs to solve the mystery. He presents things that could be clues but not enough info for us to solve it. Or else I'm too thick to decipher what the clues really mean. I admit, it could be the latter.
I would recommend this book with but one caveat: ignore the overt misogyny and racism. It's tough to swallow at times, but methinks Mr. Chandler shouldn't be punished for being a product of his time. I'm not saying you should forgive him his sins, but rather accept him for whom his is: glaring flaws and all.
The characters bob and weave throughout the tale, connecting in seemingly tangential ways. But Mr. Chandler ties everything together in the end. The solution tends to break the golden rule of mystery writing: make sure the audience has all the info it needs to solve the mystery. He presents things that could be clues but not enough info for us to solve it. Or else I'm too thick to decipher what the clues really mean. I admit, it could be the latter.
I would recommend this book with but one caveat: ignore the overt misogyny and racism. It's tough to swallow at times, but methinks Mr. Chandler shouldn't be punished for being a product of his time. I'm not saying you should forgive him his sins, but rather accept him for whom his is: glaring flaws and all.
tcameron's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sean001's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
offworldcolony's review against another edition
3.0
Solid and unspectacular. If I hear once more about stucco walls I'm going to become the victim of a detective investigation myself.
onkeltuka's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25