Scan barcode
zsige's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
Fair warning: this book is pretty grim. I came away from it feeling like I needed a shower. There are murders aplenty, seedy goings-on, vast amounts of whisky are consumed, and almost nobody comes out of it looking good. That includes California itself, which is (like everything else Raymond Chandler does) portrayed in very precise and unflinching detail.
The plot twists all over the place, with dangling threads everywhere, and only comes together right at the end. You do have to pay attention or you'll lose track of who is who (not entirely convinced that I did so successfully), but the conclusion is satisfying and doesn't feel like cheating. That said, it's also not a whodunnit (in the sense that you don't have access to all the same clues Marlowe does).
Very readable, and makes me want to read more Marlowe mysteries, but also makes me very glad that I live where and when I do, and not 1930s Hollywood.
The plot twists all over the place, with dangling threads everywhere, and only comes together right at the end. You do have to pay attention or you'll lose track of who is who (not entirely convinced that I did so successfully), but the conclusion is satisfying and doesn't feel like cheating. That said, it's also not a whodunnit (in the sense that you don't have access to all the same clues Marlowe does).
Very readable, and makes me want to read more Marlowe mysteries, but also makes me very glad that I live where and when I do, and not 1930s Hollywood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Racial slurs, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol