A review by cnorbury
The High Window by Raymond Chandler
5.0
Chandler does it again--writes a brilliant mystery and has Marlowe solve it almost as effortlessly as Sherlock Holmes seemed to solve the mysteries Sir Arthur Conan Doyle threw at him.
This time the case is to find out who stole a rare coin owned by a bitchy old widow who suspects her ex-torch-singer daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, Marlowe keeps stumbling across dead bodies of people related to the case, which arouses the attention of the local cops. Marlowe's attention to detail sets him apart from average P.I.s because the clues are there for the reader to solve the mystery themselves if they're motivated to do a bit of homework.
Once again, the dialogue is tight, the characters are three-dimensional, and Chandler's prose is first-rate. I understand he was also a poet of some note. That shines through in numerous elegant descriptions, spot-on metaphors, and lines full of dry wit and ironic humor.
Every mystery writer owes it to herself/himself to read Chandler with a studious eye. Taking notes of all the great lines you'd like to hijack for your own work is a good idea, too. :-)
This time the case is to find out who stole a rare coin owned by a bitchy old widow who suspects her ex-torch-singer daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, Marlowe keeps stumbling across dead bodies of people related to the case, which arouses the attention of the local cops. Marlowe's attention to detail sets him apart from average P.I.s because the clues are there for the reader to solve the mystery themselves if they're motivated to do a bit of homework.
Once again, the dialogue is tight, the characters are three-dimensional, and Chandler's prose is first-rate. I understand he was also a poet of some note. That shines through in numerous elegant descriptions, spot-on metaphors, and lines full of dry wit and ironic humor.
Every mystery writer owes it to herself/himself to read Chandler with a studious eye. Taking notes of all the great lines you'd like to hijack for your own work is a good idea, too. :-)