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dantastic's review against another edition
3.0
A rich man hires Phillip Marlowe to find his wife. The trail leads to a resort town and another dead woman. Where is Crystal Kingsley? And who killed Muriel Chess? And what did Chris Lavery or Dr. Almore have to do with it?
The Lady in the Lake is a tale of lies, double crosses, cheating woman, murder, and a shop-soiled Galahad named Phillip Marlowe caught in the middle of it. Chander and Marlowe set the standards for slick-talking detectives for generations to come and Marlowe is in fine form in this outing, following the serpentine twists of the plot as best he can. Chandler's similes are in fine form, as is Marlowe's banter.
Since Raymond Chandler is my favorite of the noir pioneers, I feel guilty for saying this but this thing is so convoluted I stopped caring about the plot about a third of the way in and just stuck around for the Scotch-smooth prose. Seriously, this has to be the most convoluted plot from the master of overly convoluted plots. I had an idea of the connection between the two women but it took forever for everything to come together. Marlowe couldn't be blamed for not cracking the case early on since it read like Raymond Chandler was making it up as he went in between weekend-long benders.
To sum it up, the prose is up to par but the plot is a meandering mess. It's barely a 3 and my least favorite Chandler book I've read so far.
The Lady in the Lake is a tale of lies, double crosses, cheating woman, murder, and a shop-soiled Galahad named Phillip Marlowe caught in the middle of it. Chander and Marlowe set the standards for slick-talking detectives for generations to come and Marlowe is in fine form in this outing, following the serpentine twists of the plot as best he can. Chandler's similes are in fine form, as is Marlowe's banter.
Since Raymond Chandler is my favorite of the noir pioneers, I feel guilty for saying this but this thing is so convoluted I stopped caring about the plot about a third of the way in and just stuck around for the Scotch-smooth prose. Seriously, this has to be the most convoluted plot from the master of overly convoluted plots. I had an idea of the connection between the two women but it took forever for everything to come together. Marlowe couldn't be blamed for not cracking the case early on since it read like Raymond Chandler was making it up as he went in between weekend-long benders.
To sum it up, the prose is up to par but the plot is a meandering mess. It's barely a 3 and my least favorite Chandler book I've read so far.
lgpiper's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this quite well. Getting into it was a bit difficult because I was still having issues with the unsatisfactory ending of Blonde Faith. But, once that was behind me, I got into the book. The final resolution was a bit convoluted, but not too bad.
Basically, Philip Marlowe is asked to help a rich guy find his missing wife. She'd been gone for a month before he got suspicious that something might be amiss, but then he did and brought Marlowe into the picture. Marlowe started up with a lake-side cabin where the spouse was want to hide out. In poking around, they discovered a body in the lake, presumed to be that of the caretaker's wife, who had gone missing at the same time. Well, the bodies of gigolos and hoods pile up, there are corrupt cops, there is a doctor who makes his living making evening house calls, delivering dope to his clients, etc. All the fine stuff of noire fiction. A great read.
Basically, Philip Marlowe is asked to help a rich guy find his missing wife. She'd been gone for a month before he got suspicious that something might be amiss, but then he did and brought Marlowe into the picture. Marlowe started up with a lake-side cabin where the spouse was want to hide out. In poking around, they discovered a body in the lake, presumed to be that of the caretaker's wife, who had gone missing at the same time. Well, the bodies of gigolos and hoods pile up, there are corrupt cops, there is a doctor who makes his living making evening house calls, delivering dope to his clients, etc. All the fine stuff of noire fiction. A great read.
horthhill's review against another edition
5.0
"The Lady in the Lake" by Raymond Chandler is a noir mystery set in Los Angeles of the early 1940s. The United States is at war: that figures into the convoluted plot and provides the stuff of a gruesome ending. Philip Marlowe is a private detective. He exists just on this side of the law. Marlowe seems to spend as much time avoiding the law as he does the machinations of mysterious criminals. From a mountain resort to Hollywood itself, Marlowe has to unravel a mystery where all the characters seem to change sides halfway through. And, when Marlowe sorts them all out and provides the solution, it is both satisfying and not: convoluted and darker than expected.
cadenceann's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe a teensy bit long with an ending that was sort of a letdown but I liked it all the same
abrittlebee's review against another edition
3.0
One of the few detective novels I liked. I expected to hate this book when it was assigned but I was pleasantly surprised. Though the ending is predictable
tazzle_dazzle's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this - even though i thought i knew who the killer was early on i was still kept guessing to the end.
I don't think i've read a detective novel since i devoured the Trixie Beldon series as kid, and suddenly i remember why i loved those books so much. Keen to read more Raymond Chandler now.
I don't think i've read a detective novel since i devoured the Trixie Beldon series as kid, and suddenly i remember why i loved those books so much. Keen to read more Raymond Chandler now.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
I love listening to old radio shows and this audio book was presented in this style. Sound effects and all to let you use your imagination. It's a steady, gritty, noir detective tale of missing wives and Philip Marlowe hired to figure out what happened. Definite recommend.
mikefloydau's review against another edition
3.0
Don't think this is Chandler's best but with reading nonetheless
quercus707's review against another edition
4.0
Chandlers' best straight-up mystery so far. This one is less in love with itself stylistically, and more focused on the plot, which actually made sense.
nickdablin's review against another edition
4.0
Possibly my favourite of Chandler's yet. A great, multi-layered mystery featuring missing wives, crooked cops and plenty of murders. The ultimate plot twist was a little predictable I think, but the details and nuances keep the mystery interesting. As always, Chandler's descriptive prose is exquisite - Marlowe's narration is constantly witty and scathing, and Chandler can tell you more in a brief snippet of description than other writers manage in a paragraph. I particularly enjoyed a waiter "with a face like a gnawed bone". I also think it's aged a bit better than some of his others I've read, with fewer distracting instances of casual racism.