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megmcardle's review against another edition
5.0
There is nothing like Chandler. Like The Big Sleep, this is a complicated story, and if you spend too much time trying to unravel the plot in advance, you are missing the point. Luckily the terrific pacing and language will pull you happily along. This is noir, after all, so the women are usually dangerous tramps, but that is the genre. Read it for the dialogue, the description, and the amazing character of Philip Marlowe.
paulataua's review against another edition
3.0
Marlow is back and drawn into the nightmare world of rich alcoholics, adulterers, and of course, of murder. A solid Philip Marlow story full of twists and ever increasing complications that kept me there right to the end. I enjoyed the experience even I felt it was a tad too long and the Marlow of the books never seems as powerful a character as the one that I got from the movies in my youth.
sam_is_reading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
torturedfiber's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
frenata's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vivianw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
inwit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ashleyjean6's review against another edition
3.0
The whole time I read this book I felt like something was missing, that I had missed something. The writing was choppy, the story missing context. (At least for someone reading this almost 70 years after it's publication and not familiar with the author.) The characters never developed for me; I didn't feel I knew them or really cared about their fate. The twists in the plot were interesting. The descriptive writing I liked. I did keep reading to give the author a whole book to win me over and because I kinda wanted to figure everything out... But overall, despite liking older mystery books, I wasn't a fan.