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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Great book. I read most of his work in a few short years, just as I was growing up as a reader. This is engaging, sharp, witty and clever. I wanted to think that I was also. I loved it.
I have a love affair with Philip Marlowe; I just cannot help it.
While genre-writers sometimes trend on having books that all seem similar, if and when this happens with Chandler's mystery noir star it happens in a way that I don't care about. Each of his books are dark, smokey, gritty, hot, sweaty, and rough around the edges. "The Lady in the Lake" is no exception.
Perhaps part of my pure joy in reading this book is that I caught the set-up of the bad guy before Chandler spelled it out for you (something that happens for me only very rarely).
While genre-writers sometimes trend on having books that all seem similar, if and when this happens with Chandler's mystery noir star it happens in a way that I don't care about. Each of his books are dark, smokey, gritty, hot, sweaty, and rough around the edges. "The Lady in the Lake" is no exception.
Perhaps part of my pure joy in reading this book is that I caught the set-up of the bad guy before Chandler spelled it out for you (something that happens for me only very rarely).
Like his previous novels, “The Lady in the Lake” is constructed from a trio of previously published stories, stitched together by Phillip Marlowe’s hard-bitten but romantic observations of society, scenery, and sexual power. Unlike the others, though, the stitching shows here, and these disparate murders don’t really “fit” into a compelling narrative. While there is much here to admire in energy and style, the overall effect is below Chandler’s standard, if still better than the average hard-boiled tale.
One big twist was easy to see early-on, but still good character work and plenty of surprises woven into this one. I give this one a big thumbs up.
Raymond Chandler's classic noir detective stories have a distinctive style now called "hard-boiled." The prose is crisp, even terse. The characters are well-drawn types, yet not stereotypes. The hero is world-weary, smart, street-savvy and sharp of wit; femme fatales, crooked cops, and sad bystanders abound.
In The Lady in the Lake, private investigator Philip Marlowe is asked to trace a missing wife. The trail leads to a lake cottage in the mountains north of Los Angeles. While talking to the caretaker on the lake pier, they see something in the water. It's a dead woman -- but not the one Marlowe is seeking.
As Marlowe traces his quarry back to L.A., he encounters a gigolo who knows the missing woman, but claims not have seen her in a month; a drug-dealing doctor anxious to avoid scandal over his late wife's suicide; and a local police force with a bad habit of setting up nosy p.i.'s. As Marlowe keeps digging, he begins to see signs that the two women are connected, and that the whole sorry mess leads back to one person.
I love Chandler, and Marlowe. If you haven't read any of these classic noir novels, don't wait -- grab a copy of any of these fine examples of mid-century detective fiction.
In The Lady in the Lake, private investigator Philip Marlowe is asked to trace a missing wife. The trail leads to a lake cottage in the mountains north of Los Angeles. While talking to the caretaker on the lake pier, they see something in the water. It's a dead woman -- but not the one Marlowe is seeking.
As Marlowe traces his quarry back to L.A., he encounters a gigolo who knows the missing woman, but claims not have seen her in a month; a drug-dealing doctor anxious to avoid scandal over his late wife's suicide; and a local police force with a bad habit of setting up nosy p.i.'s. As Marlowe keeps digging, he begins to see signs that the two women are connected, and that the whole sorry mess leads back to one person.
I love Chandler, and Marlowe. If you haven't read any of these classic noir novels, don't wait -- grab a copy of any of these fine examples of mid-century detective fiction.
I’m tempted to give this 5 stars- look, it’s a fantastic little detective novel. If that’s your thing, if you don’t mind convoluted plots- 100% read it. The writing is beautiful and the characters feel straight outta noir. The plot confused me a bit but the basic explanation felt kinda obvious- so I could guess most of the big reveal early, and the rest was just the convoluted details. Which is why I ultimately go 4 stars instead of 5- it’s a really fun read, it’s just not the best detective plot I’ve come across. But man, after working through some kinda subpar thrillers, a slow burn like this is wonderful. Put on some Coltrane, pour yourself a stiff one, and enjoy.
Not the best in the series, but still a pretty good Marlowe.
Marlowe’s wry humor will never cease to make me chuckle… I did figure out parts of this one, but love his method of deduction
Meu primeiro Raymond Chandler. Meu primeiro Philip Marlowe.
Acho que o que mais impressiona na escrita do Chandler é que ele deixa o leitor investigar e chegar às mesmas conclusões do Marlowe, é uma jornada interessantíssima e cujo twist não importa porque o leitor seguiu as mesmas pistas e já está ciente de antemão. Isso é tratar o leitor com respeito e não como fosse um policial burro, né, hahaha. Adorei.
O engraçado é que apesar do meu Marlowe favorito de cinema ser o Elliott Gould, o tempo todo ao ler o livro visualizei o Bogart, mesmo sendo o Robert Montgomery quem estava na adaptação desse livro.
Acho que o que mais impressiona na escrita do Chandler é que ele deixa o leitor investigar e chegar às mesmas conclusões do Marlowe, é uma jornada interessantíssima e cujo twist não importa porque o leitor seguiu as mesmas pistas e já está ciente de antemão. Isso é tratar o leitor com respeito e não como fosse um policial burro, né, hahaha. Adorei.
O engraçado é que apesar do meu Marlowe favorito de cinema ser o Elliott Gould, o tempo todo ao ler o livro visualizei o Bogart, mesmo sendo o Robert Montgomery quem estava na adaptação desse livro.