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A review by manwithanagenda
The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A strong book, bitter and sad and angry, but held up to the light of 'Farewell, My Loveley' and 'The Lady in the Lake', I had to make some deductions.
Orfamy Quest is missing her brother, a couple of movie stars have damning image problems coming in the mail, smooth gangsters run free, and rich corruption swirls around Marlowe in 'The Little Sister'. He's tired and bored with the ridiculous nonsense his clients bring into his life, he can see right through their lies, but doesn't have the heart to really grill them out of it anymore. Not until it's too late anyway. Picking up pieces and catching lucky breaks (not all with his person this time), he manages to stay above water and do, ultimately, what is best for his clients, whether they deserve it or not.
Marlowe isn't only concerned with the phonies of the movie industry, he also has some harsh things to say about those imbibers of tea - and they don't use a cup. That's right. I'm talking about muggle-smoking. It turns out that marihuana, after guns and dames in tight suits, is the real scourge of L.A. Thank goodness for end notes because sometimes I would have had no idea what Marlowe was giving people a hard time about. Nothing like learning some new postwar slang.
Chandler still does not disappoint. Marlowe is an honest guy in a shady game without much to show for his years of effort. His resignation here sets up the ennui of 'The Long Goodbye'.
Philip Marlowe
Next 'The Long Goodbye'
Previous: 'The Lady in the Lake'
Review of 'Later Novels and Other Writings'
Orfamy Quest is missing her brother, a couple of movie stars have damning image problems coming in the mail, smooth gangsters run free, and rich corruption swirls around Marlowe in 'The Little Sister'. He's tired and bored with the ridiculous nonsense his clients bring into his life, he can see right through their lies, but doesn't have the heart to really grill them out of it anymore. Not until it's too late anyway. Picking up pieces and catching lucky breaks (not all with his person this time), he manages to stay above water and do, ultimately, what is best for his clients, whether they deserve it or not.
Marlowe isn't only concerned with the phonies of the movie industry, he also has some harsh things to say about those imbibers of tea - and they don't use a cup. That's right. I'm talking about muggle-smoking. It turns out that marihuana, after guns and dames in tight suits, is the real scourge of L.A. Thank goodness for end notes because sometimes I would have had no idea what Marlowe was giving people a hard time about. Nothing like learning some new postwar slang.
Chandler still does not disappoint. Marlowe is an honest guy in a shady game without much to show for his years of effort. His resignation here sets up the ennui of 'The Long Goodbye'.
Philip Marlowe
Next 'The Long Goodbye'
Previous: 'The Lady in the Lake'
Review of 'Later Novels and Other Writings'