The High Window

This private dick novel has the lamest premise in the history of private dick novels (excluding all books by agatha christie), but it is my favorite Chandler book. Coin thieves... corrupt cops... witty banter... And a sweaty bourbon swilling, camel smoking Marlowe is on the case. Sweet.

Great hard-boiled detective story, with a surprising end.

Weakest Marlowe novel.

"I'm not tough, I'm virile."- Philip Marlowe. A quick and satisfying read. Marlowe is more kind in the books then in the movies. He seems to care more and isn't as much of a tough guy. He still cracks wise like no other. He's no Sherlock Holmes. He peeps through curtains and skirts the law, but he never does anything to anybody who doesn't have it coming. The...more

"I'm not tough, I'm virile."- Philip Marlowe. A quick and satisfying read. Marlowe is more kind in the books then in the movies. He seems to care more and isn't as much of a tough guy. He still cracks wise like no other. He's no Sherlock Holmes. He peeps through curtains and skirts the law, but he never does anything to anybody who doesn't have it coming. The McGuffin in the book is a rare early American coin called the Brasher Doubloon. Marlowe is hired to retrieve it and stumbles into a couple of murders in the process. If you long for the days when men wore hats, blondes were tall, and everyone had a gun, check this one out.   hide

Chandler's third Marlowe story isn't as strong as the previous two. There are some great murders, but overall, I wasn't as pleased as I was with The Big Sleep or Farewell, My Lovely. But even mediocre Marlow is better than James Patterson or any of the like.

I just finished this - I'd read all the other Chandler novels years ago and was delighted to find one I hadn't yet read. And, like all Chandler novels I loved this. It's hard for me to rank it against his other works because it's been a long time since I read them, but the dialog, characters and settings were magic for me.The plot kept me guessing, and I loved the whole atmosphere. I only wish...more

I just finished this - I'd read all the other Chandler novels years ago and was delighted to find one I hadn't yet read. And, like all Chandler novels I loved this. It's hard for me to rank it against his other works because it's been a long time since I read them, but the dialog, characters and settings were magic for me.The plot kept me guessing, and I loved the whole atmosphere. I only wish Chandler had written more!   hide

One of the lesser-known of Chandler's works, and the home of one of my favorite Marlowe lines ever: "Come inside, and you can be witty sitting down."

Went back to an old favorite. Found that shop-soiled Galahad line and couldn't help but grin hard.

This was not as good as the first two. Still ace though.