The High Window by Raymond Chandler

This is the third and last novel in this compilation by Everymans Library. After three novels of his I have to say that Chandler is my favourite writer out of the three crime noir authors published by Everyman’s: Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain and Raymond Chandler. 

The High Window is gripping. Not only with an excellent plot and an astonishing protagonist, but with a great atmosphere (noir is all about atmosphere). I loved the descriptions of people and places. The kind of descriptions you never get tired of. That submerge you into the detective’s world and make you think you are in the 1940’s. So vivid are the descriptions that I could smell the tobacco the characters smoke. Great characters also. After Marlowe, the protagonist, I liked Mrs Murdock, an old woman, rich and annoying manipulator. The kind of person you’d want to strangle but someone who you also kind of like because of how well she is written.

Farewell, my lovely by Raymond Chandler

Classic hardboiled novel. Written in 1940, it treats non-white characters in an appalling way by today standard's. Chandler's dehumanisation of non-whites, I guess, is part of his depiction of corruption in police and the same private detective, who is the protagonist. A well written and engaging novel, nevertheless.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

A crime noir novel. First in the Philip Marlowe series. It was a great read, well written, easy to read. Marlowe is a fantastic character. He's "awfully tall" 🙂. Marlowe is a private eye. The book starts when he takes a case with an old rich man who is being blackmailed. In less than a day the detective gets involved in a crime. But that is not the worst. There are three women, kind of mysterious, in need of protection, ... perhaps not, they might be more dangerous than the bad guys. Classic femme fatale! Great story, with guns and cigarettes!