The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler ****

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler is the first Philip Marlowe, private detective, book. Marlowe is summoned by General Guy Sternwood to investigate bookseller Arthur Gwynn Geiger’s blackmail attempt. The blackmail note implicates his daughter Miss Carmen Sternwood, a wild young woman. The other daughter, Mrs. Vivian Regan, married to a bootlegger, is no less trouble. The more Marlowe investigates, the more complicated the case becomes, and the more dead-bodies that turn up.

 “Vivian is spoiled, exacting, smart, and quite ruthless. Carmen is a child who likes to pull wings off flies. Neither of them has any more moral sense than a cat.”

 The investigation opens with Vivian’s husband suddenly abandoning her for an old flame, and Carmen being blackmailed for posing nude. However, as the story unfolds more people get involved. The murders and motivations compound to include various money-making schemes and more personal concerns. In the end, love wins out over law or justice.

This book is a product of its time (1930s). Marlowe uses Jew and fag as derogatory labels. Virtually every scene includes smoking, and most include drinking. The production and sales of smut is a lucrative and heinous crime. Surprisingly, the few women, notably the two daughters, are strong and independent.

The book is full of clever dialogue:

“I been shaking two nickels together for a month, trying to get them to mate.”

“I’m nice to be nice to, soldier. I’m not nice not to be nice to.”

“Her eyelids were flicking rapidly, like moth wings.”

“Kissing is nice, but your father didn’t hire me to sleep with you.”

“Shake your business up and pour it. I haven’t got all day.”

…and dated vocabulary:

Electroliers: electrified chandeliers

Automatic elevators: elevators without attendants

Chirp: provide information

Muggs: men

If you are interested in a hardboiled detective, tough, fearless, and smart, Mr. Marlowe is perfect. This is a fast read, with ever-increasing twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion.

Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations.