| Raymond Chandler created the private eye character of Phillip Marlowe. Before his death, he had written a few chapters of this book, once again starring Phillip Marlowe. Robert B. Parker, known for his Spencer novels, picked up the story and played out what Chandler started. Marlowe has gotten married to a rich girl, but still has to be who he is, a detective. He and his wife move to Poodle Springs, an L.A. suburb. Soon after his arrival, he is hired to chase down a blackmailer. Soon after he starts detecting, a girl ends up dead in his client's office. The client claims he didn't do it and Marlowe believes him. He starts to follow other leads and soon the man that was blackmailing his client turns up dead too. Suspicion is thrown back on his client. And he can't find his client either. Who really did it? Is his client innocent as he claims? Or is it someone from his client's past life when he photographed Hollywood starlets? | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - depressing/sad How difficult to spot villain? - Moderately Challenging Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 80% Murder of certain profession? Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot? descript. of violence and chases - 40 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Crime Thriller Yes Crime plotlets: Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes General Crime (including known murderer) Yes Who's the criminal enemy here? - crazed lover/family member Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Eccentric: Yes Motive of antagonist - insanity The antagonists are: - big business leader(s) How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting United States Yes The US: - California City? Yes City: - Los Angeles Misc setting - fancy mansion Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Explicit sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |
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