The second Marlowe novel gets off to a great start with the introduction of the memorable Moose Malloy, then him being hired by the blackmailer Marriott and picked up by Anne Riordan... who you think will probably be Velma, the lost love of Moose, until you meet Mrs Grayle.
There's some corrupt cops who knock out Marlowe and sent him to a lunatic asylum which is full on. There's lots of corupt cops but also the occasional good one, like Red, who helps Marlowe get on a gambling boat - they have a kind of bromance. I don't recall the gambling boat from any of the film adaptations which is a shame. It gets convoluted at the end and I had, as usual, trouble following it and remembering it. Some big action happens "off screen" eg the death of Velma.
I don't think it's as good as The Big Sleep and the racism is unfortunate. I wanted to meet Anne's father. But it's a very fine book.
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