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47 pages 1 hour read

Raymond Chandler

Farewell, My Lovely

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1940

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler is a noir crime drama where private investigator Philip Marlowe is drawn into a complex murder investigation involving ex-con Moose Malloy and the search for his old flame, Velma. The novel is a linear narrative told from Marlowe's critical, witty perspective, with detailed descriptions and a plot structured like a puzzle unraveling a larger mystery. The book includes topics such as violence, murder, and drug use.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely is lauded for its rich, evocative prose and complex, engaging plot, making it a quintessential hard-boiled detective novel. Critics appreciate Chandler's sharp dialogue and atmospheric settings, though some note the convoluted narrative and dated social attitudes as drawbacks. The book remains a significant work in the genre.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Farewell, My Lovely?

A reader who would enjoy Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler is likely a fan of classic hardboiled detective fiction, rich in sharp dialogue and gritty noir atmosphere. Comparable interests include The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett and The Big Sleep by Chandler himself. This reader appreciates complex plots and morally ambiguous characters.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years