The Little Sister (1949)
Author: Raymond Chandler
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Synopsis:
A girl from Kansas hires Marlowe to find her brother, entangling him in a plot involving Hollywood, the mob, blackmail and murder.
Impressions:
It's nothing new for Philip Marlowe to be a bitter cynic, but he seems to be having an especially bad time this outing, and that's largely because this story was born of Chandler's experiences working in Hollywood. Characters are especially two-faced and no one can be trusted, to the point where some of the worst sort look better because there's less pretention to them. The eponymous little sister is interesting, as you know something's off with her from the start, and her true character coming out over the course of the novel is one of the highlights. I also rather enjoyed the character of Dolores Gonzales and how she was woven into the plot. This may not be my favorite entry in the series, but it's a good read and most fans should be more than satisfied. Give it a read.
Read It