The Big Sleep

By Raymond Chandler

The Big Sleep introduces one of the finest crime detectives in literary history, Philip Marlowe. Called to the home of dying millionaire General Sternwood to investigate the blackmailing of Sternwood’s daughter, Marlowe quickly finds there is more to the story than just blackmail.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jan 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781443413916

Raymond Chandler

Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) was best known as the creator of fictional detective Philip Marlowe. One of the most influential American authors of crime novels and stories, his books were considered classics of the genre, and many of them were turned into enormously popular Hollywood films, including The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye.

Reviews for The Big Sleep

[ericcostello-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The classic, deeply influential work of noir fiction which introduced Philip Marlowe, private eye. Quite famously, not all of the ends are tied up (who did kill the chauffeur?), but in Chandler's case, he vastly preferred to set a tone, and he does so highly successfully. One could read it for its landmark status, but it can be read for simple pure enjoyment, especially the large number of classic lines.

[anitatally · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fun, corny.

[dgrachel · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. The story dragged, I detested most of the characters, and overall, I just couldn't wait for it to be over. That being said, I haven't been feeling great, so maybe part of the problem is me. Maybe at another time, I'd have loved the novel. I'm not ready to write Chandler off completely. I just need to wait a bit before I try another Marlowe.

[schufman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this book as much as I expected, as a fan of the private detective novels. Requires a bit more keeping-track-of-events than your average mystery novel does nowadays, but keeping up with all the small twists is a part of the fun.

[dh1writer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Philip Marlowe. Rich dying client. Two eccentric daughters. Porn. Gangsters. Plot twists. Bet you can't guess who did it. Chandler's first that defined a genre. Doesn't get any better.

[thoughtsofjoylibrary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Private investigator, Philip Marlowe of Los Angeles is hired by an elderly millionaire to find out who and why he is being blackmailed.Chandler's style is revered by many, but I found it to be a bit too wordy. I'm also discovering that I don't necessarily care for the old time detective novels with their smoky rooms, long overcoats and hats, so unfortunately it started out behind from the get-go. As for the plot, it did contain much more than blackmail, but it didn't carry much pizazz or intrigue for me; however, it held enough of my interest to continue. Well, at the very least, I can cross Raymond Chandler off my TBR List and I love doing that.Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy

[finxy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review from BadelyngeThe Big Sleep is Raymond Chandler's debut novel published in 1939 and it's a corker featuring Chandler's now iconic hard boiled private detective Philip Marlowe. It's filled with memorable characters; tough guys, wise guys, grifters and chancers all playing their roles in the tangled web of a plot. Although complex I really like how much of the detail in the book actually turns out to be connected with everything else. There is no hiding the answers behind piles of irrelevant and unconnected red herrings, which seems to be the the current template for quite a lot of contemporary paint by numbers crime fiction. As more details are discovered and things start to move, stirred by the relentless Marlowe, the picture starts to come together until all eventually becomes clear. Yes I admit, I have seen both film versions many times, though mostly I kept getting flashbacks from the more lurid and inferior 1970s Robert Mitchum version rather than the superior 1940s Humphrey Bogart version. Probably because that version, although set in the wrong country, had more license to depict the more brash and striking elements from the book. And I still haven't mentioned Chandler's colourful and witty similes which are rightly famous and endlessly imitated. Chandler's writing is so much better than the pulp genre it inhabits; there is real heart and emotion here if you persevere to the last page. So if you are stuck for a new detective novel why not give one of the old masters a try. Worked for me.

[amandrake_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Raymond Chandler was probably responsible for half the detective cliches of the era. Dashiell Hammett was responsible for the other half.Seriously - Chandler was an original with a fantastic knack for setting the "feel" of a scene. His style is easy to read but doesn't feel stripped down like Hemingway. Yes, reading it now, it does seem dated (his treatment of women, for example... and that everyone smokes) but it's not only a great read but an important mark for fiction of the 20th century.

[electrascaife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really wanted to love this one, because I've always thought that I'd love Chandler's books. But, well, I couldn't get past the misogyny and the homophobic language. There's enough of that business as it is right now; I don't need it in the books I read, too.

[margaretfield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Raymond Chandler is a great writer. The first Philip Marlowe book. Elderly man hires Marlowe to find his son-in-law and get his wild daughter out of trouble.

[thedivineoomba · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had troubles reading this book. I found the private detective, Marlowe, to be a very stereotypical 1940's book. From the way Marlowe treats the two women involved in the blackmail scheme, to the way he describes the pornography producer as a "queen". I also found the way the police department was willing to ignore certain crimes... Of course, this is a book written in 1939, and Marlowe is just a reflection of American values at that time, but it is still makes for a difficult read.The mystery itself is all over the place, with most everyone a stereotype. Marlowe discovers quite a bit in only 24 hours, which seems a bit extreme. There's a lot of weird stuff that is just there for misdirection. I'm glad I read it, but I found it difficult going at times.

[angelajmaher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really like the style of this book. Some of the descriptive phrases are pure genius. It's a book you can enjoy for the style as much as the subject.

[ma_washigeri · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Just great. The only thing that could have made it better would have been not knowing the story..... but even with the film and so many (excellent) BBC radio 4 readings and plays it's still a great plot! And the vivid language is fresh as ever.

[leslie398 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

March 2018 reread via audiobook narrated by Elliot Gould:Gould's narration was good but there were a few times when it was difficult to tell who was speaking since the voices he used were basically all the same.I had forgotten how different the ending was from the movie - much more plausible!

[bauernfeind · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A supposed "must read" on a few lists, I did not find it to be be that interesting. An easy read, just not what I'd think would rate a "must read" in anyone's book unless you are a Raymond Chandler fan

[bruce_mcnair_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is one of the classics of American crime fiction. Philip Marlowe is a classic model of the hard-boiled private detective. In my opinion, his offhand manner and dry humour endear him to readers while at the same time he gets under the skin of criminals and cops alike. This story is broken into two cases: investigation of a blackmail that ends in murder, and a missing person case. Both cases are the result of Marlowe being hired by a rich man who has young daughters he is concerned about. I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

[red4yardbird · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great lines!

[maneekuhi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

SHE WAS DRUNKER THAN A LEGION CONVENTIONIf Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep" were released today, word unchanged, except for title and author, I have no doubt it would score no more than two stars by its handful of readers. It's as jammed filled with similes, metaphors, and other one-liners as an aging tap dancer's bustier is with.... My favorite all-time is "Dead men are heavier than broken hearts". That was on page 42 of my edition; I was already starting to get tired of them, and still had almost 200 pages to go. It's hard-boiled, it's noir, but worst of all, it's politically incorrect. As if the book wasn't hard enough to get through, I tortured myself worse than wearing tight shoes at a "dance till you drop" contest by watching the movie concurrently. I had seen the opening Bogie-with-General-Sternwood-sweating-in-the-orchid-nursery scene at least a dozen times.....and finally made it to the end. An ending, by the way, very different for that dame Bacall compared to the book's."The Big Sleep" - a metaphor for death in case you wondered - was released in 1939 and quickly became one of the most notable classics of mystery novels. This was a time when Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and writers of locked room mysteries had been defining the genre for decades. Chandler, Dasheill Hammett, James Cain, and Mike Hammett all contributed to the exponential growth of crime fiction and paperback novels. Thanks for that guys, or else we'd all still be reading nothing but cosies for our crime fix.But I was disappointed to discover that "The Big Sleep" has not aged well. The entire focus is on the crime at hand, there is no sub-plot, only a very convoluted and detailed plot about......I'm not sure. There is virtually no description of Los Angeles of the day, rather you get the sounds of rain dripping into the gutter while the gumshoe is getting soaked peering in through a window. We learn precious little of Marlowe's background even of his physical description - he's tall, a problem given Bogart's casting. There's no forensics, the police are involved only as a vehicle to repeat some dialog of who was where when. Very out of sync with today's crime fiction. No big twists, no surprises. So, it's interesting from a historical perspective, and I'm glad I read this one but it will be a long time before I read another 1940's noir.

[madepercy-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's difficult not to like Raymond Chandler's work. This is only the second of his novels I have read, but this time, because I doubted Hollywood would replicate the pornography ring in detail, and it was a wet and windy Saturday night, I watched the 1946 film version of The Big Sleep starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. It was sufficiently different to the book not to affect my enjoyment of the story, and, I must say, it was good to watch a crisp black and white movie on my television. I watched it on Youtube, but the rented, rather than the pirated, version of the film. I am now off in search of African Queen and other Bogart classics and will follow these up with the novels, too. But The Big Sleep was an excellent read. I am struck by the complexity of Philip Marlowe's character that eludes the Bogart version. Because there is no real love story, as in the Hollywood version, there is much more to explore, and no need to find excuses for Lauren Bacall to appear so frequently. Marlowe reminds me of the Protestant ethic. It is OK to be a booze-hound and to smoke yourself to death, as long as you don't do reefers and you are admirable in your smuttiness towards the upper classes. Chandler's prose is brilliant, and it would appear, for now at least, that this novel is considered his best because it is his best. Not so many wise-cracks and heavy similes as Farewell, My Lovely, but, all the same, a cracker of a story, a likeable character, and a paddock full of fertilizer for the imagination in a mere 250 pages, and a one-page conclusion that brings multiple stories to a neat and satisfying finish.

[cataluna-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am slow on the uptake of some classics and this one is no different. And I'm glad to say it's another off the 1001 list! I am still making my way through and according to the app, I should finish them all before I die! On to the book. I liked Chandler's writing style, it flows nicely and it was a quick enjoyable read. I love Robert Crais' Elvis Cole series and it is easy to see the influence that Chandler (as I'm sure Hammett has too), has had on modern crime writers. Originally published in 1939, The Big Sleep holds up well as a novel, I didn't feel like I was reading something completely alien, although it's possible not quite as bloody and violent as we are used to today. I will say, the racism, sexism and homophobia pulled me out of the story (but I think that goes to show that Chandler's work is still accessible to modern crime readers). I had a couple of pauses, 'Did he just say fag?' Ah yep, ok. And yes, let's slap the vulnerable girl, that'll fix things *eye roll* Reading something from this era, I need to remind myself that although it's not right, this was common place thinking. It may be frustrating for some to read, but I don't agree with removing or editing works that have offensive material, (Huck Finn and Magic Faraway Tree are two examples). I don't think it does anyone any good to pretend that racism, homophobia, sexism didn't exist, it's important to read stories how the author intended and move on from there & hopefully learn from it, especially when we ask children to study these texts in school.Overall, I enjoyed The Big Sleep. Like I said, it was an easy Sunday afternoon read, I laughed, I groaned and I read it in one sitting. One of things I've been asking myself each time I finish a book from the list - Was this book worthy of a spot on the list and would I read another of his books? And it's yes to both.

[steve12553 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful mystery. Togh as nails Phillip Marlowe is called to see General Sternwood to protect his daughter from a blackmailer and 4 bodies later he's buried in intrigue and still not sure what his case is. A bit racier than the Bogart-Bacall film with a twist ending makes you see why it's held up for so many years.

[filoma-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this story in the audio format. The story was interesting and makes me think of 'noir' classic detective movies. Ray Porter, as the narrator, does a fantastic job. I found that he really brought Marlowe to life. I also thought that he did an ok job with the female voices. This is the type of story, with this narrator, that I could listen to a number of times. It is now certainly on my wish list to buy, since I've only listened to the library copy to date.

[dinadansfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first novel with Philip Marlowe by Chandler. A deep, dark tale of double-cross piled on Double cross. Even Chandler lost track, and one of the murders ends up unsolved. Oh there is blackmail fuelled by nude photographs.Little known fact ignored by Hollywood, Marlowe's English! Published in 1939.

[hexum2600 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great book, from one of the great masters of noir mysteries. Philip Marlowe is the quintessential noir hero, a man with a good idea of who he is in a world that seems to have no meaning. A short read, but well worth the time, even for those with no interest in mysteries.

[branimal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

General Sternwood, a millionaire in 1930s Los Angeles, hires Phillip Marlowe to investigate a man who claims to have controversial photos of his socialite daughter. However, as Marlowe's investigation progresses, he finds himself in for a little more than he bargained for (excuse the cliche).

In the last few years, I have developed quite an appetite for detective fiction. However, in the past few months, I've wanted to dig deep into the hard-boiled and noir sub-genre. What better place to start than with one that is considered one of the founding fathers of all modern detective fiction.

Chandler not only presents us with a great mystery but also his much revered original style. After finishing this book, I can see why his prose was so influential on a generation of writers. So many memorable quotes are contained within this book! I've selected just a few of my favorites but there are more than I can possibly remember.

It must have been something to be an avid reader when this hit shelves back in 1939. To read this and take in something special that rarely existed must have been refreshing to say the least. With so many signature characters and series' that clutter bookstores nowadays, it's hard to imagine seeing something like this for the first time.

I've certainly become a Marlowe fan after just this one outing and I can't wait to get my hands on subsequent novels.

[qaphsiel-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. Great descriptions, juicy similes. This is really the book that defined the hard-boiled detective fiction genre as we know it.

[stuart10er_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really a very good book. Totally classic. Although there were so many tropes that came out of these books that I had to chuckle in place since there places that seemed really trite but were really just the first appearance of this things. A rich old man hires Marlowe, a private detective, to deal with an issue of his daughter being blackmailed over a gambling debt. That problem is pretty easily solved but it leads to multiple dead bodies and a mystery that Marlowe can't let alone.

[smik_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

t is probably highly improper for a crime fiction addict to admit in public that she has never read any Raymond Chandler, or at least I don't think I have. Of course, I have heard of Philip Marlowe, the P.I. that Chandler created, the model for many P.Is for future generations of writers.And so why hadn't I read THE BIG SLEEP before now? Probably because American noir has not really been my genre of choice, because I mainly read British, Australian, and translated crime fiction.I can see how the gun-packing Marlowe is very different sleuths created in Europe at approximately the same time. Poirot, Marple, and Maigret are altogether more cerebral with blood and guns rarely sighted. Many modern American sleuths are really just more modern versions of Marlowe, solving more modern murders.To be quite honest though, I didn't find THE BIG SLEEP as captivating as I had expected. It felt a bit dated, although Chandler is a good model for characterisation and descriptive prose. It probably still should be regarded as essential reading for crime fiction students, especially those who are interested in the history of the genre. But then again I have managed pretty well without, haven't I?

[sageness · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Have just reread this due to seeing the movie a few days ago. I remembered the movie being significantly different from the novel, even though Chandler wrote both, and I wanted to see how. Anyway, the multiple double-crosses in the book make much more sense than in the film, but the final whodunnit in the movie makes a bit more sense the final whodunnit in the book. I mean, talk about an absence of foreshadowing there. But then, it was Chandler's first novel and standards for detective fiction have never been all that stringent.

Anyway, still a satisfying read. I still love Philip Marlowe, and I'm happy to have spent the time rereading the novel for the first time in years.

I suspect everyone knows this, but just in case: the 'glbt interest' is of the (multiply) negative variety, as was usual in movies and lit of the 1930s-1950s.

[stige_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

5 for style, 1-2 for plot. Love the voice of the character, utterly dull plot.