When I mentioned The Long Goodbye to my esteemed colleague and former Cherry-Stepper JZ, he suggested that Elliot Chaze had written another noir masterpiece I should also check out. The suggestion did not disappoint. Everything in this novel -- from the language, to the confessional narrative style, to the way the plot so satisfyingly twists up your expectations -- comes together to carry you smoothly to the brink of inevitable doom that pervades the story from the start. While Chaze's writing is often simpler, and his plot less complex, this one is nevertheless on par with the Chandler novels I've read so far. More's the pity that there has yet to be a good film adaptation.
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