There are so many quotable lines in this book. It’s no wonder that Chandler’s writing helped set the template for an entire genre:

I was sitting on the side of my bed in my pyjamas, thinking about getting up, but not yet committed. I didn’t feel very well, but I didn’t feel as sick as I ought to, not as sick as I would feel if I had a salaried job. My head hurt and felt large and hot and my tongue was dry and had gravel on it and my throat was stiff and my jaw was not untender. But I had had worse mornings.

It’s still a product of its (racist, misogynistic) times, though. That crept up and surprised me a couple of times, and it’s the only thing that keeps this book from being timeless. I can see why many current authors (Gibson is the one that springs to mind) are frequently compared to Chandler.

Can’t wait to read more.