Marlowe Challenge #3: The High Window

[Jordan]

Here is the book discussion thread for The High Window, book number three in the Philip Marlowe series/challenge read.

Discuss away!

[Jordan]

I just finished this one and I admit, so far, it’s not one of my favorites. No particular reason though, other than the case just didn’t grab my attention.

I do have to say, one passage stuck with me. I think when I started this series, or long before it, my thoughts about it were colored by what I’d read of other PIs. I thought Marlowe would be the type of guy to be constantly drunk and/or doing whatever it took to solve a case, even if that meant going against the law. Boy was I wrong. And I’m so glad I was. Now I see why so many people like him!

This one passage is when he’s talking to the woman who’d hired him. She doesn’t want the police involved even though they already are, on account of the bodies piling up. But Marlowe insists he can’t go against the law for anything, he eventually has to tell the cops what he knows. He says something like “they don’t have to like me, but they do have to trust me to work a case with me”, and that just hit home for me what an honest guy he is. There were similar passages in at least one other book so far. I’m just glad it’s being reinforced here. :-)