Books Like...
'Poodle Springs' by Raymond Chandler and Robert B. Parker is a posthumous collaboration where Parker completes Chandler's unfinished work. The story follows iconic detective Philip Marlowe as he navigates a new chapter in his life, newly married to Linda, an heiress from Poodle Springs. Marlowe finds himself entangled in a complex plot involving two murders, showcasing Chandler's signature hard-boiled detective style. The novel explores themes of wealth, class divide, and the complexities of relationships, all set against the backdrop of a thinly veiled Palm Springs in the late 1950s.
If you liked Poodle Springs, here are the top 2 books to read next:
(We also have 100 recommendations for the series: Philip Marlowe)
- #1
'The Moving Target' by Ross Macdonald introduces readers to private investigator Lew Archer, who is hired to find a missing millionaire, Ralph Sampson. As Archer tracks Sampson through post-war Southern California, the case evolves from a potential divorce situation to a true kidnapping, revealing overlapping love triangles and dark family dynamics. The writing style is reminiscent of classic hardboiled detective novels, with vivid descriptions of characters and settings, complex dialogue, and a plot filled with twists and turns.
The scrub oak gave place to ordered palms and Monterey cypress hedges. I caught glimpses of lawns effervescent with sprinklers, deep white porches, roofs of red tile and green copper. A Rolls with a d... - #2
The Maltese Falcon is a classic noir novel set in San Francisco, revolving around private detective Sam Spade who takes on a case involving a valuable black statuette of a bird. As the mystery unfolds, Spade navigates through a web of lies and deceit while dealing with dangerous adversaries and mysterious motives. The writing style is described as gritty, fast-paced, and filled with witty dialogue, creating a world where characters like Spade and the femme fatale Brigid O'Shaughnessy come to life in a story that explores themes of obsession, loyalty, and justice.
Samuel Spade’s jaw was long and bony, his chin a jutting v under the more flexible v of his mouth. His nostrils curved back to make another, smaller, v. His yellow-grey eyes were horizontal. The v mot...