finished reading

A classic noir mystery that didn't age well: disparaging descriptions of every single woman and minority were tedious after a while.  However, the grit and lone wolf aspect of Private Detective Philip Marlowe were classic.  

The plot was hard to follow because of the narrative thread, with lots of minute details about things that weren't relevant to the story--I got bogged down. I've seen the 1980s television series with Powers Boothe and adored Marlowe and the genre.  But reading it just wasn't the same.

From the publisher:

When old man Sternwood, a dying millionaire, hires Philip Marlowe to expose the blackmailer of one of his troublesome daughters, Marlowe finds himself involved with more than simple extortion. Kidnapping, pornography, and seduction are just a few of the complications standing in the way of completing the task at hand. And just as Marlowe feels he’s getting ahold of the situation, he discovers the first body.