THE LONG GOODBYE

A friend fleeing the authorities asks Philip Marlowe for help, making the detective an accessory in his wife's murder. When Marlowe receives word of the friend's death in Mexico, he begins looking into the murder and the family secrets surrounding it, unraveling a familiar noir tale of sex among the wealthy. Elliott Gould, who played Marlowe in the film version of the novel, successfully captures the essence of the hero, a mixture of toughness, intelligence, and loyalty. However, this abridgment seems too short and choppy, rushing the plot and losing much of Raymond Chandler's rich prose. Noir fans might prefer to wait for an unabridged version. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]