KILLER IN THE RAIN and Other Stories

Clichéd, politically incorrect (for the 2000s), and absolutely fun--these describe Raymond Chandler stories from the 1930s and 1940s and Elliott Gould's masterful performance of them. Chandler, the creator of Philip Marlowe, wrote traditional, fast paced, hard-boiled mysteries, the type in which, as in KILLER IN THE RAIN, characters are called "colored" or "Jewess." These terms, now offensive, aren't--in the context of these classics. Gould's voice also fits right in. He seems to relish the banter among the characters, taking special joy whenever the protagonist (especially Marlowe) gains the upper hand or solves the case. If there's a downside, it's that these stories are abridged; regardless, these selections still show Chandler and Gould at their best. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]