The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler
The next Philip Marlowe novel, with the same sardonic voice and sprawling Los Angeles corruption. It follows the detective through a blackmail case tied to a wealthy family, with the same crisp dialogue you enjoyed.
11 books to read next
Books Like Farewell, My Lovely
If you loved Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
Farewell, My Lovely is a hard-boiled Los Angeles mystery narrated by private eye Philip Marlowe, who gets pulled into a chain of murders, stolen jewels and corrupt officials while looking for a missing man. Readers love its wry, similes-heavy narration, its vivid sense of seedy 1940s city life, and its brisk, character-driven plotting. The mood is melancholy and tough, with a dry humour that undercuts the violence. Fans often come for the voice as much as the puzzle.
More Marlowe-style noir
The Maltese Falcon
Dashiell Hammett
Hammett's classic of the hard-boiled genre shares Chandler's clipped prose and a detective who trusts no one. Its tangle of greed, lies and double-crosses suits readers drawn to Marlowe's cynical world.
The Glass Key
Dashiell Hammett
Another Hammett novel with a tough, watchful investigator caught in political corruption and murder. Its pared-down style and morally grey characters echo the corrupt city of Farewell, My Lovely.
Same corrupt city, same tone
L.A. Confidential
James Ellroy
A sprawling 1950s Los Angeles crime novel full of police corruption, celebrity scandal and violence. Its gritty, morally compromised view of the city will feel familiar to Chandler's readers.
The Long Goodbye
Raymond Chandler
Chandler's later Marlowe novel with a more reflective, melancholy tone. It deepens the character and the city, offering the same elegant narration in a quieter key.
DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS
Walter Mosley
A post-war Los Angeles mystery where a reluctant investigator is drawn into a missing-person case. Its vivid period detail and weary, wry narrator recall Marlowe's world.
Clever plots with a twist
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Agatha Christie
A classic puzzle mystery where the solution reshapes everything you thought you knew. It rewards close attention in the same way Chandler's tangled plot of murders and misdirection does.
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
A modern thriller built on shifting perspectives and sharp, unreliable narration. Readers who enjoyed Marlowe's wry, watchful voice will appreciate its dark, knowing tone.
The Thin Man
Dashiell Hammett
A witty, fast-moving detective novel with a sophisticated couple at its centre and a twisting murder case. Its banter and urbane style share Chandler's pleasure in dialogue.
Go deeper into crime fiction
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Patricia Highsmith
A psychological crime novel that follows a moral drifter through escalating deceit. Like Farewell, My Lovely, it finds menace in ordinary, seemingly respectable settings.
Mystic river
Dennis Lehane
A dark, character-led crime story about old friends and buried violence in a tight-knit city. Its grim atmosphere and emotional weight suit readers who loved Chandler's bleak edges.
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