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Product Description
Product Description
Marlowe is now married, living in the resort town of Poodle Springs. He sets up as an investigator and soon finds himself in the middle of blackmail and murder. This is an unfinished novel by Raymond Chandler which has been completed by Robert B. Parker.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a novel mostly written by Robert Parker, drawing on four chapters started by Raymond Chandler at the end of his life. If you are looking for a great Marlowe story done just like the early ones, you will be disappointed. If you are glad to have one more chance to be with Marlowe, I think you will be pleased with the experience.
The story is a natural for Parker, because it involves Marlowe marrying a rich society woman on the spur of the moment. Having gotten together, they both realize that not all is right in this relationship. 'Can't live with him, can't live without him' could have been the title. The relationship raises a lot of the kinds of issues that Parker handles well in the Spenser stories between Spenser and Susan.
Marlowe keeps at his detective work, and we meet a whole cast of hard characters portrayed with wonderfully terse dialogue and understatement. Although not as tough as a Chandler, it is certainly tough in an appealing Parkerish way.
Having grown up in Southern California in the 1950s, I could relate to the tale that Chandler/Parker have woven. It seemed to fit my memory of those times, and had a sort of smoky, boozy nostalgia attached to it.
Give it a try. The first five chapters are only about 26 pages. You'll have a good sense whether or not you want to read more. I know I could not have possibly put it down at that point. I was hooked. Maybe you will be, too. I hope it will be irresistible for you as well.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
"Poodle Springs" (on audio CD) is exactly what you would expect of a Philip Marlowe story from Raymond Chandler (who started it) and Robert B. Parker (who finished it). The voice is the typical Philip Marlowe voice (read by Toby Stephens), the story is the typical Philip Marlowe story. It's easy to visualise the story throughout, which is always a sign of a well-written and well-read story. This could easily be adapted for television (if it hasn't already been).
It's an easy listen, it's undemanding, it's entertaining. For those who have heard or seen Philip Marlowe stories before, this is exactly what you would expect - the slightly down at heel detective doing his thing. You won't be disappointed, but you also won't be surprised. A full-cast recording (always a bonus) from BBC Radio 4. Recommended.
It's an easy listen, it's undemanding, it's entertaining. For those who have heard or seen Philip Marlowe stories before, this is exactly what you would expect - the slightly down at heel detective doing his thing. You won't be disappointed, but you also won't be surprised. A full-cast recording (always a bonus) from BBC Radio 4. Recommended.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This review concerns the one disc audio play starring Toby Stephens.
Stephens obviously has great fun playing the character of Philip Marlowe and it is understandable that a successful series of these plays would lead to Raymond Chandler's unfinished Poodle Springs being tackled. Of course the story itself was finished by Robert Parker and this is what this adaptation is based upon.
It's by no means a travesty of the Marlowe legacy but with all the best will in the world it falls short of the character at his best. This audio version clocks in at about an hour and whilst it is sharp and snappy and keeps a decent pace it's ultimately a little lightweight.
Although the usual "atmosphere" is prevalent the story itself just isn't good enough and you may well find yourself correctly guessing the twists before you hear them.
One for the completists only I think.
Stephens obviously has great fun playing the character of Philip Marlowe and it is understandable that a successful series of these plays would lead to Raymond Chandler's unfinished Poodle Springs being tackled. Of course the story itself was finished by Robert Parker and this is what this adaptation is based upon.
It's by no means a travesty of the Marlowe legacy but with all the best will in the world it falls short of the character at his best. This audio version clocks in at about an hour and whilst it is sharp and snappy and keeps a decent pace it's ultimately a little lightweight.
Although the usual "atmosphere" is prevalent the story itself just isn't good enough and you may well find yourself correctly guessing the twists before you hear them.
One for the completists only I think.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good but pretty flawed Noir radio drama
Although I enjoyed my time with Poodle Springs I couldn't personally look past many of it's short comings. Read more
Published 1 month ago by i wrote this
Enjoyed this more than the book
I was disapointed with this as a novel, begun by Marlowe and ended by Parker, possibly because my expectations were too high. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Michael Mooney
Great radio Production
I listened to some of these on the Radio and when I saw this just had to get it, for any fans of Chandler or just good atmospheric radio drama this is a must. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. M. Regan
An excellent production.....
Philip Marlowe (Toby Stephens) is now married to rich Linda Loring (Lorelei King). They have moved into a very desirable house in Poodle Springs but Marlowe refuses to be a kept... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Wynne Kelly
Marlowe makes his mark in Poodle Springs
I am a big fan of books by both Raymond Chandler and Robert B Parker and I find that audio books/dramas are a good way of brightening up my regular bore of a 500 mile round road... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Zola fan
Predigree Private Eye
I have all of these BBC Marlowe dramatisations and they are all excellent. The acting and sound design both serve to deliver a very engagaing atmosphere, so much so that I was... Read more
Published 4 months ago by The Kinniburgh Kid
Poodle Springs: Full cast radio dramatisation - Another fine entry in...
Poodle springs is the last in the Philip Marlowe series, written by Raymond Chandler. He died halfway through writing the novel, so it was subsequently finished from his notes by... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Victor
Well performed
This is the second Philip Marlowe mystery I have reviewed, I enjoyed the other one more, but this is still very good and very enjoyable. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Crazy Seahorse
Poodle Rockin'
Philip Marlowe is the quintessential hard boiled PI; as quick with a fist, as he is with a quip. `Poodle Springs' is the last Marlowe novel and was unfinished by Raymond Chandler. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sam
An hour or so well spent
This is a faithful adaptation of a Chandler story, brilliantly finished by Robert Parker.
I love the style in the drama and the laconic and sometimes world-weary... Read more
I love the style in the drama and the laconic and sometimes world-weary... Read more
Published 5 months ago by David Cranson
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