Best books by Raymond Chandler

Raymond Chandler's style can not be mistaken with any other writer. It is so distinguishing  as the main protagonist of his novel - a private detective Philip Marlowe. That's why I like to go back to Chandler's novels. If you have not read any of them yet, here is my ranking of best novels written by Chandler.

Raymond Chandler (1888 - 1959) was a novelist and screenwriter. His first novel, The Big Sleep, was published in 1939. This detective fiction writer popularized the genre called Hardboiled.

I'm a fan of crime novels written by Chandler. Every few years I read one of them again, because I like Chandler's style of writing, Philip Marlowe and I'm simply having fun reading about the adventures of probably the most famous private detective in the history of crime novels.

I can not do your typical ranking of the ten best novels of the author for a simple reason - Raymond Chandler wrote only eight. Therefore, here's a list of all Chandler's novels starting from the best:

1. The Long Goodbye (see description)
2. Farewell, My Lovely (see description)
3. The Big Sleep (see description)
4. The Lady in the Lake (see description)
5. The Little Sister (see description)
6. The High Window (see description)
7. Poodle Springs (see description)
8. Playback (see description)

So if you have not read any Chandler's books, start with The Long Goodbye – it's a great novel. And then I encourage you to read them all :-)

What is your favorite book written by Raymond Chandler?