Noirvember: The Best Noir

elenchus: For me, the epitome of an anti-hero.

elenchus: Very different from the film, and an interesting departure for Hammett.

elenchus: 40s noir as cover for 60s U.S. conspiracy, with a guest appearance from everyone under the celebrity sun.

elenchus: The basis for the Bogart film, and Goodis brings a distinct voice to noir: jazz inflection, a protagonist who isn't in control and not a shamus. Typically he sets up a wacky premise, and then explores what would happen, realistically, were someone to find themselves in such circumstances.

elenchus: Noir pastiche, great fun.

VictoriaDRobertson: I addict

elenchus: Not necessarily the "complete" Continental Op collection, but very strong and a great sense of Hammett's noir sleuth. The Op is never named, and he has a distinctive professional code: Marlow, he is not.

elenchus: Following established Lew Archer procedure, TGC starts with a missing person and soon branches to encompass other crimes, including the mob. It's a complex web and more than once Archer thinks he's figured it out but knows better than to stop until he hits bottom. Along the way he's diverted by a squares / hipsters scene commentary and class tensions. Ross Macdonald at the top of his game.