The Big Sleep

By: Raymond Chandler

Narrated by: Scott Brick

One of the most acclaimed works of crime fiction ever written, The Big Sleep is the first novel featuring Raymond Chandler’s iconic creation Philip Marlowe, hailed as the “quintessential urban private eye” (Los Angeles Times).

One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years

“Chandler seems to have created the culminating American hero: wised up, hopeful, thoughtful, adventurous, sentimental, cynical and rebellious.” —Robert B. Parker, The New York Times Book Review

When old man Sternwood, a dying millionaire, hires Philip Marlowe to expose the blackmailer of one of his troublesome daughters, Marlowe finds himself involved with more than simple extortion. Kidnapping, pornography, and seduction are just a few of the complications standing in the way of completing the task at hand. And just as Marlowe feels he’s getting ahold of the situation, he discovers the first body.

Critic reviews

"Raymond Chandler is a master." —The New York Times

“[Chandler] wrote as if pain hurt and life mattered.” —The New Yorker

“Chandler seems to have created the culminating American hero: wised up, hopeful, thoughtful, adventurous, sentimental, cynical and rebellious.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Philip Marlowe remains the quintessential urban private eye.” —Los Angeles Times

“Nobody can write like Chandler on his home turf, not even Faulkner. . . . An original. . . . A great artist.” —The Boston Book Review

“Raymond Chandler was one of the finest prose writers of the twentieth century. . . . Age does not wither Chandler’s prose. . . . He wrote like an angel.” —Literary Review

“[T]he prose rises to heights of unselfconscious eloquence, and we realize with a jolt of excitement that we are in the presence of not a mere action tale teller, but a stylist, a writer with a vision.” —Joyce Carol Oates, The New York Review of Books

“Chandler wrote like a slumming angel and invested the sun-blinded streets of Los Angeles with a romantic presence.” —Ross Macdonald

“Raymond Chandler is a star of the first magnitude.” —Erle Stanley Gardner

“Raymond Chandler invented a new way of talking about America, and America has never looked the same to us since.” —Paul Auster

“[Chandler]’s the perfect novelist for our times. He takes us into a different world, a world that’s like ours, but isn’t. ” —Carolyn See

Really appreciate the old radio show feel.

I get that some don’t like the music between chapters and that’s okay. Personally I dig the way it builds atmosphere and adds a vintage noire feel to the story. It takes me back to the movies and radio shows immediately and invokes the feelings so ingrained by those old movies and serials.

I can also see why some don’t think Brick is right for the part. I have the benefit of 1.) not having heard any other narrator and 2.) being a long time Brick fan. Sure he gets a little overwrought in a couple places but it’s his interpretation and he’s otherwise pretty spot on.

IMO? Absolutely credit worthy.

hot damn, that's some good talkin!

this was a very good performance! adding more words to fulfill the comment requirement!

Raymond Chandler repeat

Great reading. Scott Brick excellent. Also listened to Lady in the Lake also with Scott Brick. definitely recommend.2

Better than the movie!

I loved every minute Bogey and Bacall were on screen in the movie adaptation. Pure cinema gold. This story is much more compelling than the screen story.

Excellent work

What a “throwback” for me, born in 1955. Far different presentation than James Reese and Mitch Rapp. Regardless, very good!