The Lady In The Lake by Raymond Chandler

In this classic hard-boiled detective novel, a wisecracking private investigator is hired to find the missing wife of a wealthy businessman, only to become embroiled in a complex web of deceit, corruption, and murder. As he delves deeper into the case, he encounters a cast of shady characters and uncovers a trail of betrayal that leads him to a remote mountain lake, where the discovery of a body threatens to expose the dark secrets of a seemingly tranquil town. With sharp dialogue and a gritty portrayal of 1940s Los Angeles, the detective navigates through the twists and turns of the investigation, determined to solve the mystery of the lady in the lake.

The 2055th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 183

Since this book was first published in 1943, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 183.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.