**Original Article**: The importance of recycling cannot be overemphasized. It helps to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, and protect the environment. Recycling also has economic benefits as it can create jobs and save energy.

**Expanded Article**:

The importance of recycling cannot be overemphasized.

Recycling is of utmost significance as it plays a crucial role in conserving our precious natural resources. By recycling materials such as paper, plastic, metal, and glass, we can reduce the need to extract and process new raw materials.

This not only helps to preserve the earth's finite resources but also minimizes the environmental damage caused by resource extraction.

In addition to conserving resources, recycling is also an effective way to reduce waste. Landfills are rapidly filling up, and recycling can help to divert a significant amount of waste from these landfills.

By reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfills, we can also reduce the production of greenhouse gases and other pollutants that are harmful to the environment.

Moreover, recycling has economic benefits. It can create jobs in the recycling industry, from collection and sorting to processing and manufacturing.

Recycling also saves energy as it usually requires less energy to process recycled materials than to produce new ones from raw materials.

This can lead to cost savings for businesses and consumers alike.

In conclusion, recycling is essential for a sustainable future. We should all make an effort to recycle as much as possible and encourage others to do the same.

By working together, we can make a significant impact on conserving natural resources, reducing waste, protecting the environment, and creating a more prosperous economy.

“The Lady of the Lake” by Raymond Chandler is a captivating story. Marlowe is called upon to investigate Crystal Kingsley, a wild and beautiful socialite who has gone missing. Her husband, who is rather indifferent to her antics, becomes concerned when he discovers her car at a hotel garage and receives a letter saying she is leaving him for someone else. Marlowe's journey to solve the mystery is filled with corpses and the case seems darker than the waters of Lake Tahoe where Crystal was last seen. Marlowe is the archetypal detective, more genuine and down-to-earth than his famous fictional colleagues, Poirot and Sherlock. He has a strict code of ethics, smokes, drinks, and womanizes, yet still manages to philosophize and do it all on just $25 a day plus expenses. Chandler, with his renowned prose, unique atmosphere, and a somewhat convoluted but tightly woven plot, has created another masterpiece. 5/5

As research for a novel I'm writing, I'm delving deep into detective fiction, extracting every valuable element. My story is set in L.A. during the early '90s, but I'm journeying through all eras and enlisting various sleuths as my guides through the City of Angels. Working backward in time through the Philip Marlowe series, next on my list is The Lady in the Lake. Published in 1943, this time I found myself less fixated on the who, where, and why of the shootings and instead allowed Chandler's rich and aging prose to captivate me. If the best style is one that is unnoticeable, then Chandler's is the epitome of that.

Philip Marlowe sets out to meet a new client, Mr. Derace Kingsley, a powerful businessman who is taken aback by Marlowe's nonchalant attitude. Kingsley is desperate to find his wife Crystal, who has been missing for a month. Last seen in the mountain town of "Puma Point," Crystal's disappearance didn't initially concern her husband due to a telegram she sent, stating her intention to get a divorce in Mexico and marry a playboy named Chris Lavery. However, Lavery has assured Kingsley that this is not true, and Kingsley believes him.

Marlowe asks Kingsley's enchanting secretary, Miss Adrienne Fromsett, for Lavery's address and detects a hint of poison in her attitude. When he knocks on Lavery's door in "Bay City," he is initially told that Lavery has no knowledge of Crystal Kingsley's whereabouts. While watching the house, Marlowe catches the attention of a neighbor, Dr. Albert Almore, who becomes so agitated that he calls a cop, Det. Lt. Degarmo. Degarmo assumes Marlowe has been hired by the family of Almore's deceased wife to keep an eye on him and tells him to leave. Marlowe's next stop is Puma Lake.

San Bernardino was baking and shimmering in the afternoon heat. The air was so hot that it felt like it could blister my tongue. I drove through it, gasping for breath, and stopped long enough to buy a pint of liquor in case I fainted before reaching the mountains. Then I started up the long grade to Crestline. In fifteen miles, the road climbed five thousand feet, but it was still far from cool. After thirty miles of mountain driving, I arrived at the tall pines and a place called Bubbling Springs. It had a clapboard store and a gas pump, but it felt like paradise. From there on, it was cool all the way.

Marlowe is shown around the lakeside cabin by Kingsley's neighbor Bill Chess, a moody man who claims that Mrs. Kingsley was there a few weeks ago but then went down the hill and hasn't returned. Marlowe figures out that Chess's wife Muriel caught him in a compromising position with Crystal Kingsley and left him on the same day that Mrs. Kingsley was last seen. While walking near the lake, Chess becomes even more despondent when he spots something in the water - the badly decomposed corpse of Muriel Chess. Marlowe goes to fetch the local law, Sheriff Jim Patton.

Although Bill Chess produces an undated letter from his wife that could be seen as a suicide note, suspicion falls on him for murdering Muriel. Marlowe learns from the local gossip queen that a few weeks ago, a man claiming to be a Los Angeles copper named DeSoto came around asking rude questions about someone named Mildred Haviland. No one cooperated with him, but the photo he showed looked like Muriel Chess. Marlowe phones the copper switchboard but can't find a detective named De Soto. He breaks into the Chess cabin to take a look and is caught by the sheriff. Marlowe shares his theory that Muriel wasn't killed by her husband but by someone from her past.

Marlowe confirms that Lavery was seen at the San Bernardino hotel where Crystal Kingsley's car was found with a woman who looked just like her. He then returns to Bay City to confront the playboy. While snooping around the place, he is confronted by Lavery's landlord, Mrs. Fallbrook, who holds a pistol on him that she found on the stairs. Marlowe manages to avoid getting shot, and after getting rid of the nosy woman, he finds Lavery shot dead in the bathtub. It appears that a woman surprised Lavery while he was shaving and emptied the pistol that Marlowe had just had pointed at him. Marlowe also finds a handkerchief on the bed with Adrienne Fromsett's initials.

Updating his client, Marlowe theorizes that Lavery was killed over something related to Dr. Almore. Almore's wife officially died of carbon monoxide poisoning and was discovered by Lavery. Her parents suspect foul play, and when Marlowe visits them, he discovers that the private eye they hired was set up by the Bay City cops and sent to jail. That's exactly where Marlowe ends up, with Lt. Det. Degarmo hoping to make him feel unwelcome in Bay City. Interrogated by a sympathetic police captain, Marlowe learns that Degarmo was once married to Dr. Almore's nurse, Mildred Haviland.

"Is it your claim that you can connect this Almore business from a year and a half ago to the shooting in Lavery's place today? Or is it just a smoke screen you're putting up because you know damn well Kingsley's wife shot Lavery?"

I said: "It was connected to Lavery before he was shot. In a rough sort of way, perhaps only with a granny knot. But enough to make a man think."

"I've looked into this matter a little more thoroughly than you might think," Webber said coldly. "Although I never had anything personally to do with the death of Almore's wife and I wasn't chief of detectives at that time. If you didn't even know Almore yesterday morning, you must have heard a lot about him since."

I told him exactly what I had heard from both Miss Fromsett and the Graysons.

"Then it's your theory that Lavery may have blackmailed Dr. Almore?" he asked at the end. "And that that may have something to do with the murder?"

"It's not a theory. It's no more than a possibility. I wouldn't be doing my job if I ignored it. The relationship, if any, between Lavery and Almore could have been deep and dangerous or just a passing acquaintance, or not even that. For all I know for sure, they may never have even spoken to each other. But if there was nothing suspicious about the Almore case, why get so tough with anyone who shows an interest in it? It could be a coincidence that George Talley was arrested for drunk driving just when he was working on it. It could be a coincidence that Almore called a cop because I stared at his house, and that Lavery was shot before I could talk to him a second time. But it's no coincidence that two of your men were watching Talley's home tonight, ready, willing, and able to cause trouble for me if I went there."

If there's one aspect of Raymond Chandler's books that stands out the most for me, it's discipline. Philip Marlowe is a man with no past (his lack of military service isn't explained, at least not in this book) and an uncertain future. He has no friends, no exes, no pets. We don't know where he grew up or what made him want to become a private detective. We learn about Marlowe by watching him in action, seeing how he extracts information from lowlifes and liars, or how he reacts to pressure from those in authority. That's Marlowe, not where he went to college or what happened to him to make him the way he is. And yet, there is so much depth to him.

"Let me see your identification."

I handed him my wallet, and he rummaged through it. Degarmo sat in a chair, crossed his legs, and stared blankly at the ceiling. He took a match out of his pocket and chewed on the end of it. Webber gave me back my wallet. I put it away.

"People in your line of work cause a lot of trouble," he said.

"Not necessarily," I said.

He raised his voice. It had been sharp enough before. "I said they cause a lot of trouble, and that's exactly what I meant. But listen carefully. You're not going to cause any trouble in Bay City."

I didn't answer him. He jabbed a forefinger at me.

"You're from the big city," he said. "You think you're tough and you think you're smart. Don't worry. We can handle you. We're a small place, but we're very tight-knit. We don't have any political power struggles down here. We work straightforwardly and we work fast. Don't worry about us, mister."

"I'm not worried," I said. "I don't have anything to worry about. I'm just trying to earn an honest dollar."

"And don't give me any of that cheeky talk," Webber said, "I don't like it."

My only gripe with The Lady in the Lake is how Marlowe seemed to fade into the background by the climax. He wasn't so much driven by a mystery he had to solve as he was just going through the motions. Chandler introduced so many characters that they ended up doing almost as much detecting or stealing the spotlight as Marlowe. I could sense Chandler sort of giving up toward the end, letting Marlowe observe what other characters were doing and then wrapping up the book. As far as the story was concerned, he became more of a passive hero, but Chandler gets away with it by writing such smooth and unadorned prose.

Chandler writes as if pain hurts and life matters.

The "Lady in the Lake" tells us yet another story with Philip Marlowe. It all starts when the private detective is hired to find a missing person. However, what begins as seemingly a case like many others, turns out to be a series of interconnected crimes.

The crimes described in this book are committed by the same type of people who comment on them in real life. The plot is surrealistically real: the criminals use weapons. The truth is that it is the simplest way to kill someone. Poisoning is a complicated method (albeit exotic and clean), finding substances that work is not easy; strangulation is very difficult, it requires physical strength; stabbing is too messy and time-consuming and beating to death is even worse. As for the criminals, they don't have incredibly dramatic or exceptional pasts. They simply crossed the limits of morality. Finally, the case is solved by a competent man - after all, what Marlowe has most is professional experience - rather than an amateur (the typical hero, helped by luck and karma due to his immense kindness).

As is characteristic of Raymond Chandler, the book focuses mainly on how the characters relate to each other and how Marlowe fits the different pieces of the mystery together. The truth is reached, but there are no frills and Marlowe never has an easy life.

Los Angeles is a city of gangsters. Although they are not present in this Marlowe case, I had the pleasure of meeting a crooked doctor, whose most regular clients have a special affection for drugs, and a corrupt policeman, who favors the use of violence and bad language.

Like all the Philip Marlowe books, the "Lady in the Lake" is narrated in the first person, making it almost natural to empathize with the private detective. As Marlowe reveals corruption and new crimes occur, we follow the unfolding of events beside him. In this way, seeing what his eyes see, it becomes impossible to divert our minds from the action.

Philip Marlowe is a famous private detective and there are reasons for that. He is a loyal, honest, brave, intelligent and determined man. Above all, he is a flesh-and-blood man, with as many flaws as qualities. Marlowe is no saint. He likes to drink and get involved with beautiful girls. Add to that his fantastic sense of humor and we have an unforgettable character.

I take the opportunity to recommend the 1947 film "Lady in the Lake" by director Robert Montgomery. It is a very interesting cinematic adaptation of this book, and the fact that it is not faithful to the original story only gives it more quality.

5 Stars.

Many aspects of life commence in a simple manner. Subsequently, they become intricate. This holds true for 'Lady...'. Raymond Chandler was one of the preeminent writers of his era, renowned for his vivid portrayal of atmosphere, police corruption, and the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles. He does not fail to deliver. Our beloved private eye, Philip Marlowe, encounters Derace Kingsley, whose wife has been absent for a month. Kingsley desires to "ascertain her well-being." He has received a cable from her; has she fled to Mexico for a hasty divorce? Crystal is young and impetuous; one can never be certain!

After negotiations conclude with Marlowe's fee set at $25 per day, along with $.08 per mile for expenses (bearing in mind this is 1944), he embarks on a quest in pursuit of boyfriends, hideouts, and acquaintances. This leads him to a summer cabin, another missing woman, and a corpse in the lake.

I tuned in to the BBC's radio play adaptation. It was magnificent. They included an interview by Ian Fleming of Chandler regarding thrillers, writing styles, the disparities between American and British crime novels, and their favorite authors. The interview seems to date from 1958, just prior to the publication of Fleming's 'Goldfinger' starring James Bond. Enjoy - I most certainly did! (Oc2019/Ja2024)

So, I have made up my mind to complete my reading of all of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe detective novels. This particular one is the fourth in the series, and it's my first time delving into it. There are two reasons why this is remarkable for me. Firstly, I also started reading Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö’s Martin Beck detective novels, which are set in Sweden. The tones of these two series couldn't be more different, and I constantly think about this contrast as I read. Secondly, Chandler is renowned for writing about Los Angeles, but in this book, Marlowe is taken into the rural areas of California. That's quite unusual. You get to experience some down-home, aw-shucks back country talk. However, regardless of the location, this is a terrific novel, characteristically Chandler with its cleverly humorous dialogue.

The other aspect that Chandler is known for is his (almost?) convoluted plots. You might remember "The Big Sleep" - indeed, a work of genius. Although no one can precisely state everything that occurs, no one really minds. Part of the reason for this fuzziness is that Chandler wrote many of his novels through a process he called the "cannibalizing" of his earlier short stories, which were previously published in pulp magazines. He would rewrite and mash them together to make them function as a whole, seemingly focusing mostly on Marlowe and the dialogue. This novel reworks elements from three different stories into one messy? (brilliantly conceived?) tale.

Let me indulge in the contrast between Marlowe and Beck for a moment. Marlowe’s novel, published in 1943, is theatrical, noir melodrama, centered on language, and very "literary" in its descriptions, drawing attention to the writing. Like Sam Spade in "The Maltese Falcon," Marlowe faces danger competently while wisecracking his way through the landmines. Here are some examples: "She looked playful and eager, but not quite sure of herself, like a new kitten in a house where they don't care much about kittens." "I decided I could lose nothing by the soft approach. If that didn't produce for me—and I didn't think it would—nature could take its course and we could bust up the furniture." "A nice enough fellow, in an ingenuous sort of way." "I smelled of gin. Not just casually, as if I had taken four or five drinks of a winter morning to get out of bed on, but as if the Pacific Ocean was pure gin and I had nosedived off the boat deck. The gin was in my hair and eyebrows, on my chin and under my chin. It was on my shirt. I smelled like dead toads." "I don't like your manner," Kingsley said in a voice you could have cracked a Brazil nut on. "That's all right," I said. "I'm not selling it." Marlowe’s character is mainly revealed through dialogue and action. There is no deep reflection (of course).

In the Beck novels, Martin Beck is tight-lipped, with almost no sense of humor, very little description of the setting, and again, no deep reflection. The character is revealed through action and his very serious, minimal dialogue. The Beck novels, written a quarter of a century after the Marlowe books, are like the anti-Marlowe. Both characters drink, but Beck is not happy, and Marlowe always seems to be having fun, even when he gets beaten up! The police procedurals in the Beck novels are clear and deliberate, with no kidding around. They are almost grimly realistic - this is how cops actually work and live - while the Marlowe books are theatrically entertaining.

Marlowe is hired to find a missing wife and heads into the country to locate her. He discovers shifting, ambiguous ground to an extent that few novels can claim.

SPOILER ALERT on some cool/confusing things that happen in the resolution, which I admit I had to consult sources to help me figure out: The murdered woman in the lake, assumed to be Crystal Kingsley, was actually Mildred Haviland, killed in a jealous rage by Al Degarmo, who was her former husband. Another murdered woman, supposed to be Muriel Chess, was actually Crystal Kingsley, killed by Mildred Haviland, who then assumed her identity. (!!??) If you find that kind of thing maddening, read Beck, as Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö would never write anything that crazy. That doesn’t happen in real life, they'd say! But it’s extremely fun for me. I like both Beck and Marlowe, by the way, though there is a reason Marlowe is still regarded as one of the top three detective writers ever, along with Dashiell Hammett and Jim Thompson. (Or is that third guy in the detective trinity James Cain?)

Accompanied by Chandler, we travel to an era when smoking did not seriously harm health, flasks were the perfect complement for men, and women were the only ones who knew how to use powdered sugar.

The detective Marlowe is the pillar of the story. He personifies the hardboiled detective par excellence, always with a cigarette in his mouth and whisky in his liver. Sarcastic and with a great wit that he employs both in solving his cases and in some ingenious dialogues.

“—I don't like your manners —Kingsley said in a voice that, by itself, could have cracked a Brazil nut.

—Don't worry about that. I'm not selling them.”

In this fictional world created by Chandler, Marlowe's character stands out. He is a complex and fascinating figure. His smoking habit, which was perhaps more acceptable in that era, adds to his mysterious and tough image. The use of whisky also gives the impression of a man who has seen it all and is not afraid to drown his sorrows or calm his nerves. His sarcastic nature and quick wit make him both charming and intimidating. In the dialogue with Kingsley, we can sense the tension and the different personalities at play. Chandler's writing style brings this world to life, making us feel as if we are right there with Marlowe, experiencing his adventures and solving cases along with him.

A true crime indulgence that makes it hard to put down. The plot never loses its pace, the dialogues never lose their flavor, and private detective Philip Marlowe never loses his self-assurance. As the icing on the cake, a surprising finale rounds things off and makes this, for me, the best Marlowe crime novel so far.

The story unfolds with Marlowe being drawn into a web of mystery and danger. His sharp wit and keen观察力 help him navigate through the complex case, facing off against various characters with their own motives and secrets.

The dialogues are engaging and full of banter, adding to the overall charm of the novel. Marlowe's confidence and determination shine through in every interaction, making him a truly captivating protagonist.

The unexpected twist at the end not only ties up all the loose ends but also leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction and awe. It's a masterful piece of storytelling that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Absolute banger.

This phrase is often used to describe something that is truly outstanding, remarkable, or extremely good. It can refer to a song that has an amazing beat and lyrics, a movie that is highly entertaining and engaging, a book that is captivating from start to finish, or any other thing that leaves a lasting impression.

When something is called an absolute banger, it means that it has the power to make people excited, happy, and enthusiastic. It stands out from the rest and is considered to be a top-notch example of its kind.

Whether it's a piece of art, a performance, or a product, being an absolute banger is a great achievement. It shows that the creator has put in a lot of effort and has managed to create something that is truly special. So, the next time you come across something that you think is an absolute banger, don't hesitate to share it with others and let them experience the awesomeness for themselves.

This particular one proved to be far superior to the previous one.

It maintained a delightful momentum throughout, captivating the reader from start to finish.

The story flowed seamlessly, with each page turning offering new excitement and anticipation.

There was simply no valid reason to set the book aside.

Once you began reading, you were immediately drawn into its world and compelled to keep going.

The engaging plot, well-developed characters, and vivid descriptions all contributed to making this a truly unputdownable read.

Whether you were looking for entertainment, escape, or simply a great story, this book had it all.

It was a joy to read and left you eagerly awaiting the author's next work.

Overall, it was a remarkable achievement that would surely please readers of all ages and tastes.

I’m gradually making my way through the Philip Marlowe books in sequence. And I have to admit that I didn't consider this particular one to be up to the mark.

The dialogue and similes were as clever and humorous as always. However, the plot was extremely convoluted.

I initially thought perhaps it was due to the fact that I was listening to it on audio. But upon looking at other reviews, several readers concur regarding the convoluted storyline.

Nonetheless, I still intend to complete the series. After all, it's Philip Marlowe.

His charm and the overall atmosphere of the stories keep pulling me in. Despite the flaws in this particular installment, I believe there is still much to discover and enjoy in the remaining books of the series.

I'm eager to see how Marlowe's adventures unfold and how the author ties up all the loose ends.

So, even though this one wasn't as satisfying as I hoped, I'm not giving up on the Philip Marlowe books just yet.

The fourth installment of the Philip Marlowe saga. It's good, like the other four installments in the series published by Adelphi, but not at the level of "The Long Goodbye" (the sixth installment, which was actually the third in terms of writing order).

This time, Marlowe is dealing with a missing woman, the wife of the wealthy Derace Kingsley. Hired by Kingsley in a rather flowery manner to find Mrs. Crystal, Marlowe delves into the tangled web that surrounds the lake, venturing into the mountain trails of San Bernardino County.

Marlowe exposes the shadows within American society in the 1940s, from the seedy underworld to the upper-class neighborhoods.

And in the process of searching for Mrs. Kingsley, Marlowe stumbles upon the body of another missing woman.

"I went to the mountain cabin where Kingsley's wife was staying. At Little Fawn Lake, a place near Puma Point, about eighty kilometers from San Bernardino."

I looked at Degarmo. He was writing slowly. His hand stopped and hung in mid-air for a moment, then came down again and he continued writing. I went on:

"About a month ago, the wife of the caretaker of Kingsley's cabin had an argument with her husband, and everyone thought she had left. Yesterday, however, they found her drowned in the lake."

Marlowe doesn't give in to the obvious and continues his investigations, defying everyone.

The reader too will be left off balance by the unexpected and unpredictable ending.