The Lady in the Lake
A private detective is hired by a distraught husband, Howard Melton, to locate his missing wife, Julia. Melton, a district manager for a cosmetic company, is concerned about his wife's sudden disappearance from their cabin at Little Fawn Lake. He provides the detective with a telegram from Julia, indicating she is seeking a divorce and planning to marry another man, Lance Goodwin. The detective begins his investigation, suspecting that Julia may have been involved in some trouble, possibly related to her kleptomania. As the detective delves deeper, he learns about Julia's past and her relationship with Goodwin. He visits Goodwin's home, only to discover Goodwin dead, shot in the head. The detective realizes that Julia's disappearance is more complicated than it seems, and he suspects foul play. He finds evidence suggesting that Julia may have been murdered and that her body was hidden in the lake. The investigation leads to a series of twists, including the discovery of a gold anklet belonging to Julia, which was found in the cabin of Bill Haines, a local man with a troubled marriage. Haines' wife, Beryl, had also gone missing around the same time as Julia. The detective uncovers a connection between the two women, revealing that they were both involved with Melton and Goodwin. As the detective pieces together the events, he confronts Melton, who is revealed to have orchestrated the cover-up of Julia's murder. Melton's motives are tied to his desire to protect his reputation and avoid scandal. The detective's investigation culminates in a confrontation where Melton's guilt is exposed, and the truth about Julia's fate is revealed. In the end, the detective's persistence leads to the arrest of Melton and Beryl, who had conspired together. The case highlights themes of deception, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships, ultimately showcasing the detective's skill in unraveling a tangled web of lies.
By Raymond Chandler · First published 1943 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Noir · 23,182 words
First lines
One-Not For Missing Persons I was breaking a new pair of shoes in on my desk that morning when Violets M'Gee called me up. It was a dull, hot, damp August day and you couldn't keep your neck dry with a bath towel.
"How's the boy? " Violets began, as usual. "No business in a week, huh? There's a guy named Howard Melton over in the Avenant Building lost track of his wife. He's district manager for the Doreme Cosmetic Company. He don't want to give it to Missing Persons for some reason. The boss knows him a little. Better get over there, and take your shoes off before you go in. It's a pretty snooty outfit."
What this Textopian page supports
The Lady in the Lake is listed on Textopian as a novel by Raymond Chandler, dated 1943 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Raymond Chandler
- Date: 1943 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Crime, Noir, Thriller, Fiction
- Length: 23,182 words
- Structure: 1 section, 571 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a detective solving a complex case involving murder and deception.
- Crime — The narrative includes criminal activities, including murder and corruption, central to the storyline.
- Noir — The writing style and themes reflect a dark, cynical view of society, typical of noir fiction.
- Thriller — The tension and suspense throughout the investigation create a thrilling atmosphere.
Tags
mystery · detective · noir · crime · thriller · suspense · Raymond Chandler · Philip Marlowe · Los Angeles · murder · investigation · pulp fiction