Try the Girl by Raymond Chandler
A private detective is hired to locate a missing woman named Beulah, who used to work at a now-segregated club in Los Angeles. The detective, while on the case, encounters a giant man named Steve Skalla, who is searching for Beulah as well. Skalla, recently released from prison after serving time for a bank robbery, is desperate to find her, believing she holds the key to his past and possibly his future. The detective's investigation leads him to a seedy bar where he witnesses Skalla's violent confrontation with a bouncer. After Skalla leaves, the detective learns that the bar's owner, Montgomery, has been killed, and he suspects Skalla's involvement. The detective's inquiries reveal that Beulah has changed her name and is now a radio star, but her past is catching up with her. As the detective digs deeper, he discovers that Beulah's life is intertwined with Skalla's and Montgomery's. He learns that Montgomery was blackmailing Beulah, and when she confronted him, she accidentally shot him in self-defense. Skalla, upon discovering Montgomery's body, initially plans to dispose of it to protect Beulah but ends up getting shot himself during a confrontation. The narrative unfolds through a series of tense encounters, revealing the complexities of love, loyalty, and the consequences of past actions. The detective navigates a dangerous world filled with deception, violence, and the haunting specter of the characters' shared histories. Ultimately, the story culminates in a tragic resolution, as Beulah is left to grapple with the fallout of her choices and the lives affected by her past.
By Raymond Chandler · First published 1953 · Genre: Mystery, Noir, Thriller · 19,400 words
First lines
The big guy wasn't any of my business. He never was, then or later, least of all then.
I was over on Central, which is the Harlem of Los Angeles, on one of the "mixed" blocks, where there were still both white and colored establishments. I was looking for a little Greek barber named Tom Aleidis whose wife wanted him to come home and was willing to spend a little money to find him. It was a peaceful job. Tom Aleidis was not a crook.
What this Textopian page supports
Try the Girl is listed on Textopian as a novel by Raymond Chandler, dated 1953 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: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Noir, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 19,400 words
- Structure: 1 section, 635 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around solving a crime or uncovering secrets, typical of Chandler's work.
- Noir — The themes often include moral ambiguity, crime, and complex characters, characteristic of noir fiction.
- Thriller — The narrative includes suspenseful elements and tension, engaging readers in a fast-paced storyline.
- Crime Fiction — The story focuses on criminal activities and their consequences, a central aspect of the genre.
Tags
mystery · crime · detective · noir · thriller · suspense · fiction · Raymond Chandler · hardboiled · California · murder · investigation