Consider the various ways in which the other characters in the book react when they learn that Marlowe is a private detective. Why do you believe these private detectives have such a bad reputation?

Compare and contrast the personalities of Mildred Haviland and Crystal Kingsley. What clues did Marlowe use to determine it was Crystal who was drowned in Little Fawn Lake and not Mildred Haviland?

Compare and contrast the investigating styles of George Talley and Phillip Marlowe. Why is it that Marlowe gained some degree of respect from the police while Talley was thought of as nothing but a blackmailer and a snitch?

Why does Marlowe lie to Degarmo about Kingsley's scarf that was found at the scene of the Mildred Haviland's murder? Did Marlowe really believe Kingsley might have done the crime or is he covering up the fact that he really...