Describe Phillip Marlowe. What about him makes him a good detective? What about him makes him a good character for a novel such as this?

How does Marlowe meet Terry Lennox? Eileen Wade? Roger Wade? Linda Loring? How many of those meetings were pure coincidence? How were the others arranged?

Describe three of Marlowe's wisecracks and discuss why they fit with his character. Who are other characters in the story who offer up wisecracks?

Who is Candy? What is Candy's role in Roger Wade's life? How does his attitude toward Marlowe change over the course of their meetings?

Describe the "death" of Terry Lennox. What was it that made Marlowe question the circumstances?

How were Eileen Wade and Terry Lennox connected years earlier? How did they reconnect? What made Eileen willing to forgive her husband for sleeping with Sylvia? Why was she not willing...