The Lady in the Lake

“The Treloar Building was, and is, on Olive Street, near Sixth, on the west side.”

This is the first line of The Lady in the Lake. It establishes the setting in Los Angeles by using real street names. The building is a fictionalization of the Oviatt Building, some scholars argue.

“‘I don’t like your manner.’ […] ‘I’m not selling it.’”

This is some of Raymond Chandler’s signature witty dialogue between Kingsley and Marlowe. Kingsley initially dislikes Marlowe, and Marlowe replies that he is not trying to be likable, which offers an insight into Marlowe’s independent character.

“His house [has] a garage like the corner pocket on a pool table.”

Marlowe uses a simile to describe Lavery’s garage. The reference to a pool carries connotations of good fortune, luxury, and masculinity, portraying the house as a symbol of Lavery’s wealth and success. The imagery of pool tables is part of the hard-boiled style; it is a familiar pastime for Chandler’s readers.