basswood

Not for today's sensibilities and I'm not sure if it in any way reflects any sensibilities of the past, simply Chandler's. I was surprised to find it VERY VERY entertaining and will likely read some more Chandler in the future.

A few excerpts to illustrate the dead-blunt noir style:

She slapped my wrist. She said softly:
"What's your name?"
"Phil. What's yours?"
"Helen. Kiss me."
She fell softly across my lap and I bent down over her face and began to browse on it...

I giggled and socked him. I laid the coil spring on the side of his head and he stumbled forward. I followed him down to his knees. I hit him twice more. He made a moaning sound. I took the sap out of his limp hand. He whined.
I used my knee on his face. It hurt my knee. He didn't tell me whether it hurt his face...

I looked at the gun and it looked at me...