Only to Sleep

A Philip Marlowe Novel

By: Lawrence Osborne

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Lawrence Osborne brings one of literature’s most enduring detectives back to life - as Private Investigator Philip Marlowe returns for one last adventure.

Named one of the best books of the year by the New York Times Book Review and NPR

Nominated for the Edgar and Shamus awards

The year is 1988. The place, Baja California. And Philip Marlowe - now in his 72nd year - is living out his retirement in the terrace bar of the La Fonda hotel. Sipping margaritas, playing cards, his silver-tipped cane at the ready. When in saunter two men dressed like undertakers, with a case that has his name written all over it.

For Marlowe, this is his last roll of the dice, his swan song. His mission is to investigate the death of Donald Zinn - supposedly drowned off his yacht, and leaving behind a much younger and now very rich wife. But is Zinn actually alive? Are the pair living off the spoils?

Set between the border and badlands of Mexico and California, Lawrence Osborne’s resurrection of the iconic Marlowe is an unforgettable addition to the Raymond Chandler canon.

Praise for Only to Sleep:

“A new case for Philip Marlowe and - have a smell from the barrel, all you gunsels and able grables - it crackles.” (The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice))

“Brilliant. Osborne and Chandler are a perfect match.” (William Boyd, author of Any Human Heart)

“A Marlowe we at once know, but have never met before. As much a meditation on aging and memory as it is a crime thriller.” (Los Angeles Times)

“It’s the kind of book where, when you read it, it turns the world to black and white for a half-hour afterward. It leaves you with the taste of rum and blood in your mouth. It hangs with you like a scar.” (NPR)

©2018 Lawrence Osborne (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Osborne, an accomplished writer of fiction and nonfiction, has been asked to imagine a new case for Philip Marlowe and - have a smell from the barrel, all you gunsels and able grables - it crackles." (New York Times Book Review)

"Only to Sleep admirably sidesteps the pitfalls of Chandler-esque pastiche...in its place, a Marlowe we at once know, but have never met before. As much a meditation on aging and memory as it is a crime thriller." (LA Times)

"Brilliant.... Osborne and Chandler are a perfect match." (William Boyd, author of Any Human Heart and Solo: A James Bond Novel)

Lacking Research on Mexico

Some of the locations it appears that the author never been too and did not have a grasp of the location.

Ray Porter is spot on!

This is great story and Ray Porter nails Philip Marlowe! I loved how they described the atmosphere of the cities on Mexican coastline.

Multiple voices

Ray Porter sounds a bit like Tom Hanks. He is especially talented at reading text in multiple voices or parts. That made it easy to understand which character said what as the story unfolds. While the story is meant to be evocative of Raymond Chandler, it doesn't reach that height. However, there is a fascinating journey throughout a large part of Mexico within the story. Well, worth listening to.

The not-so-genuine article

Imitation may be sincere flattery, but not usually good literature. The style is Chandleresque, but without the streetwise touch, while the real Marlowe also managed to maintain a core of integrity. Disappointingly, no real denouement.

True to spirit & character!

Great look into Marlowe’s waning years. Pulled from retirement for one last mystery.
Well written, and delivered with a perfect cadence by Ray Porter.
Excellent all round.

Not Chandler, But a Damned Good Marlowe

As a major admirer of Raymond Chandler and his Philip Marlowe novels, I really enjoyed this addition to the series. While I could discern that it was not Chandler at times, there were so many moments and passages which made me feel as though Raymond Chandler truly had written this work. It has the essence of Philip Marlowe and reads like a novel that Chandler might have penned had he lived a good while longer, and for that alone I highly recommend this book. Lawrence Osborne did a tremendous job with it.

Fabulous

I really enjoyed this one. A very well written story with interesting locales and characters. It has unexpected poetic and Zen like vibe. The narration performance quality is also particularly immersive and adds to the enjoyment.

Better than the other non Chandler books about Marlowe

it was better than the horrible other books not written by Chandler but still only okay.

untarnished / unafraid

does the detached, hard-boiled fiction of raymond chandler fascinate you ?
do the sun baked spaces of southern california hold a romantic allure for you ?
well, lawrence osborne's "Only to Sleep" has eloquently re-created that world for you

an honorable and lonely man is on an adventure, in search of a hidden truth
the work of an aging private investigator is the scaffold on which that adventure hangs
the tough minded detachment of our detective is both compelling and amusing

this honest and common man is an enduring modern fictional hero for a reason
as jeremiah 17:9 predicted long ago "... the heart is deceitful above all things ..."
if a new twist on that ancient saying intrigues you, then this is a book for you

Brilliant resurrection of greatest detective in US fiction

Lawrence Osborne was an excellent choice by the Chandler Foundation to resurrect Marlowe. The book succeeds at every level w a bonus of beautiful literary riffs every few pages....historically and geographically accurate...as Marlowe/Chandlers voice rings true. The eccentric gumshoe comes out of retirement in Southern CA for one last job at age 72 into a sleazy and violent world of hustlers and grifters operating on the coastal towns in Southern California and Northern Mexico. Ray Porter shines as the voice of a worldly and articulate Marlowe while deftly handling accents and pronunciations of the credible characters that appear. As a 72 year old Chandler fan who is well traveled in the Mexican locations where most of the novel’s action takes place I particular enjoyed this brilliant resurrection of my favorite private eye by one of my favorite writers.