An interesting and enjoyable relaunch of the Marlowe character! Very much enjoyed this, and Mina does a great job of evoking and bringing to life the era and characters. An intriguing case and investigation, engagingly written. Recommended for fans of the author’s past work, and also of the character.

Excellent Philip Marlowe story from a female perspective. Marlowe is at his best in his loner and cynical persona. But, the number and character development of the many female characters is what reall makes this book work. Highly recommended.

It was a pleasure reading Denise Mina's reimagining of Philip Marlowe. In the hands of a skilled contemporary author, we can experience Marlowe in an LA setting free of sexism but still full of the wisecracking style of Chandler's original. Mina also brings in Ann Riordan, first introduced in Chandler’s Farewell My Lovely, the second Marlowe novel. Now she's running her own detective agency, and she's a breath of fresh air in steamy southern California. Another Marlowe novel from Mina would be a plus - although an Ann Riordan mystery would do just fine! Highly recommended, Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC.

There’s no doubt Crime Writer’s Association Hall of Fame member Denise Mina had fun writing The Second Murderer, the first authorized Philip Marlowe novel written by a woman. I had fun reading it. The banter, the descriptions of characters and 1940’s Los Angeles, the fluidity of thought and words - even at a halted rhythm were all spot on Raymond Chandler.

From the first line, I smiled hearing Humphrey Bogart in my head, who played the legendary gumshoe in The Big Sleep. Several times I amused myself trying to imagine Bogey with a Scottish accent but I couldn’t pull it off.

Mina, however, the bestselling Scottish crime writer I first came to know through her Paddy Meehan series – Field of Blood, The Dead Hour and The Slip of the Knife, pulled off Marlow in spades.

Mina also reintroduced the character of Ann Riordan, whom we first met in Chandler’s Farewell My Lovely, the second Marlowe novel. This time around Riordan, who heads up her own detective agency, is up against Marlowe to bring in a missing heiress. Whether she wants to be found is another story, which takes us from Beverly Hills to skid row, Malibu and back with a satisfying ending - all in pure Chandler style.

I recommend The Second Murderer to Denise Mina fans, Raymond Chandler fans and anyone who loves noir detective fiction. I received this advanced reader copy from Mulholland Books courtesy of NetGalley. This review is fair and impartial.

PS: I would love to see more of Ann Riordan P.I.

While I am a huge fan of Denise Mina, I feel she should stick to her own work and leave Chandler alone. The barrage of similes and the familiarity of the plot made a mockery of Chandler's achievements. I found the book laughable and silly. Nothing about the book seemed even remotely convincing and was obviously just a money grab for Mina.