Philip Marlowe reading order

A plan for the whole series

8 volumes, 2,012 pages, about 35 hours. At 45 min a day that is about 7 weeks.

• From volume 2 on, the number of ratings falls most before volume 3, “The High Window” (by 40%). Plan your break after volume 2, before the series plans it for you.

Stages

3 stages, with 2 short books from outside the series between them. You finish around January 5, 2027, 19 days later than in one go.

1. 1
   Stage 19 h12 daysby November 10, 2026

   • 1. The Big Sleep1939 · 229 pages · 4 h
   • 2. Farewell, My Lovely1940 · 275 pages · 5 h
2. BreakMaus · Art Spiegelman · 295 pp. · score 9.05 h, by November 20, 2026. A short book from another shelf, so you come back to the series hungry.
3. 2
   Stage 219 habout 4 weeksby December 15, 2026

   • 3. The High Window1942 · 240 pages · 4 h
   • 4. Lady in the Lake1943 · 239 pages · 4 h
   • 5. The Little Sister1949 · 256 pages · 5 h
   • 6. The Long Goodbye1954 · 320 pages · 6 h
4. BreakBorn a Crime · Trevor Noah · 304 pp. · score 8.96 h, by December 25, 2026. A short book from another shelf, so you come back to the series hungry.
5. 3
   Stage 38 h11 daysby January 5, 2027

   • 7. Playback1958 · 208 pages · 4 h
   • 8. Trouble Is My Business1939 · 245 pages · 4 h
6. The end of the series

   January 5, 2027

We count 1.1 min per page, the pace of an average novel reader. Faster? Move the slider.

Does the series hold up

Shape of the series: the finale is the best part. The last volume (8.0) stands above the rest. Whoever reaches the end gets the reward.

Best volume: The Long Goodbye (8.0, 139 ratings). Weakest: The High Window (7.6). From volume 2 on, the biggest drop in the number of ratings is between volume 2 and 3: 40%. The series is complete; you can read it start to finish with no waiting. The last volume (8.0) scores close to the series average or above it.