A hulking ex-convict named Moose Malloy hires private investigator Philip Marlowe to locate his former girlfriend, triggering a chain of violent encounters across the Los Angeles underworld. Marlowe navigates a landscape of corrupt police, wealthy socialites, and desperate criminals while attempting to solve the mystery of Malloy's missing love. The narrative is presented through Marlowe's cynical first-person perspective, emphasizing the stark contrast between the city's glamorous facade and its decaying moral core. He faces physical intimidation and logical dead ends as he uncovers a web of blackmail and murder that threatens to consume him.

Readers and critics frequently highlight Chandler's mastery of atmosphere and his ability to craft evocative, biting prose that defines the hardboiled genre. Discussion often centers on the intricate, sometimes convoluted plot structure which serves primarily as a vehicle for Marlowe's character development and his interactions with the city's diverse inhabitants. Many appreciate the balance between the gritty action sequences and the introspective, world-weary observations of the protagonist. The effectiveness of the setting as a character in its own right remains a frequent point of praise among those who analyze the evolution of detective fiction. This work is widely regarded as a foundational text for understanding the stylistic conventions of noir literature.