I never read Raymond Chandler’s story, “Trouble is My Business”, so I’m glad Arvind Ethan David put together a team for a graphic novel of the story. There are a few people who contributed to the graphic novel. Author Ben Winters wrote the Foreword, talking about Chandler and his PI, Philip Marlowe.

In this version, the story starts in 1931 when a young Harriet Huntress returns home with her mother to find her father killed himself because of his loss of money. In 1946, Marlowe is hired to look into Huntrees’ motives in dating the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. It doesn’t take long to realize Harriet is intent on getting revenge on Jeeter, the businessman she blames for her father’s death.

This is a Marlowe story, though. There’s always a femme fatale, and things go wrong. Another PI is murdered. Two men accost a car with Marlowe as a passenger. He’s jumped in Harriet’s apartment. And, cops come looking for him.

If you haven’t read the story, there’s a surprising twist at the end. But, as always, it’s a bittersweet ending for a Marlowe story.

It’s a very effective graphic novel, but, I had the same problem with this one that I do with others. However, this time, it was deliberate. The comic book lettering professional used a different font for each character, and I had a hard time reading some of the fonts. Old eyes, I guess. If you’re looking for a graphic novel that’s different, one in the mystery field, check out Raymond Chandler’s Trouble is My Business.

Raymond Chandler’s Trouble is My Business by Arvind Ethan David, Ilias Kyriazis, and Cris Peter. Pantheon Books, 2025. ISBN 9780553387599 (hardcover), 116p.

FTC Full Disclosure – The publicist sent me a copy of the book, with no promise of a review.