The Marlow Chronicles

by Lawrence Sanders

A brilliant and renowned actor is forced to undertake the most demanding role in his career when he must play out his own death scene, in a story of sex, suspense, revenge, and desire. Reissue.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime

283 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Lawrence Sanders was the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty mystery and suspense novels. The Anderson Tapes, completed when he was fifty years old, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best first novel. His prodigious oeuvre encompasses the Edward X. Delaney, Archy McNally, and Timothy Cone series, along with his acclaimed Commandment books. Stand-alone novels include Sullivan's Sting and Caper. Sanders remains one of America’s most popular novelists, with more than fifty million copies of his books in print. Also published as Mark Upton.

Reviews

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an interesting premise for a book — the death of an actor in three acts. But in much of this story, we see Toby Marlow in his vision of life — the life of the party — but an egoist who doesn't have much empathy for anyone and really can't look too closely to who he is and why.

And sadly, his son, David Marlow, who is following him in a life on the stage, is so focused on his motivation, his feelings, who he is, etc., that he has forgotten the value of pretend, of acting, of becoming the hero or villain he wants to be on stage and in real life.

Both men are struggling at this point in time — Toby dying — and no amount of acting will change that reality, and David facing what could be the pinnacle of his career playing Hamlet, is consumed with trying so much to make it real that it is stilted.

Both can only be successful if they listen to the women in their life. Cynthia has lived in the shadow all her life with Toby but she has truly been his anchor and the main audience for all his parts. She knows he gives her as much as he can and is content with that. Barbara, pregnant and unsure of David, fights to get him to think beyond himself, to pretend and therefore to live and succeed on the stage.

At the beginning of this book, I only saw Toby the ham, Toby who never gets off the stage, never stops pretending. He is silly, unrealistic and annoyingly self-center. David was somehow diminished by his own actions, too timid to fight with his creativity and smarts, which he has shown to Barbara when they were courting but somehow can't do it for real. The characters are roles on a stage but there is an aura of truth for the father who can't live with being just Toby, and David who can't grow to be anything other than David.

This is a surprising book in so many ways for Lawrence Sanders. I can't say that it is my favorite — its a bit like reading a play, feels very much like a play. But as I got closer to Toby's final curtain call and Barbara finally tells David just what he is missing, I began to understand the gist of what was going on. Surely it needs a second curtain call for what Sanders tried to achieve with his story of a life ending and a life that perhaps is beginning in three acts.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Lawrence Sanders and such a quick and enjoyable read. I had to give this 4 stars when really it's probably 3. I don't respect people giving this 1 star? Like really? The book is witty, charming and if you are a New Yorker well you feel at home with it like a Pastrami on Rye with mustard, you know it's going to be good.
I never give away spoilers, but I do believe Toby's son David is really over looked in this short novel. By the end of the book I felt I knew him better than Toby. He has to walk in his father's shadow but you feel for the man, even after being dejected he stands by his Father.
This book has some hidden innuendos and as I have read everything Sanders I pick up on them quickly. I am rereading all his novels because they are all pure summer reading at it's finest. Moby Dick is a classic, just not interested in pursuing it by the pool.
Respectfully, Thomas

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different novel from anything else I have read by Sanders. Toby Marlow is a career actor who is recently diagnosed with a fatal illness. David is his son who is just starting out in the field and is a much more reserved person than his flamboyant father. Cynthia is David’s mother and Toby’s companion for decades. Barbara is David’s pregnant girlfriend. Their lives are further entwined as they come together to support Toby in his last few months of life and the games begin ......

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1977. Shattering novel of sex and suspense. Sanders always delivers.

[Darlene Jilks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book-played out just like their acting jobs-well done.

[Linet Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love the small details bring me back to 1970s New York and the world of theatre and the arts.

[Paritosh Vyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players'
Toby Marlow lives, breathes, eats, rejoices and dies as only a player can.

A magnificent book with humour and truth worth reading.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read any good reviews on this book yet, the language was crude, theatrical and had many sexual flashbacks but overall I really liked it. The Marlow Chronicles was a short interesting read. I'd recommend it to anyone who'd want something different and entertaining.

[Janice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read all of Lawrence Sanders' books and loved all but a few. This was one of those few I forced myself to finish! The characters were over-the-top and the plot strange. Anyone wanting to see Sanders' true talent should read the McNally, Deadly Sins, and Commandment books.

[Dave Nichols · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yuck, yuck, yuck. Crude, crude, crude.

[David Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if I really liked it or not...read it as fast as I could but...hmm

[Richard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written by anyone else, I would not have gone past page 10. The cute twist at the end did not save it.