The Long Goodbye Lesson Plan

Why does Menendez try to warn Marlowe off of the Terry Lennox case?

At this point in the novel, clues are beginning to pile up - students may not have enough information to confidently detail what may have happened to Terry and Sylvia, but they may be starting to question the "official" story. One peculiar incident in the reading is Marlowe's conversation with Menendez. Although Terry and Menendez knew each other in the War, it is unclear why he's so adamant about Marlowe backing off with the investigation.

Ask students to consider why Menendez might act this way. Is he simply trying to do right by his friend, to allow Terry to rest in peace? Perhaps there is more to...