SOURCE: Walton, Priscilla L. and Manina Jones. “The Text as Evidence: Linguistic Subversions.” In Detective Agency: Women Rewriting the Hard-Boiled Tradition, pp. 118-48. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999.

In the following excerpt, Walton and Jones focus on the use of language in hard-boiled fiction written by women, pointing out that these female authors both appropriate and transform the tough language of the traditional detective.

“If it's that delicate,” I said, “maybe you need a lady detective.”

“Goodness, I didn't know there were any.” Pause. “But I don't think a lady detective would do at all. You see, Orrin was living in a very tough neighborhood, Mr. Marlowe. At least, I thought it was tough. The manager of the rooming house is a most unpleasant person. He smelled of liquor. Do you drink, Mr. Marlowe?”

“Well, now that you mention it—”

“I don't think I'd care to employ a...