Other Raymond Chandler book covers

after looking at book covers solely for the big sleep i also began researching other chandler book covers (since the same character of phillip marlowe is featured in each of them i figured that their covers would also convey the detective genre that is explored in the big sleep).

i love the font in the cover above its got a very playful element to it, the rough outline almost matches the ruggedness of the main character. simultaneously this cutout look is also stipulated by the jagged edges of the camera silhoette which ensures the overall continuity. the red black and white colour palette is very reminiscient of film noir genre which gives the design a classic feel. again its simplicity is what makes the cover so eyecatching which is something i will consider when designing my own.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rwKR5UQQsOw/Tkeixwd1m9I/AAAAAAAAAa8/F53ko9WEbDM/s1600/KillerintheRain.jpg

this cover has a very hand drawn feel to it which is depicted through the shading and although i think the background is a little fussy i really like the macabre knife and yellow rose emblem which instantly draws focus and obviously symbolizes something within the story. i havent read this story but i know that it features the same detective in the big sleep so i know that it is a mystery novel, suprisingly this isnt conveyed through the cover art which gives the cover an origionality. although i think that this makes the design unusual, in my own design would prefer to reference the detective genre.although the font is very compact the background is too vibrant and overpowering to ensure clarity which is something else that i will consider in my own work.
http://www.raggedclaws.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/tom-adams_the-little-sister_ny-ballantine-1971_023978095.jpg

the blue of this cover is what initially attracted me to this design the mottled texture provokes contrast against the smooth  lines of the figure. the woman to my mind looks odd ( possibly because the face isnt complete) and the rest of the cover looks too bare in comparasion so i dont think that the cover is effective. i do like the positioning of the text the soft swirls obviously relating to the 'water-lake' aspect. the back also looks too formulaic so i plan to ensure that the back cover to my own design is just as eye catching as the front.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/private-eye?before=1305397710