The Maltese Falcon

Sam Spade doesn’t need to go looking for trouble, trouble finds him. I found an interesting old hardbound version of this novel at a used bookstore and I couldn’t resist it. Dashiell Hammett wrote this story originally as a serial in the magazine Black Mask. It was eventually published as a novel in......more

My top ten reasons why this Dashiell Hammett is one of the greatest crime novels ever written: 1. The Voice – Tough, Crisp hardboiled – the story isn’t told in first-person but certainly has the feel of first-person since we are so close to Sam Spade it’s as if we’re peering over the detective’s shou......more

Reread in August 2024 in preparation for teaching the book in a Detective Fiction class; also listened to the audiobook and saw the film again. Original review, somewhat amended: "I'm going to send you over. The chances are you'll get off with life. That means you'll be out again in twenty years. You......more

Sam Spade a cynical, tough yet honest San Francisco private eye is having a good day Miss Wonderly , later Leblanc and still later Brigid O'Shaughnessy (what's in a name, a rose by any other name would be confusing), comes into his office. All sophisticated charm and beauty, so she lies a little who......more

This might be the gold standard for hardboiled detective stories. I mean, Sam Spade. Everyone knows Sam Spade, right? I still prefer Nick and Nora from The Thin Man, but as popular as those two are, I think Sam is probably considered the quintessential private dick. So, the gist is that hot shady chic......more