Saturday, September 28, 2019

Dashiell Hammett - The Maltese Falcon - Book Review

This novel, published in 1929, is said to be the first detective novel.  Hammett is given credit for inventing the detective persona, the cool, casual, fly by the seat of his pants detective trying to help desperate clients.  His Sam Spade certainly fits this persona.

I assumed there were other Sam Spade books.  No, this is the only one.  Good story, though convoluted.  I do not anticipate getting into the detective genre.

  • "I don't mind a reasonable amount of trouble." Sam Spade

    "You always think you know what you're doing, but you're too slick for your own good, and some day you're going to find it out."

    "People lose teeth talking like that." Spade's voice was still amiable though his face had become wooden. "If you want to hang around you'll be polite."

    The Levantine.

    "I'm going out and find her even if I have to dig up sewers.  For God's sake, let's do something right."

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