The Maltese Falcom, Dashell Hammet

 

The Book

When Brigid O'Shaughnessy walks into Sam Spade's office, crying that she needs to find her 17 year-old sister, he is drawn into her case. Of course, she's given him a fake name, a fake problem, and a whole pack of lies. But she's so pretty, his partner Miles Archer agrees to tail the man she wants them to tail. Overnight, Miles is killed and Sam is accused of killing him. To get himself out of the mess, a hard boiled Sam demands Brigid tell him the truth. She tells him she's looking for the Maltese Falcon. This artifact is worth a lot of money and has left a lot of people dead in it's wake. Sam agrees to stay on the case, if only to clear in good name. But what is a man to do when he falls in love with a client who lies as easily as she breathes? 

My Thoughts

This book, with it's pared back prose, really changed the game in mystery writing. Dashiell Hammett had been P.I. with the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. Although he left school at the age of 13 to find work, he was good at his job and wrote extraordinarily well. He was the creator of several of the most popular mystery characters of all times, including Sam Spade, the legendary hard boiled detective. If Sherlock Holmes inspired legendary characters like Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe, and in a more recent homage, Sean Spencer of Psych, then Sam Spade is just as legendary. Spade inspired Phillip Marlowe and strongly influenced Kinsey Millhone, a female hard boiled, loner like Spade. So this book, where the Sam Spade character originates, is highly influential.

And Dashiell Hammett LOVED ADVERBS! We've been paring back our prose, trying to sound more like the modern, cynical Sam Spade for the better part of 90 years. Only for me to sit here and read "Miss Wonderly looked up at Spade quickly," and "Spade nodded judiciously," all over the place. Those two examples come from page eight and are less than half a page apart. It is glorious and efficient. Perhaps I should own the book. But it's back at the library for the world to enjoy. 

How Much My Library Card Saved Me 

This book came to me from Park Ridge Public Library. It is in fantastic shape. It entered their collection in October of 2022. And except for a few places where the protective tape on the back of the spine is peeling off, it does not seem to be worn at all. There are no markings, dog ears, or anything else in this book. The spine says it cost $16.00. 

This Book                                                     $16.00

Items Reviewed This Year                          $401.95

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