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The Maltese Falcon

Featuring the iconic detective Sam Spade, now on TV as Monsieur Spade
By Dashiell Hammett
Series: Murder Room
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Check link for latest rating. ( 114,812 ratings, 7,406 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett is a classic crime novel that follows the cunning private detective Sam Spade as he navigates a web of deceit, intrigue and murder. Set in 1920s San Francisco, the story centres around the pursuit of a valuable statue, with Spade facing off against a cast of morally ambiguous characters. The narrative delves into themes of greed, loyalty and betrayal, offering a suspenseful and engaging read.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this gripping classic of detective fiction if you're drawn to tales of intrigue and suspense set in the shadowy world of 1920s San Francisco. With its hard-boiled detective, twisty plot, and unforgettable characters, this crime and thriller story offers a masterful exploration of morality and justice.

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One of the greatest crime novels of the 20th century - featuring iconic detective Sam Spade.
'Influenced everyone from Chandler to Le Carré ... The Maltese Falcon is the Hammett novel that jumps from the pages of its genre and into literature' Guardian

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Sam Spade is hired by the fragrant Miss Wonderley to track down her sister, who has eloped with a louse called Floyd Thursby. But Miss Wonderley is in fact the beautiful and treacherous Brigid O'Shaughnessy, and when Spade's partner Miles Archer is shot while on Thursby's trail, Spade finds himself both hunter and hunted: can he track down the jewel-encrusted bird, a treasure worth killing for, before the Fat Man finds him?

The Maltese Falcon

The Author

B.1894, d.1961. After spells as newsboy, freight clerk, labourer, messenger, stevedore and advertising manager, Hammett became an operative of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. His experiences as a private detective laid the foundation for his writing career.

Series: Murder Room

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  • The Maltese Falcon
    Sam Spade is hired by the fragrant Miss Wonderley to track down her sister, who has eloped with a louse called Floyd Thursby. But Miss Wonderley is in fact the beautiful and treacherous Brigid O'Shaughnessy, and when Spade's partner Miles Archer is shot while on Thursby's trail, Spade finds himself both hunter and hunted: can he track down the jewel-encrusted...
    By Dashiell Hammett
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Glass Key
    Ned Beaumont is a tall, thin, moustache-wearing, TB-ridden, drinking, gambling, hanger-on to the political boss of a corrupt Eastern city. Nevertheless, like every Hammett hero (and like Hammett himself), he has an unbreakable, if idiosyncratic moral code. Ned's boss wants to better himself with a thoroughbred senator's daughter; but does he want it badly enough to commit murder? If he's...
    By Dashiell Hammett
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
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  • Red Harvest
    The Continental Op first heard Personville called Poisonville by Hickey Dewey. But since Dewey also called a shirt a shoit, he didn't think anything of it. Until he went there and his client, the only honest man in Poisonville, was murdered. Then the Op decided to stay to punish the guilty. And that meant taking on the entire town... Red...
    By Dashiell Hammett
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon is celebrated for its influence on the crime thriller genre, showcasing a hard-boiled style that impacted authors like Chandler and Le Carré. The novel is acclaimed for transcending its genre to achieve literary significance, with Sam Spade being recognised as the quintessential "hard-boiled" detective. Hammett's writing set a high standard for crime fiction and is praised for its authentic dialogue and vivid characters.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780752865331

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 November 2010

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 200.0mm

Height: 133.0mm

Weight: 200g

Pages: 224

Collections

Classic Crime & Mystery Fiction Classic Fiction Crime & Thriller Dashiell Hammett Fiction General Fiction Series: Murder Room

About the Author

After spells as newsboy, freight clerk, labourer, messenger, stevedore and advertising manager, Hammett became an operative of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. His experiences as a private detective laid the foundation for his writing career. He died in 1961.

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