gadrake 's review for:

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

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This hard-boiled, gritty private detective novel from 1929 elevated this type of novel to true literature. A sarcastic detective, a femme fatale, and a variety of thugs converge as they all search for a priceless treasure. Lies and diversions keep the plot twisting and turning. Spare writing and a bleak and menacing tone help the reader enter another era easily. This is a generally quick read that will appeal to fans of noir fiction.