The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
If you are looking for a
good detective mystery novel that ensnares your senses and leave you wanting
for more at the end, then this novel may be the answer of your quest.
The protagonist Sam Spade
and his partner Miles Archer are private detectives cum muscle for hire who are
always eager for any job until it is legit and pays well. So when the beautiful
mysterious woman, Miss Wonderly shows up at their office and offers to pay
hefty money for the simple assignment of keeping an eye on a man, Floyd Thursby who allegedly eloped with
her younger sister, Sam and Miles are more than happy to oblige Miss Wonderly,
although Sam sense something troubling about this whole business.
Sam’s foreboding proves
right. Soon Miles is found murdered and sooner than later Floyd also turns up
dead. To make matters worse, Sam makes it to the top of the suspect list with
the police for these murders and a little inquiry into the background of Miss
Wonderly reveals that she is none that she claims to be. In fact, she could be
more resourceful and dangerous than Sam ever imagined.
Moreover, other enigmatic,
ruthless and dangerous men start visiting Sam, looking for a lost artifact
called “The Maltese falcon”. Their offer is very simple, handsome payment in
return of the artifact or deadly consequences of permanent nature if the
artifact is not returned, but since Sam does not even know about the existence
of this artifact then how possibly he can have it.
Now Sam must use all of his
wit, skill and cunning to save his skin and solve the complicated puzzle of
“The Maltese Falcon”.
This novel has an
adrenalin-pumping story that delivers pure entertainment in no nonsense, to the
point way. The plot is gritty, has plenty of twists and turns, and keeps you
guessing until the end.
The one thing that I liked
in particular about the character of Sam Spade is that he is a mean selfish
kind of the detective unlike the white hat detectives found in most of the mystery
novels. Sam is the kind of guy who loves money, can do anything for his
survival and given an opportunity he can take advantage of anyone. He gets by
each day knowing that at the end of the day he does more good than harm. This
grey morality of Sam works very well for the plot and events depicted in the
novel.
At the end, I can only say
that from the depths of imagination and pulp fiction, Mr. Hammett has conjured
up a novel, which is one of the best novels ever produced in detective mystery
genre, and no doubt, it is a compulsive read.
My rating is five out of
five stars.